Baggage fee on the JR from Tokyo airport to downtown

Hi, Just so you know, when you take the JR from the airport to central Tokyo, the company has introduced a baggage fee of 900 yen (5.50 €) per person for foreigners. There’s a dedicated line for this, and you’re directed by a JR agent. If you take the Keisei network from Narita, there’s no fee for now. As a reminder, the JR Pass has tripled in price since October 2023. It’s not essential if you’re staying less than 3 weeks—consider the bus instead, which is much cheaper. Sure, it takes longer, but it’s budget-friendly.

Since October 1, 2024, agents have been handing out flyers to tourists at airport arrivals with recommendations about theft in hotels. Over the past few months, there’s been a rise in stolen phones, laptops, and other electronics from rooms. The advice is to lock everything in a suitcase with a key or code when you’re not around to avoid issues. Japan’s economy isn’t doing well right now, and some locals are struggling financially, blaming tourists for rising prices. Of course, the current exchange rate is great for us—165 yen to the euro lets us eat ramen for next to nothing—but inflation has hit them hard.

Just a reminder that the JR Pass price tripled since October 2023

It’s true that it jumped on October 1, 2023, but not *that* much—it went up by 70%!

Hi,

Yeah, I said "tripled" mostly out of frustration—it’s clear that overtourism isn’t sitting well with the Japanese government, given all the "tourist" taxes popping up everywhere. Now they’re talking about dual pricing (Japanese vs. non-Japanese) for long-distance buses, plus a luggage fee on those buses. Just yesterday, a friend in Tokyo Ueno was approached by a guy selling tickets to tourists just to enter the park—something he obviously refused to pay for. Watch out for scams; it’s not something you’d expect every time you visit this country.

Yes, I said it three times out of sheer frustration

But isn’t it normal and fair that balance should be restored? Especially since the Japanese were starting to seriously grumble because...

it’s clear that overtourism doesn’t sit well with the Japanese government

The post-COVID euphoria has faded. People are realizing it was quieter when the country was closed and are increasingly seeing tourists as a nuisance—thanks to a minority who, unfortunately, do whatever they want: selfies in front of a convenience store at Mount Fuji, clinging to torii gates like monkeys, breaking cherry tree branches for their souvenir photos, taking pictures of children, etc. The examples are endless, and every week, new cases are reported in the media. This is fueling frustration, and both the government and companies are rushing to respond (with varying degrees of success).

I work in tourism, and even though I live in a relatively unaffected city, I see behavior changes daily in my job. When borders reopened, demand for creating foreign-language web travel guides skyrocketed. Now, we’re mostly asked to design prohibition signs and add warning pages to existing websites. Many sites are also disappearing altogether.

dual pricing (Japanese and non-Japanese)

Correction: tourists and non-tourists.

Dual pricing and taxes aren’t fair, but let’s not forget we’re talking about Japan, where citizens are king.

Thanks for all this information.

It’s true that the influx of tourists is a problem because, unfortunately, many don’t respect local customs. I see this in my region, Haute-Savoie.

I’m planning to visit Japan, and the first thing I did was check the tourism office’s website, which has tons of recommendations. I’d like to know which month has fewer tourists. March?

Have a great day, Isbane

I’ve been going to Japan since 2009, 2 or 3 times a year, and I’ve really noticed the changes. Not all Japanese people are affected, thankfully. As usual, we adapt... 😉

I’d like to know which month has the fewest tourists. March?

The least crowded month is February, followed by January, December, and September in that order. On the other hand, April and July are the busiest months.

Thanks

Good evening, From late November to the end of February, it's quieter. I spent December 2023 and January 2024 in Japan, and it was easy to find cheap hotels everywhere. Strangely enough, even during the holiday season, it was calm—they don’t celebrate Christmas and New Year’s like we do. But avoid March and April—they’re packed with people for the sakura. Hotels are fully booked, and prices aren’t great at all.😉

Translator

opt for the bus—it’s way cheaper, even if it takes a bit longer. A good deal!

To get from Disneyland to Narita, we took the limousine bus. It’s super convenient with luggage, and you also get to enjoy the scenery a little longer. 😊

Yeah, the bus is better when you've got suitcases—it's really handy for city-to-city or city-to-airport trips. 😉