Japan 2025
This was our second trip to Japan, following our first visit in 2016. Both trips lasted about a month because there is simply so much to see and experience across the country.
One noticeable difference in 2025 was the impact of overtourism in some of Japan’s most popular destinations. Compared with our experience in 2016, parts of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto felt considerably busier, and at times the atmosphere seemed a little less welcoming. Several people we spoke with mentioned similar concerns about the concentration of international visitors in Japan’s major tourist centres.
I also don’t remember relying on a phone translator nearly as much during our first trip. This time we used it throughout the day for signs, menus and conversations. It didn’t diminish the experience, but occasionally we had to work a little harder to communicate.
What was particularly interesting was hearing that while places such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto struggle with large numbers of visitors, other parts of Japan would welcome more tourism. Exploring beyond the major destinations was one of the reasons a month-long trip was so rewarding. Would we go back to Japan? Absolutely!
Use the destination links below to explore our photographs and travel pages from our 2025 journey through Japan.
