Tokyo, Japan – How a lot are guests to Japan prepared to pay for a bowl of noodles or a serving to of sushi?
With restaurant costs hovering in common vacationer areas, the query is not rhetorical.
In Niseko, a ski resort in Hokkaido well-known for its powdery snow, a bowl of crab ramen can value as much as 3,800 yen ($24.68) and katsu curry as much as 3,200 yen ($20.78) – round thrice as a lot as in close by Sapporo, one in all Japan’s culinary hubs.
In Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, a restaurant space subsequent to Tokyo’s largest seafood market, a bowl of rice topped with sashimi can value virtually 7,000 ($45.46) – or 5 instances what locals would sometimes count on to pay.
Avenue stalls in Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market, Kyoto’s Nishiki Market and Osaka’s Dotonbori neighbourhood have additionally raised eyebrows with nibbles priced nicely above the going fee.
As Japan experiences a surge in vacationers on the again of a weak forex, some companies are charging a premium for his or her fare.
The observe has even led to the coining of a slang expression, “inbound-don”, to explain rice bowls priced with deep-pocketed vacationers in thoughts.
Almost 17.8 million folks visited Japan within the first half of 2024, surpassing the earlier report of 16.63 million in 2019, based on the Japan Nationwide Tourism Organisation (JNTO).
The surge in arrivals has been spurred, partially, by the slumping worth of the yen, which is buying and selling close to a 40-year low towards the greenback.
Because of this, travellers are usually not essentially baulking at restaurant costs which can be equal to what they’d pay for occasionally lower-quality meals again house.
Some eating places, involved about alienating native clientele, have confined the value hikes to non-residents solely.
Tamateboko, a seafood buffet restaurant in Tokyo’s Shibuya, just lately launched a two-tiered pricing construction, providing a 1,000-yen ($6.49) low cost to all Japanese residents and residents of Japan.
A weekday lunch prices 5,478 yen ($35.58) for residents and residents, and 6,578 yen ($42.72) for international travellers.
Whereas it isn’t unprecedented for eating places to have completely different costs on their Japanese- and English-language menus, Tamateboko’s determination was extensively reported in worldwide media, igniting heated dialogue about two-tiered pricing in Japan’s hospitality sector.
Kumi Kato, a professor of tourism at Wakayama College in Japan’s southwestern Kansai area, mentioned she was anxious concerning the optics of the development, cautioning towards any insurance policies that could possibly be perceived as discriminatory.
“Figuring out international visitors invited by Japanese or tax-paying international residents [at restaurants] will likely be troublesome,” Kato advised Al Jazeera.
“Japanese and non-Japanese-type segregation will deliver disagreeable stress and discontent … We have to be very cautious about that.”
Leaving a nasty style
Whereas tourism trade insiders consider Japan ought to capitalise on inbound guests’ elevated buying energy, some are sceptical that two-tiered pricing is the way in which to do it.
Andres Zuleta, founding father of Boutique Japan, a luxurious journey firm that gives customised holidays, mentioned that whereas he’s “all for Japan discovering moral and inventive methods to monetise the tourism growth,” companies that cost completely different costs based mostly on nationality are more likely to generate resentment.
“Discounted pricing for locals may make sense, however having completely different costs on an English menu versus a Japanese menu is sure to depart a nasty style – excuse the pun – in folks’s mouths. The thought of tiered pricing appears extra more likely to be palatable at [tourist] websites and such,” Zuleta advised Al Jazeera.
Andrew William, founding father of Kyoto-based tour firm An Design, mentioned that whereas it’s comprehensible for companies to cost foreigners costs they might count on to pay at house when they’re making bookings from abroad, it’s riskier doing so in Japan.
“An indication with a two-tiered pricing would look very dangerous,” William, whose tour firm specialises in off-the-beaten-track excursions of Kyoto’s historic religious websites and gardens, advised Al Jazeera.
“Plus, are locals going to have to indicate their ID in all places they go? Perhaps that isn’t so dangerous, however it appears awkward.”
Nonetheless, some Japanese officers seem unperturbed about foreigners’ perceptions.
Hideyasu Kiyomoto, the mayor of Himeji Metropolis, just lately recommended that international vacationers pay as much as 4 instances greater than the usual admission fee to go to Himeji Fortress, Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Website.
Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura expressed his assist for the concept, suggesting he may undertake a mannequin for Osaka Fortress.
The top of the Hokkaido Tourism Group has additionally referred to as on companies throughout Japan’s northernmost essential island to set completely different costs for vacationers and locals.
Amongst these arguing in favour of charging international vacationers extra, the rationale has run the gamut from overlaying the prices of heritage conservation to coaching English-speaking workers.
Kato, the Wakayama College professor, mentioned that proprietors have to be extra particular and clear concerning the prices.
“Heritage conservation itself shouldn’t be the explanation for charging foreigners extra,” she mentioned.
“And language points shouldn’t be the onus of particular person companies or institutions. There needs to be authorities assist for implementing multilingual interfaces and coaching English-speaking guides.”
Japanese authorities asking guests to cough up greater than locals is just not with out precedent.
Miyajima Island, a preferred attraction off the coast of Hiroshima, well-known for its forests and the “floating” gate of Itsukushima shrine, launched a vacationer tax in October 2023.
Since July, hikers hoping to climb Mt Fuji’s hottest path have been required to pay a 2,000-yen ($12.99) entrance price.
Since 2019, international travellers have additionally been levied 1,000 yen upon departure, which officers mentioned can be used to assist enhance tourism infrastructure, akin to Wi-Fi and multilingual assist.
Kato mentioned Japan has lots to supply as a journey vacation spot, however the nation ought to solely extract extra money from guests if the value is commensurate with the worth of the expertise.
“I don’t need to see a confrontational strategy: cost further for every part and cost cash to enter in all places,” she mentioned.
“Bear in mind, tourism ought to at all times be a contented trade.”
