Tourist chaos erupts as cherry blossom festival is shut down, officials triple tax to curb crowds

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Visitors from far and wide have beentraveling to Japan— and now government officials will be raising their tourist tax in an effort to curb overtourism.

Japan will be tripling its international tourist tax of 1,000 yen, or about $6, per person — to 3,000 yen, or about $18, per person — starting July 1.

Hokuto Asano at theEmbassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.�s efforts to carefully calibrate its tourism goals.

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“[Japan] is targeting 60 million inbound visitors and 15 trillion yen in inbound tourism spending by 2030 — while balancing the expansion of tourism with the quality of life for residents and promoting regional destinations,” Asano said.

He said the flow of American tourists who are visiting Japan is “performing very strongly” — noting that there were 220,000 visitors in February of this year, for a 15% increase from 2025.

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Visitors from far and wide have been traveling to Japan — and now government officials will be raising their tourist tax in an effort to curb overtourism and the issues it brings. (iStock)

“While the number of visitors from China to Japan has declined, the increase in tourists from a wide range ofother countrieshas more than offset this trend,” said Asano.

As a result, overall inbound travel to Japan continues to exceed last year’s levels, he noted.

the situation in the Middle Easton tourism issues for Japan.

Cherry blossom season is a major attraction in Japan, drawing tourists from around the world.

A boat sailing near Himeji Castle with cherry blossoms blooming in spring.

A boat is shown sailing in Japan as cherry blossoms bloom between April and May.(iStock)

But this year, officials have canceled apopular festivalthat was meant to attract visitors due to overtourism.

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Fujiyoshida canceled its cherry blossom festival, with multiple reports saying the call was made due totourist pollution,such as traffic jams and littering.

Asano noted these problems are not unique to Japan and are seen in many other countries.

Family taking photos with blooming cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi moat in Tokyo

In early 2022, a family is shown taking photos with blooming cherry blossoms just behind them. (Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Japan recently launched a new procedure for all incoming visitorsin an effort to streamline the travel process — plus to beef up security.

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Visitors must apply for the “single-entry short-term stay visa for the purpose of tourism for a period of up to 90 days” online prior to their trip, according to a government website.

Asano said the relevant legislation is currently under examination, “and the establishment of the system has not yet been finalized.Details such as fees and collection methods have not yet been determined.”

Ashley J.