Simple: Avoid “tourist prices” by avoiding tourist trap areas. The two-tier pricing seems to be only in places where it’s mostly tourists. Most of the over tourism is at the same places. Just go someplace more local, authentic. Tsukiji, for example, is not authentic nor cheap even though it should be. Get away from Tokyo. Kyoto. Try local prefectural cities instead. Same as in any other country, isn’t it? Two-tier is a hard sell but local family box has little choice. They can’t lose their regulars even though they are with the declining population. They’ll have to choose one pricing or give our loyalty cards or something. What do you think? Again, it’s not all of Japan, just tourist spots that are massively overcrowded where you could expect to pay much more.

If a restaurant charges more for me as a foreigner, I’d just go somewhere else

It's normal for businesses to charge more in touristy areas in the US. However to charge one price for goods for locals and another higher one for foreigners is gouging.

I’m a simple man. I see two tier pricing, I don’t buy.

No. I’m from New Zealand, and Japanese tourists used to come in droves in the 80s and 90s when the yen was all powerful and the Japanese economy was strong, and we didn’t try and raise the prices on them. Why should Japan charge us more now the tables have turned

Sounds like a slippery slope when you start with dual pricing and it creates resentment.. Just bec a tourist can afford to come to Japan doesn't mean they want to pay more than a local to eat the same bowl of ramen. Why does Japan want to penalize visitors for their own problems? A visitor from Canada has nothing to do with the shrinking population of Japan so why penalize them for it? The Yen is tanking but is it the tourist to blame for it? so why penalize the tourist? I can guarantee once the yen goes up, tourism will drop.. Japan is not seeing the forest thru the trees, I'm afraid.

Just because the U.S. dollar has a significantly higher value compared to the yen does not mean that the average American tourist can afford 10,000 yen ($65) for a wagyu beef skewer. Seems like these food stand owners don't understand that.

In Hawaii it is fairly common for some types of businesses to offer a Kama’aina discount to local residents in order to attract the locals to come to see the tourist type locations, participate in visitor type activities and stay at the visitor oriented hotels. They typically have the posted price for entry, activities, etc.. To qualify for the Kama’aina Discount for local residents… you must show a Hawaii Drivers License or Hawaii State I.D..

Without a doubt, a two-tier system of charging is discriminatory. Tourism is revenue. The allure of Japan may take a hit.

The more stories i see like this, the more it feels like Japan are definitely trying to drive tourists away, i really dont get it.

An outsider will go to a place once. Locals can go multiple times and these places can offer memberships and discounts for locals. It's harder to justify dual pricing at restaurants and I would avoid dual pricing places. For buffets, they can offer separate pricing based on what they offer and not based on what language you speak.

If I find out there changed me more because I’m foreign I would be pissed off .

Hi, John! Putting in my two cents here as a Southeast Asian. Thanks for noting that the issue is not that fair for neighboring countries with equally struggling economies. Consider already the hurdles that some nationalities have just to enter Japan: we pay for our visas, get denied if we appear to have inadequate incomes, and if this two-tier pricing gets implemented -- it feels like getting punished for wanting to enjoy the culture of a country. It almost sounds xenophobic the way that they want to categorize people, and it WILL weigh (unfairly) heavier for visitors from developing countries. Granted that Japan wants help with their economy, but wasn't that the reason why they're pushing for tourism really hard after the pandemic? And also, it runs counter to the tax-free incentives that tourists get in some places. So, why not just remove that incentive, label that tax , and put it in a government subsidy to help heavily touristed cities in a way that is better distributed for its populace? Japan's biggest problem is not the tourists. But it's beginning to feel like they're the scapegoats for what the government couldn't resolve.

Once resentment sets in it’s hard to reverse. I’m talking about resentment both ways - that felt by the locals of over tourism, and that felt by tourists feeling alienated and prejudiced against

I’m from Orlando and back in the day if you were a resident of Orlando you would get a discount at tourist places. But with that being said why should tourist be penalized for Japans financial incompetence?

I really enjoyed the clips from NHKJohn. I trust your advice and news. It made me realize you should do more news segments often

Not all international visitors are from Europe or the USA and get such good exchange rates.

We booked our trip to Japan late last year. Had I known there would be so much negative pushback on tourists, we would’ve gone elsewhere.

I don't mind if they charge local lower prices... but 30 dollars to go to Himeiji castle is frankly too high. If they do that, I'll just stop by Himeiji Train Station, take a few photos and leave...

Thanks for sharing it. ✌️

There are so many complexities with a two-tier pricing system. Economies/currency exchange all over the world shrink and then grow again, it's a matter of riding the wave. Currently Japan is enjoying mass tourism turning profits for businesses. During CV Japanese businesses were going broke due to no tourists visiting. A 2 tier pricing system would only bring about a sour taste in the mouth of past, returning, and potential tourists to Japan. Japan is a 1st world country and is currently the 4th biggest economy in the world, we're not talking about a third world country here. During 2016-2019 it cost Australians 119-127c to buy 100 YEN but we didn't see any tourist discount pricing or vouchers for visitors. Currently at last, AU100c = 100yen, not all currencies worldwide are killing it against the Yen. Japan needs to be very careful that the introduction of a two-tier pricing system could come back to bite them socially, economically and racially on a world stage. Australia takes in touring visitors from all over the world, visitors from the USA pay US65c for a AU$1 product in Australia and they're welcome to do so ... at no surcharge. Japan's government needs to come up with solutions to ease the financial burden on Japanese citizens internally without leaning on visitors to their country.

Hawaii has local / non local fees at local attractions ie: Hanauma Bay, the Aquarium, zoo and many other places.

10k yen is not affordable, even in dollars... Those skewers at Tsukiji are definitely HUGE rip offs. It's more egregious that this is during lunch (aka if you ate at a restaurant it would be the often much cheaper lunch menu). Go to a decent wagyu restaurant or sushi restaurant instead, and they don't even have to be hard to reserve. The Ushigoro restaurants are pretty easy to reserve for wagyu courses, and the Ginza Kyubey restaurants are a good intro to high end sushi (including otoro) + very foreign friendly. Please don't support these blatantly rip off shops in Tsukiji.

Ur videos always make me want to visit Japan again, John! Hopefully next year I’ll visit :) 😊

It’s difficult for outsiders to understand how Japanese can’t express the honne that’s actually going on now. Japan moves at a glacial pace and they can’t adapt to the fact that they aren’t shimaguni anymore. There’s a real world out there and it’s difficult for them to cope with that. How can Japan really do tourism? Especially in Tokyo. The economy has been mismanaged for years. Has anyone used the Kyoto metro recently? Where does it go? That’s why clueless tourists crowd the buses and get so many locals irritated. Japan is not built for tourists. I would say one needs to be open and welcoming, not tatemae. That gets tiresome real fast. Foreigners suss that out pretty quickly.

14:59 my thoughts exactly! as an Indonesian myself, it was as if John was reading my mind 😅 before I learned where and how to buy affordable tasty foods in Japan, I always stuck to convenience store bentos. they're the safe and affordable options for budget tourists, like I was in 2012. i'm also not a fan of foreigner tax but am not opposed to it. the locals should be careful not to overstep or they will lose the foreign tourists too.

I think most of Asia should start charging Japanese tourists more with a two tier system. They're one of the wealthiest nations (per capita) in Asia so it's fair game right?

Just raise the prices across the board, post a sign that says show your local ID to get a discount. Tourists don't feel penalized directly. Locals get a benefit.

"Non-local and foreign tourists" means exactly that. Anyone living outside of the the chosen area pays more. They should say they are raising prices but giving locals a discount.

so is it going to be ok for other countries to charge Japanese tourists more at restaurants and attractions? population problems? there are almost as many people in Tokyo as there are in all of Canada

My two cents: it's the residents who should pay less.... a little bit more from tourists is to be expected, PROVIDED that "plus" services are given... example: english menus and a little bit more patience when ordering.... Personally I am willing to pay a bit more if this means to have a more "tailored" service (not a good or professional service which should be always guaranteed, but a little bit "foreing oriented" one) and to help local businesses... BUT I am NOT willing to be "ripped off" only because I am a gaijin... 😅

Just wanted to say love your glasses

Other countries do the 2 tier pricing system for some of their historical sites. I was just in Turkey and they charged like 30 Euros to enter these greek style ruins and I think it was 6 euros for Locals. When I was there I only went to one ruin / historical site because I felt like If I saw one that all the others would look similar. In Korea I really loved how entry to all their castles and historical sites were like 3 usd and how at some of them if you wore traditional hanbok that you got in free. This meant locals with their own outfits could go in free and take cute photos, and tourist could go rent from the many rental shops around the area for 40 usd. It felt like supporting the small businesses near the castles, and that tourist were still paying more but getting something out of it ie dressing up and getting in for free. I'm now traveling around Japan and I really appreciate the lower entrance fees because every time I come across a temple, or a castle or a historical site I don't really have to ask myself is it worth it. I usually just go in and enjoy and learn about the history of the place. I'm not considering should I go to this or have a nice meal today... Or oh I've seen one castle I don't need to see all the other smaller ones. This really does seem short sited since I feel like tourist money will start to cluster at the "must see places" and the smaller sites might not get as much love. Either way the 2 tier pricing I've seen it around the world and it always makes me second guess if I really need to see it and is it worth the 30 dollars / euros / inflated tourist price. Which is unfortunate because I feel like you miss out on learning soo much.

How quickly people forget just a few years ago when there were no tourists and how hard life was then for businesses. Can't have it both ways.

Do you have a video, on what & where to buy products. That are worth getting now, with the exchange rate being the way it currently is. Such as Property, Jeans & even snacks 🤷🏻‍♂️

I'm okay with paying extra tax as a tourist, but I'm very against two-tier pricing, that's just disgusting.

I went to Japan every year for five years up to 2019 - then returned in 2023. I felt in 2023 less welcomed John, and that the open welcome had lessened. I can understand the locals are simply fed up of all the tourists. Sadly for me it will be a while before I return. Shame 😢

I wonder if restaurant owners are taking matters into their own hands because the government isn't doing enough. :) I would happily pay a city tax to support the local governments and people, but frown at the thought of facing discrimination in restaurants or other establishments.

I agree with some of the comments about the 2 tier prices at museums, historical places, etc. However, if I have to pay 1500 yen for just a standard bowl of ramen (the one that usually costs 900-1100) then one can only imagine the high price tourists have to pay for sashimi, sushi, and wagyu. I probably choose my local 2000 yen ramen bowl without the hassle of flying, transport, waiting and walking, the language barrier, and the 2-tier pricing thing. Some call it over-tourism now, but they also must remember that some tourists come because Japan is affordable. If the 2-tier pricing is adopted by most restaurants, then I'm sure it will soon adopted for transport and other services. When this happens, don't be surprised if you start to see "Visit Japan" ads in various airports and planes.

When I've been to Japan i really don't go to main attractions but just let my feet take me wherever. Increasing prices is common wherever you go but let's be fair about it.

Consider it a resort fee where it's charged. Good thing is that it is not universal. I'm sure you will not be paying more for a Big-Mac over a regular Japanese citizen at the local McD.

How do you determine who’s a tourist and who’s a local? For instance I’m American and I lived in Japan for four years. During my time living there would I be considered a local or a tourist? If a Japanese-American comes to visit Japan do they get the local price or tourist price?

I can understand for Himeji Castle, but for restaurant? nah Not all tourist that come to Japan from America that have strong Dollar Currency. There's asian tourist too that their currency is also as weak as Yen.

I mean, this is one way to lower the amount of overtourism in these areas. Personally, I don't really care to visit the castle or tsukiji market. I'm just wanting to walk around, ride trains, hit up some vending machines, shop a little, and get good street food. So for me, it's all good as long as this doesn't become the standard across the board. Just don't hit up the generic tourist spots, and you should be fine.

Is Kawasaki a tourist place or can I find reasonable price food there?

John love your content. This is a whole different topic. We have been seeing on the news here in USA the rise of deadly flesh eating bacteria in Japan. Can you please cover this and if it’s safe to travel to Japan. Thank you 🙏🏼

We just came back from Japan. We do not feel the two tier system will be unfair . Japan could give their citizens a "discount", using/showing their Japanese Health card (which they all have). Right now, the USA dollar is so strong against the Yen, USA tourists are going to-be-just fine. It is good and honorable, that we can help ease their financial burden. Tourists are not getting ripped off, for those that can only go to touristy areas, these touristy areas offers many, many advantages such as; ease of transportation, access to tons of attractions/food/stores all-near-by, without having to do train transfers or excesive walking, or take too many taxis. Also, many cruises only offer excursions to these areas, etc.. Please encourage your viewers to enjoy the touristy spots, because it is good for Japan's economy, they do need help right now. On this trip, we did mostly non tourist towns, far from Tokyo, because we love going deep into the country, but others can't avoid touristy places, and still love experiencing Japan. We all love your videos !

I'm from Hawaii, and I remember back in the 80's and early 90's when the Japanese economy was booming, many restaurants had a Japanese menu which was much higher priced. I felt this was very unfair to them. I took a look at one of those menus and was shocked at how much more expensive it was. When I took some friends from Japan to a restaurant, they automatically gave them the more expensive Japanese menu. I told the waiter to bring them the regular menu instead. We still have what's called a Kama'aina rate for local residents at some businesses like golf courses for example. As a resident we pay about 50% less for a round of golf. The regular rate applies to all non-residents. Personally, if I had to pay a little more as a tourist in Japan I'd be okay with it because the service is top notch anywhere you go. Hope it all works out for Japan.

We’re planning to visit Japan but it’s a bit hesitant now it may get worst next year 😢😢😢

What time did you visit tsukiji? That’s not crowded at all compared to when we last visited. Is that due to the price increase, you think? Guess it’s having the desired effect.

I’m from America, but it just wasn’t done in our family to take more food than we could eat from a buffet and waste it. I noticed in one Chinese restaurant I went to a few years ago overseas in Europe they made a rule. You could only take as much food as you could eat but if you wasted any of it and the food on the plate, then you would pay more. I would be for that rule because if you just take a regular amount of food, but you still have to pay more than you’re funding all the other people that are wasting food.

In Hawaii we have "Kama'aina" rate for parks, and other tourist attractions. Some restaurants, not all, offer Kama'aina discounts where locals just show their resident ID (license or state ID) and they either get a discount or get into an attraction for free. Somewhat a two tier pricing

Having higher prices for tourists is just going to drive tourists away to other places that don't try and rip tourists off, although I suspect thats exactly what they want. Seems Japan has become quite anti-tourism recently and its super depressing.

It's interesting to see a developed country revert to the economic level of a developing country.

Sorry for the first stream but thanks for reuploading.

I think the assumption that most tourists can afford these prices is incorrect, many tourists to Japan do not earn in USD.

I come from a tourist town myself and most attractions have a local discount. If it's 2 tier pricing for goods (like food) you've gone too far but a museum/zoo/activity it's kind of an incentive to go more than once - and a local will usually pick times when it's less crowded too

My take is you can charge whatever you want and as high as sky, but you need to charge everyone the same. If people is foolish enough to visit your shop, it is on them. But If you charge people based on where they are from, then it is wrong.

Is it due to the populations of tourists forces the fish market in Tsugiji Market to close down gradually ?

Is this that odd? I was in NYC last May but the Met offers pay what you wish entry to NY state residents and also NY, NJ, and CT students but standard adult fate is 30$. I wasn't scandalized by the two-tier pricing there.

A higher fee for foreigners makes sense. But if you are a citizen or resident (visa), I don’t think that’s good.

The mayor is a medical doctor, not an eccentric guy as I remember. Obviously some people learned from what happened after the virus mess in Kyoto and Akihabara where business used to depend on foreign tourists too much. And about Tukiji, those are simply rip-off stores and nothing more. Behave and be wise tourists.

All through Cambodia there is two tier pricing for museums and cultural sights. In some instances native Cambodians have free entry. I had no problem at all with it.

As the world tries to decrease discrimination; Japan is increasingly discrimination. If Japanese tourists are charged more in foreign countries, just because they are Japanese; the outcry would be deafening. Should international travelers be the ones who fund Japanese cultural sites? Is taking advantage of foreign tourists the direction Japan really wants to go? Local discounts for residents is one thing. Out and out penalizing tourists is in poor taste. It is not the tourists’ fault that the Japanese population is declining. It is not the tourists fault that the Japanese economy is on a downturn. If the Japanese don’t like tourists, close the border. If tourists from certain countries are the problem, close the border to them.

Planning to move back in the fall of 2025 (left in 2011 after the 3/11 quake). Not sure what the world will be like by then but hoping for the best. At least I won't have to work at an eikaiwa this time because I've been working remotely for the past 4 years and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

visited tsukiji a year ago, and compare with this video, the price seems become much higher and see more english too, which is definitely target for tourist...haha

Those glasses suit you!

I can see having discount prices for locals in the area vs people visiting the area (even Japanese people who are visiting the area), because the discount for locals increases potential for a large amount of repeat visitors. In regards to restaurants though, as a person who lived in Japan and can easily use a Japanese menu, I am going to find it bizarre that I will now be motivated to ask for a Japanese menu for a monetary reason instead of just for practicing reading my kanji (or in some places getting a more expanded menu). In 'touristy' areas there has ALWAYS been a skew in prices all over the world. The prices in an Nintendo World or a Disney park are a perfect example of how tourism comes with built in inflation.

Two-tier pricing is usually found in underdeveloped/developing countries. If Japan categorizes itself as a developing country, go ahead and do that. OR make it a bit more systematic and fair by introducing something like the tourist tax embed in the hotel price per night, just like in many cities in Europe. Then the local government collect it from the hotel and distribute it to help the city and tourism related business. There are many more ways to increase tourist revenue without leaving a bad taste in their mouth, giving Japan's reputation a bad name, while still remaining fair to local businesses.

My mom is a japanese citizen and I am a US citizen so if we visit japan are we going to be charged with tourist pricing? My mom lives in the US so is she considered a tourist? How does this work? I am full blooded japanese but since I am an american citizen I assume I am considered a foreigner and not japanese?

The compromise could be this. Higher prices for designated historical sites. To preserve them is important for the locals and tourists alike. NO to higher prices for anything else.

I hope they take into account of sustainable aspect when doing this. The dollar may be strong now but it may not be perpetually. To add, 4000 yen is definitely too high. 1500 or 2000 is probably more palpable.

I have never visited any popular tourist spot in my country for a while, but just recently I visited one with my parents and as local residences, we got cheaper tickets. If I agree with what my own country is doing, I see no reason why I should criticize what Japan is trying to do. The key is not to overcharge tourists, and not to provide dual services. If I am being charged slightly higher than the locals, but provided with the same level of service, I am perfectly fine with this. It is going to be hard to strike a balance but I believe this is something best left to the market to decide. As a tourist if you do not like the price you are paying for a tourist spot or restaurants, then you have the right to choose some place else.

Very interesting stuff! 👍

There will also be issues with regards to foreigners living in Japan or even Japanese citizens with foreign blood and noticeable non-Japanese look.

I'm perfectly fine with businesses raising prices a little and giving residents a discount. I'm perfectly fine with paying a little extra while riding the transit vs the locals. There are ways Japan could do this without gouging tourists or hurting its own citizens.

Few reasons why I would be against charging foreign tourists more than residents when eating at a restaurant. Firstly, not every foreign tourist is benefitting from the weak Yen and strong $. So these tourists (who might've been saving for years) will end up being hit harder than American tourists and the residents... And, as we know, the Yen will eventually strengthen against the $ again. Will prices for tourists be changed to reflect that? My answer would be nope. Secondly, for foreign residents that are living in Japan and would want to eat out. Having to show proof that you're a resident every time that you are wanting to grab a bowl of Yoshinoya, etc, will get tiring very quickly (and make you feel even less like a resident of Japan). I agree that popular attractions (such as castles, museums, etc) could have a different price system in place for local residents of that city/prefecture and then a higher price for every other visitor (regardless of being Japanese/foreign resident/tourist), as this is a practice seen in other countries. Though there needs to be common sense in the price difference. Because, the $5 entrance fee for residents and the $30 entrance fee for foreign tourists to Himeji Castle, as suggest by the major is just absurd.

Hi John. I have no problem contributing to the upkeep of heritage sites. However I will not be paying ridiculous prices for skewers of Wagyu when I can get it cheaper where the locals go.

Japan has to do it, it is responding to supply and demand. The two tier system is fair, it’s a discount the shop owners offer to the locals. The shop owners are not obliged to give discounts to tourists.

Himeji is my favourite castle, it was amazing.

They have 2 tiers in nyc. Penny for nyc residents and 30 for tourists for museums. Ferry prices too.

With Tsukiji markets I wonder how high the rent is for those vendors? It may not all be the vendors doing for high prices and they may be trying to give the locals a discount and hoping the tourists will frequent their business more to cover the losses on the local discount. There definitely needs to be higher prices for historical sites to help with maintenance.

I think the Japanese workers need a wage increase. The wages are too low for such a wealthy nation.

If I have to pay more for food, I will not visit Japan again! A culturally significant place, I'm happy to pay a little more.

Thailand has been doing it for years. I went to watch a movie and I paid one price and my Thai friend paid a cheaper price. I’m ok with it. The difference wasn’t that much.

Visit Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia instead. Much more affordable and tourist friendly.

glad I experienced tsukiji market before it became a trap. very few tourists in japan at that time.

But you say the airport food in for example, Haneda airport is highly overpriced? And medium price restaurants in the airport or in the 7-Eleven or they lost a better choice

Here in the Philippines I get to enjoy the “skin tax” every time I leave my front door. LOL

Disney World charges non-Florida residents more, so two-tiered systems are not that uncommon.

I just want the yen to become stronger by at least 15% (a big move by a currency, I know), so that there won't be much consideration for 2-tier pricing systems

I dont think thats a fair system. Im in Washington DC and all the Smithsonian museums and the zoo are free to anyone from anywhere. I wouldn’t want someone who is not from here to have to pay just because they are not from here and only locals get it for free or cheaper. The cost of operation does not change per headcount just because someone is from somewhere else.

Tsukjii has become a zoo, but funny enough I have seen a lot of Japanese people there as well last August. Himeji at ¥1,000 is already a rip-off, especially to locals (foreigners may find it currently acceptable due to the weak Yen but exchange rates should be kept out of the picture); it's fine if the local government decides to cash in from tourists via a tourist tax and other mechanisms around those sites, but simple access to the sites should be affordable to everyone (and I would argue that it should be one of the UNESCO criteria that sites which are designated as world heritage sites should be accessible to everyone at reasonable prices). For example I went to another UNESCO heritage site last week, one of the Grand Temples in Seoul: admission fee is KRW3000 (or free if you're wearing a hanbok) for adults which is on the rather cheap side.

Just don’t patronise places with tiered prices

I don't understand why the value of the yen matters to how many tourists are there and why tourists should pay more.. You would base your price on what your costs are plus a profit margin, right? As long the costumer, tourist or not, pays the price you ask, you should be able to make a profit right? What does it matter that some currency abroad is worth more? It's not like they are paying you less right?

I am Italian eating at a restaurant in Italy that caters to English speaking people is an invitation to be scammed. Not only will their advertised prices be high but then they will add additional items/fees to the bill you didn't even order!

I understand why they are doing this to help control the tourism boom and to make extra revenue because Japan is hurting economic wise. The downside is if Japan pushes tourism away are they willing to live with the consequences? Its a tough situation indeed but at the same time you need to be careful in not biting the hand that feeds you.

I think how they present the pricing structure matters on how tourists accept being charged more. I am all for charging tourists more at cultural sites which allows local Japanese citizens to visit them cheaper or even free. The prices listed should be what EVERYONE pays, BUT…if you are local, you get a discount. What turns me off is when you visit a restaurant, they post all these cheap prices on boards and menus that you look at before entering the restaurant, once you sit down, they charge you more because you are a tourist. I am fine paying the prices posted, even if it is inflated “tourist” prices as long as i know before i sit down or order. At least it gives me the choice whether to eat there or not. I live in Hawaii and lots of businesses offer discounted rates for locals but the way they give this discount, it doesn’t alienate visitors just because they are tourists.

13 hours to Tokyo, 16 hours to Osaka. Brutal.

I lived in touristy Canmore, Alberta, Canada for a couple years and a lot of places have a Locals Discount that you can ask for if you live in town…but openly listing two prices or seemingly aiming it at non-Japanese feels a bit disingenuous. On the other hand, I put in the extra effort to learn a bit of the language and find the hidden gems when I visited Japan. If tourists are just getting off the tour bus and being herded to these areas, they probably deserve to pay more. 😅