As coronavirus keeps Chinese tourists out of Japan, Kyoto sees a silver lining
- Business is ‘worst it has been for decades’, travel companies say, but a lack of crowds and congestion means locals can rediscover the city’s tranquillity
- Local authorities are seeking to encourage Chinese travellers back
“It has been a very quiet year and the summer months were nothing like they were last year,” said Tamura, director of Cerca Travel Co. “The borders are closed so it is impossible to have foreign tourists visit, so the streets close to the famous sights and places like the Gion geisha district are just empty.”
“It’s a really good time to be in Kyoto,” he said. “This city had a serious problem with overtourism and, for local people, it’s much better right now. It’s easy to get around the town, you can make a reservation for a restaurant, the shops are not too busy. It feels relaxed.”
Masaru Takayama also owns a Kyoto-based tourism firm, Spirit of Japan Travel. He said business was “the worst it has been for decades” – although he agreed the lack of foreign tourists this year had been “positive for the community”.