Popular tourist hotspot tells Aussies to go somewhere else as record visitors flood to the country

Japan is pleading with Australian visitors not to flood the main tourist areas and explore the country beyond the boundaries of what is trending on social media.

The country is proving to be a magnet for Australian adventurers as the Australian dollar rises against the yen.

A record 637,000 Aussies visited the country between January and September last year – an annual increase of 42 percent according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

This has prompted the executive director of JNTO’s Australian office, Naoki Kitazawa, to direct visitors away from overwhelmed tourist hotspots.

“Tokyo, Kyoto and the Golden Route offer incredible experiences, but there is so much more to discover than what is obvious and popular on social media,” he said.

‘We strongly encourage Australians to consider lesser-known destinations, and also look to the other seasons, such as autumn, and the Japanese summer – known locally as the ‘green season’, when the country’s rural and regional areas really come into their own. own.

‘Don’t just stick to the sights on postcards, but go out and discover the stories that are not always on the tourist trail.’

While Kitazawa said Japan was “encouraged” to see Australians returning to the country in droves following the Covid-19 crisis, the numbers threatened to spoil the very places they had come.

“By making informed decisions, travelers can help preserve the beauty and integrity of the places you visit and ensure they remain vibrant for generations to come,” he shared. news.com.au.

For visitors who want to experience the beauty of Kyoto, Mr. Kitazawa suggested Kanazawa as an alternative.

Known as ‘little Kyoto’, the city is approximately two hours and thirty minutes by train from the major cities of Tokyo and Osaka.

Like Kyoto, Kanazawa has a wealthy population teahouse and geisha culture, but is more open and accessible to tourists, said Mr Kitazawa, who also said a visit to Considered one of Japan’s most beautiful, Kenrokuen Garden is a must.

For a taste of Japan’s traditional countryside, Mr. Kitazawa recommended Takayama in the mountainous Gifu Prefecture.

Other off-the-beaten-path destinations include exploring canyons in the UNESCO Eco Park, taking tours of ancient cedar forests, or meeting snow monkeys in Joshin’etsukogen National Park.

Mr Kitazawa also suggested trying the widespread traditional urban and heritage lodgings, as well as sleeping among the branches at the Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort in Okinawa’s Yanbaru National Park.

Australians are not only visiting Japan in record numbers, but are also among the longest staying, according to official data.

Japan’s message follows that of Indonesia, which in 2023 implored Australian tourists to explore the country beyond Bali.

Concerns about tourists overstaying their visas and behaving badly in Bali led to Indonesia’s crackdown in October last year.

Crimes that previously punished tourists with six months to a year in prison are now punishable by a prison sentence of ten years to a maximum of twenty years.