Domestic and international tourists are visiting Japan, and as a result, the country is breaking new tourism records.
According to the Japanese government website, nearly 33.4 million tourists are expected to have visited Japan from January 1st to November 30th.
Of the 3 million tourists who visited Japan this November, 247,500 were Americans.
According to a report by the Japan National Tourism Board (JTB) Foundation and Development Bank of Japan, 30% of visitors cited crowding at popular spots.
According to Japan's tourism statistics, in 2023, 62% of travelers said they went on a trip to see the scenery in nature.
Japan is known for its bathing facilities surrounded by hot springs and inns, which attract tourists from all over the world.
28% of tourists said they had taken a hot spring bath, and 48% said they would take a hot spring bath the next time they visit Japan.
Local governments in Japan are considering raising bathing taxes in scenic hot spring areas, and other cities are considering introducing lodging taxes to curb overtourism, Fox News Digital reported.
According to the Asahi Shimbun, the standard bathing tax is currently about $0.98 per day.
TTG Asia, a travel trade business resource for the Asia-Pacific region, reported in March that the town of Higashiizu Onsen will raise its bathing tax to about $2.
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Three local governments in Hokkaido have introduced an accommodation tax in addition to the bathing tax, and 16 other local governments are also considering it, Asahi Shimbun reported.
FOX News Digital has reached out to the Japan National Tourism Agency for comment.
