Foreign Visitors to Japan Surpass 20 Million at Record Pace

Arashiyama has launched a new night event called Moonlit Path on October 1st to tackle overtourism by shifting visitor traffic into the evening and channeling proceeds back into the local community. The illuminated walk runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through October 31st, lighting up Nagatsuji Street and the famed Bamboo Grove, with a paid zone featuring bamboo-themed light installations.

Japan has entered the autumn travel season, with visitors across the country enjoying colorful foliage, seasonal foods, and cultural traditions.

The iconic New Year’s Eve bell at Chion-in Temple in Kyoto will shift to a fully paid and reservation-only system this year, with entry limited to 2,000 people, in response to overwhelming crowds in recent years.

At Yamba Dam, a well-known sightseeing spot in Gunma Prefecture, visitors were surprised by an unusual scene: a group of monkeys scratching themselves and gazing out at the view as if enjoying the scenery. Unlike the occasional lone monkey, this time a whole troop appeared.

A luxury hotel with rates reaching as high as 3.75 million yen per night has opened near Nagoya Castle, aiming to attract wealthy guests from Japan and abroad.

Nagoya’s entertainment district is once again under scrutiny after an undercover investigation revealed deceptive billing practices and aggressive solicitation tactics at local bars.

Heavy rainfall battered parts of Hokkaido, with some areas receiving more than a month’s worth of precipitation in only six hours, prompting flood warnings and evacuation advisories. Meteorologists are saying the downpour was the result of a combination of unstable atmospheric conditions and moist air flowing in from the sea.

Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture has approved the introduction of a bathing tax, but the measure is drawing strong criticism from local hot spring operators since only two facilities fall under the new levy.