Why This Topic Landed in Japan

Anxiety that "Japan has grown poorer" runs constantly beneath the surface online, and overseas travel made that visible through an easy-to-grasp metric. At the same time, there is a strong defensive, practical streak — "domestic travel is enough," "there's no point going to an unsafe overseas" — so the discussion widened into a generational and attitudinal shift that can't be reduced to a simple poverty argument.

Key Reaction Themes

  • Economic factors (weak yen, incomes) — Laments that "the yen is worth less than half" of its bubble-era value and that people have grown poorer.
  • A turn inward and a defensive mindset — Voices saying "domestic is enough" and that going abroad has dropped down the list of priorities.
  • Comparison with other countries — Noting that Korea and Taiwan now exceed Japan in passport ownership and outbound rates.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

"Domestic is enough" values meet economic reality

Explaining the decline in overseas travel through both economics and a shift in values.

Sources: Gendai, 2ch

Comments:

  • "Afraid of abroad, afraid of going outside — you lot rubbed off on them."
  • "They just got bored of it."
  • "Other developed countries increased overseas travel far more than Japan; Japan's growth was feeble. Other countries' pre-COVID numbers have long since recovered, but Japan's haven't."
  • "It's dangerous, the toilets are dirty, and there's no money."
  • "What attractive travel destinations are there other than within Japan?"
  • "YouTube and the imageboards are fun, and it's hot outside."
  • "Compared with the bubble era, the yen is worth less than half, you know?"
  • "More people don't want long holidays now — maybe the very sense of 'going on a trip' is gone."
  • "・No money ・hot, cold, typhoons, earthquakes, thunder, fires ・the internet is fun — it's around here."
  • "I've been to Taiwan about five times. It's a great place, the food's delicious, and there are lots of pro-Japan people."