Travelling to another country comes with an unspoken rule: follow the culture, respect the norms, and don’t inconvenience the locals.
But a recent viral post from Japan shows that not all tourists are getting the memo.
A Japanese netizen took to Threads to express frustration over foreign tourists who were allegedly taking up too much space inside public trains, causing discomfort for local commuters.
The post included a photo of two Southeast Asian-looking women, one wearing a headscarf along with a child seated in a stroller positioned in the aisle.
“Even locals can’t board comfortably anymore”
According to the poster, areas like Kyoto’s famous Gion district are already bursting with tourists, making it difficult for residents to even board buses.
Fushimi Inari is packed with tourists, and on the JR Nara Line, Japanese passengers had to stand all the way until Inari Station. Some tourists even place large luggage in the walkway, blocking others. It’s terrible,” the netizen wrote.
They added that the growing influx of visitors has made routine commuting more troublesome for those living in these popular sightseeing areas.
Some blame tourists, others blame the poster
The post quickly drew mixed reactions online. Many agreed that tourists should be more aware of Japanese public transport etiquette, especially during busy periods.
However, others questioned why the poster didn’t politely approach the tourists to explain the issue and criticised them for uploading a photo that revealed the identity of an underage child.
Several commenters also pointed out that in Japan, it’s generally encouraged to fold strollers when boarding trains or buses to avoid blocking the aisle.
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