"Only Japanese Accepted on Fridays"... Unwelcome Korean Tourists Flooding Japan

Tourists Entering Local Commercial Areas... "Measures for Regular Customers"
Food and Accommodation Costs All Rising... Debate Over Dual Pricing Introduced

As demand for tourism in Japan continues to rise, a restaurant in Hiroshima has attracted attention by imposing a 'Friday tourist entry restriction.' The restaurant owner claims that local regular customers cannot visit because tourists are crowding into neighborhood shops. This has gained considerable sympathy in Japan, where there are complaints that accommodation and dining prices have increased due to tourists.

On the 27th, the local Japanese broadcaster TSS Television Shin-Hiroshima reported that an okonomiyaki restaurant in Hiroshima city designated Friday afternoons as 'Hiroshima Prefecture Residents' Day.' This means they will only accept people from Hiroshima Prefecture instead of tourists. However, whether someone is a Hiroshima resident or not will be left to the voluntary declaration of Japanese people without a separate verification process, effectively allowing only Japanese nationals to enter.

The anchor explained, "This is a shop run by the manager and two employees. While the number of customers was at most around 40 per day, it has now exceeded 100 daily, making it impossible for regular customers to enter immediately." He added, "Since its opening, the business has focused on local community ties, but it is now forced to make a painful decision between tourists and locals." The manager also said in an interview, "This shop should not be one where regular customers who supported us through difficult times like COVID-19 cannot enter." He continued, "Refusing tourists carries the risk of racial discrimination controversy, but for now, I want to cherish the regular customers who love this place."

A restaurant exterior with entry restrictions for foreign tourists on Friday nights. It is filled with foreign tourists. (Photo by TSS Shin Hiroshima TV)

In this way, there is a growing number of situations in Japan where the increasing number of tourists is not entirely welcome. Inflation has accelerated, causing prices in city centers and tourist spots to rise to levels unaffordable for locals.

For example, the Tokyo tourist complex 'Toyosu Senkyakumanrai,' which opened in February, attracts tourists with its Edo-period atmosphere, but locals call it 'Japan's new demon world (Makai)' because the price of seafood rice bowls easily exceeds 100,000 yen. Complaints have also arisen that not only food expenses but also accommodation costs have increased, making it difficult for Japanese people to even enjoy domestic travel. A new term, 'Inbound-don,' has even emerged to describe the outrageously expensive rice bowls priced for tourists.

As a result, voices are emerging to introduce 'dual pricing,' charging different fees for foreign tourists and Japanese nationals, starting with entrance fees at tourist sites. The Japan Tourism Agency announced that the number of visitors to Japan in March was 3.08 million, the highest ever recorded since statistics began in 1964. By country, South Korea ranked first with 663,100 visitors, followed by Taiwan with 484,400.