Why Are Japanese People Not Traveling Abroad Anymore? There Are 4 Reasons

A while ago, CNN reported that the Japanese no longer travel abroad.
https://www.cnn.co.jp/travel/35200417.html

A survey shows that 35% of Japanese were unwilling to travel again, which is higher than in any other country. The Japan International Tourism Organization shows that the number of Japanese traveling abroad in 2022 is approximately 2.7 million, marking an 86.2% decrease from 20 million recorded in 2007.

Why is this so? Of course, there are several reasons behind it.

1 Increase in traveling cost

People argue that it is simply because of the cost of traveling. Yes, the yen is getting weaker; therefore, it is far cheaper to travel in Japan than abroad. However, it is not entirely true. It is still much more affordable to travel to Southeast Asian countries.

2 Limited exposure in cross-culture

When you turn on the TV in Japan, you mostly see Japanese news or content circulating in the country. This is simply because people are not interested in what is happening outside the country.

However, this was not the case in Japan in the past.

In the 70s and 80s, TV regularly played oversea’s music and movies, and people read translated novels. Magazines that covered Hollywood movies were popular among public junior high school students, and I was also a fan of these magazines under the influence of my friends. During that time, Japanese people used to rush to prestigious shops in Paris in groups, and it was frowned upon.

3 Aging population

Could it be the decline of the body, lack of curiosity, and a growing sense of risk aversion? And the mindset of these older adults has taken over the entire country, including the youth.

4 Too clean and too safe environment

Another barrier is the “too safe environment” in Japan. When you come to Japan, you will notice warning signs everywhere.

“Don’t walk on the escalator.”
“Remember your belongings.”

The government and corporations are always ready and willing to care for all kinds of things. Everything is conducted meticulously here.

Growing up in such an environment makes people afraid to go outside the country.

My friends who came to Southeast Asia complained like;
“There were flies in the cafeteria.”

When I talk with my friends, I often hear them say, “I would love to go abroad, but I do not have the money or time. Besides, it is scary / frightening.”

In conclusion, the decline in Japanese outbound travel is a complex problem. Factors such as an increase in travel costs, limited exposure to cross-cultural content, the perception of an overly safe environment, and most especially, the aging population have all contributed to this shift in behavior.

Therefore, it is challenging to change the situation for now.