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Japan Boom

Hamerare

Offa da street
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I thought it was just me until I watched ZIP this morning - there are record numbers of foreign tourists visiting Japan this year and Kyoto is global number #1 destination (I think it was Bangkok last year). That has to be a good thing whatever way you look at it.

It has sure taken people in Europe a long time to work out that Japan is actually cheaper than their own countries for eating out and hotels, even tho u get a lot less space in ur hotel room. I have run into a lotta Italians and Spanish - it must be nice 2 have euros rite now. Even if those countries got 25% unemployment, there are still 75% working n who can probably afford 2 come here.

What r ur thoughts?
 
Ha! I was watching ZIP this morning too! I'm never up that early, but today I was!

- Despite the disaster of 2011, tourists have been pouring in. It's very obvious when you see the planes full of people landing at Haneda and Narita. (Haneda has added an extra boost to people flying into Tokyo directly.)

- There is still a great fascination with all-things Japanese. There a lot of people wanting to visit here for many reasons... Top five:

1. Culture/History (Kyoto/Osaka/Tokyo/Sapporo -- and of course those places like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku)
2. Food (Sushi - best in the world)
3. Electronics/Gadgets (Akiba)
4. Anime/Manga
5. Women (fashion, cuteness + men chasing women... lol)

In the winter, the ski resorts draw people from all over... a lot from Australia, from what I've seen.

Anyway, it's reasonable pricing, but still for some, it's kind of expensive to come here. I project that tourism will continue to rise, it's too bad that we'll be faced with a 10% consumption tax by October 2015.
 
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The weak yen must have something to do with it

From a purely selfish point of view, I love strong yen bcoz it makes mongering trips in Asia so much cheaper :p
 
From a purely selfish point of view, I love strong yen bcoz it makes mongering trips in Asia so much cheaper :p

This is true. I saved so much money in general when traveling overseas when the yen was at ~80yen to the U.S. dollar. Now it's reversed, it's much more expensive now compared to back then.

For my regular job, the yen/dollar situation works out, we're making higher profits right now.