"Don't They Want to Spend Money While They're Here? They're Ruining the Whole Atmosphere"... Foreign Tourists' Behavior Stirs Controversy in Japan

Repeated "Resting on the Ground" in Luxury District Ginza Raises Eyebrows
Not Illegal Under Current Law, but Public Etiquette Should Be Observed

In Ginza, one of Tokyo’s premier upscale shopping districts, foreign tourists have repeatedly been spotted sitting and resting on sidewalks and by the roadside, sparking a local debate over cultural differences.

Foreign tourists eat while sitting by the roadside in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. Screenshot from a TV Asahi ANNnewsCH broadcast.

According to Japan Today on October 15, more foreign tourists have recently been seen resting along the edges of sidewalks, in flower beds, and on roadside curbs in Ginza. The district is one of Tokyo’s premier shopping areas, known for its concentration of luxury-brand flagship stores and high-end boutiques. Given the area’s emphasis on its street atmosphere and appearance, many locals view sitting on the ground as rude or improper.

"My feet hurt after walking for an hour"... A shortage of benches also plays a part

When local broadcaster TV Asahi ANNnewsCH asked tourists on a Ginza street why they were sitting on the ground, a man from Malaysia replied, "My feet hurt after walking for about an hour." A female tourist from Kosovo said she thought it was fine to sit by the roadside because vehicle traffic was restricted during pedestrian-only hours.

A view of Ginza, one of Tokyo, Japan's premier upscale shopping districts. GaijinPot Travel

Some say Tokyo’s shortage of places to rest is also contributing to tourists sitting on the streets. There are few street-side benches in central Tokyo, including Ginza, and cafes and coffee shops are often full. With prices also a concern, visitors may find it difficult to go into an establishment just to take a short break.

In Japan, a trend emerged among some teenagers in the late 1990s of sitting or squatting on the ground, giving rise to the term "Jibetarian." The slang term, coined at the time, combined "Jibeta," Japanese for the ground, with "vegetarian." However, the practice had almost disappeared by the 2000s. Since those sitting on the streets in Ginza today are mainly foreign tourists, locals find the sight even more unfamiliar.

Sitting on the ground to eat... Locals say, "It ruins Ginza's atmosphere"

More recently, foreign tourists have even been spotted sitting on the street to eat, prompting complaints online among locals. Some online users commented, "Ginza has become too much of a tourist destination," "Isn't it that they don't want to spend money even when there are places to sit?" and "It feels uncomfortable to sit on subway or restaurant seats in clothes that have been on the ground."

Tourists sitting on the street taking a break. Screenshot from social media.

However, sitting on a sidewalk or by the roadside in Ginza is not in itself illegal. It is not punishable unless the person blocks a building entrance or dangerously obstructs pedestrian traffic.

As frictions stemming from differences in everyday customs continue to arise alongside the rise in foreign tourists, some areas of Tokyo are stepping up campaigns to maintain public order among visitors. Shibuya Ward, for example, is running a multilingual campaign ahead of Halloween to inform people that drinking alcohol and littering in public places are prohibited, while also making local rules and etiquette known to foreign tourists.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.