Tokyo invaded by mass tourism, Japanese employees away forced to sleep in Capsule Hotel

Japan is experiencing a Unprecedented tourist boomthanks also to a weak Yen that made the country more attractive for international visitors. In 2024 the number of arrivals has exceeded 36.8 millionbeating the previous record of 2019. But there is also the downside: the Consequences of the phenomenon of the Cestortourism.

This growth has in fact also led to a Increase in costs for local business travelerswhich are facing the impossibility of booking Traditional hotel rooms due to the high tourist demand. Among these is Yoshiki Kojima, a Japanese entrepreneur who had to find an alternative solution for his employees of the Information Technology on business trip to Tokyo.

With continuously increasing hotel rates, traditional business hotels are no longer accessible for those who, like Kojima, must organize business meetings with a large team. To remedy the problem, he chose to have his employees stay in Hotel Capsulea typical Japanese solution composed of small capsules stacked one above the other.

Although these accommodations have a reputation of inconvenience, Kojima has found one modern structure With high quality mattresses and TV in each capsule. His employees found them “fun” and “comfortable”, but the situation is still a direct consequence of the increase in the costs of the rooms.

How the government is preparing to face the Overurism

The effect of mass tourism, although in some ways positive for the Japanese economy, also leads to significant challenges for people who live here. The residents are in fact complaining of thetourist invasion In historical cities like Kyoto, where visitors disturb the daily life and even the behaviors of the famous geishe.

In response to these problems, the mayor of Kyoto has announced the intention of Increase luxury hotels for luxury hotelshoping to reduce the influx of tourists in some areas and to encourage tourism in other less beaten regions.

Nationally, the Japanese government is trying to promote less known destinationsencouraging tourists to also visit the rural areas, to lighten the pressure on the main cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, where the demand for housing is at the stars. Kojima has mentioned drastic solutions, such as moving the headquarters of his company to Sapporo or organizing company meetings in more peaceful thermal locations.