Top 3 Most Dissatisfying Issues for Foreign Tourists Visiting Japan

The scarcity of Wi-Fi services in Japan is one of the top three concerns for foreign tourists. (Photo shows tourists playing "Pokemon" in front of Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, AP)

Taiwanese travelers love visiting Japan, where the number of foreign tourists has surged in recent years, exceeding 24 million in the previous year (2016). The Japan Tourism Agency recently compiled the top three most inconvenient travel issues for foreign visitors based on feedback from tourists from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the United States.

During peak travel seasons last July and August, as well as this January and February, the most frequently discussed concern among foreign tourists was Japan's public transportation. Although Japan’s subway system is well-developed, first-time visitors often get confused due to similar station names or find taxi fares expensive and communication difficult—resulting in up to 76,000 social media discussions.

The second issue is the unfriendly communication environment. Free public Wi-Fi is scarce for foreign tourists in Japan, while roaming fees are high, with daily internet access costing around 1,000 yen. Some traditional hotels also lack Wi-Fi services.

Additionally, the lack of multilingual signage at tourist sites and language barriers are problematic. Foreign visitors often struggle with subway station names and street signs, and even with an address, finding the destination can be difficult—generating 55,000 social media mentions. After reviewing these common issues faced by foreign tourists in Japan, we remind everyone to do their homework before traveling there.