Ahh Japan. The destination that many travellers desire. The perennial trending subject on social media.

Japanese cuisine, culture, quirks, technology, and everything kawaii have inspired endless posts, stories, reels, YouTube videos, and TikToks. If one didn't know better, you'd think it was the dream destination on this planet.

While I love the food, the service and the shopping, the sheer number of tourists (me included) has become a turn-off. I'm not talking about those who inconvenience locals by blocking the road to take photos (that's another story) or about badly behaved tourists (also another topic for another day).

Tokyo is crowded even if you avoid the obvious tourist destinations. (Image: Benjamin Wong, Unsplash)

What is annoying is seeing tourists everywhere, even in previously quiet spots. It seems like there's no place in Japan that goes unvisited (an exaggeration but it feels like it nonetheless).

If I seem like I'm only realising this now, it's because I only travel to Japan once a year.

Where to find peace and quiet?

Omotesando, located just behind Harajuku, used to be quiet, because it was away from the main road. But thanks to social media, that's no longer the case. Tourists also throng its narrow streets, filling its boutiques; jostling with them is not my idea of a holiday. I can do that anytime in Singapore.

When will Meiji Shrine feel this quiet again? Perhaps when the yen appreciates and makes travel to Japan expensive. (Image: Alex Rainer, Unsplash)

Meiji Shrine, which felt like it was previously only visited by locals, is now filled with tourists filming videos. The last time I visited the shrine was to enjoy the walk through the canopy of trees outside and hear the crunching of gravel underfoot.

During my last trip in January this year, I still heard the gravel. But sadly, it was accompanied by the incessant chatter from groups of tourists.

So, next year, I'm giving Japan a miss. There are other cities in East Asia that are just as worth a visit, and probably not as crowded, too.

– Jeremy

(Main image: David Edelstein, Unsplash)