‘Many are fed up’: Local pushes back on Aussie tourists
- Replies 0
Tensions can run high when cultural norms clash, especially in destinations grappling with a surge in tourism.
A seemingly ordinary day on the slopes took a dramatic turn when a heated confrontation broke out between a local and a group of visitors.
What unfolded next sparked a firestorm of debate, highlighting growing frustrations over etiquette, respect, and the impact of over-tourism.
Footage of a heated altercation between a Japanese man and two Australian tourists over smoking at a ski resort had gone viral, reigniting debates about etiquette and over-tourism.
The GoPro clip showed a snowboarder storming up to a woman who was holding a cigarette and a can of beer, yelling: ‘Don’t smoke, it’s not polite!’
The woman quickly apologised, saying: ‘Sorry,’ but the man wasn’t satisfied.
‘Sorry? What sorry?!’ he screamed.
Clearly taken aback, the woman shot back: ‘I beg your pardon! I did not know! Don’t yell!’
Her companion stepped in to defend her, telling the snowboarder: ‘Don’t yell at her, she didn’t know.’
‘Didn’t know?!’ the Japanese man repeated.
‘No, it’s her first time,’ the Australian replied.
As he turned to leave, he called them ‘a*******’, prompting the woman to mutter, ‘F****** crazy, man.’
That remark set him off, and he spun around, shouting: ‘What?! What?!’
The Australian man stepped between them, warning: ‘You’re going to touch her I’ll knock you out. You don’t talk to women like that.’
Unfazed, the snowboarder insisted: ‘You don’t smoke.’
‘Yeah, you don’t talk to women like that either, mate,’ the tourist snapped back.
Calling them ‘a*******’ once more, he finally walked away.
Smoking in public spaces was widely prohibited in Japan, and while indoor smoking was more common, it was usually restricted to designated areas.
It was unclear when the confrontation took place, but the footage had spread rapidly on social media, amassing over 13 million views and sparking thousands of comments.
‘As an Australian who’s lived in Japan for years, the locals get pretty sick of our s*** when we break rules and act rudely,’ one user wrote.
‘There are no smoking signs all over Japan! She knew what she was doing,’ another claimed.
A third commenter speculated that the incident had occurred at the Oakley lookout in the Happo One Resort in Hakuba.
They claimed there were clear signs restricting smoking to designated rooms for heated tobacco.
‘It’s well known that smoking in public is not allowed in Japan,’ they added.
Another agreed the woman was in the wrong but believed the snowboarder’s reaction was excessive.
‘She’s in the wrong for smoking, and visiting Japan it’s very clear you can’t just smoke anywhere so she probably knew she was in the wrong,’ they said.
‘But he was way too aggressive in his approach, and should have left it after she apologised.’
Some locals expressed frustration over what they saw as worsening tourist behaviour.
‘Many people are absolutely fed up here with tourists,’ one Australian living in Japan wrote.
Japan had been grappling with a tourism boom, with a record-breaking 36.9 million international visitors in 2024—an increase of 47.1 per cent from the previous year.
While the economic benefits were substantial, with tourism bringing in an estimated 44.6 trillion yen ($455 billion), some residents felt overwhelmed by the influx of foreign visitors.
A survey by Jalan Research Center in November found 60 per cent of Japanese respondents believed there were too many tourists.
Major concerns included overcrowding, rubbish, and disruptive behaviour.
Kyoto had taken steps to curb bad tourist behaviour by banning visitors from certain alleys in Gion.
The city’s historic geisha district had faced complaints that the neighbourhood was being treated like a theme park.
In response to the growing frustrations, the Japanese government introduced a strategy aimed at reducing overtourism.
The plan encouraged visitors to explore regional areas rather than crowding major hotspots like Tokyo and Kyoto.
The weak yen had made Japan an attractive destination for Australians.
A record 637,300 Australians visited between January and September in 2024—a 42 per cent increase from the same period in 2019.
Australians were among the top markets for the longest stays, further contributing to the strain on major cities.
In a rare move, Japan’s tourism board urged Australian travellers to look beyond the usual hotspots to ease congestion.
‘We strongly encourage Australians to consider lesser-known destinations, as well as look at shoulder travel seasons, such as autumn,’ said Naoki Kitazawa, executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organisation’s Australian office.
‘Japan’s summer—known locally as the “green season”—is another great option, where the country’s rural and regional areas really come into their own.’
He stressed that responsible tourism was crucial for both visitors and locals.
‘Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Golden Route offer incredible experiences, but there’s so much more to discover beyond the obvious and what’s trending on social media,’ he said.
‘Just like in Australia, the real magic often lies in exploring the hidden gems of cities and popular destinations, where you’ll find the true essence and diversity of the culture.’
Watch the intense exchange unfold as tensions reach a boiling point on the slopes.
Check out the full video below.
With Japan cracking down on overtourism and tensions rising between locals and visitors, do you think stricter regulations are the answer?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A seemingly ordinary day on the slopes took a dramatic turn when a heated confrontation broke out between a local and a group of visitors.
What unfolded next sparked a firestorm of debate, highlighting growing frustrations over etiquette, respect, and the impact of over-tourism.
Footage of a heated altercation between a Japanese man and two Australian tourists over smoking at a ski resort had gone viral, reigniting debates about etiquette and over-tourism.
The GoPro clip showed a snowboarder storming up to a woman who was holding a cigarette and a can of beer, yelling: ‘Don’t smoke, it’s not polite!’
The woman quickly apologised, saying: ‘Sorry,’ but the man wasn’t satisfied.
‘Sorry? What sorry?!’ he screamed.
Clearly taken aback, the woman shot back: ‘I beg your pardon! I did not know! Don’t yell!’
Her companion stepped in to defend her, telling the snowboarder: ‘Don’t yell at her, she didn’t know.’
‘Didn’t know?!’ the Japanese man repeated.
‘No, it’s her first time,’ the Australian replied.
As he turned to leave, he called them ‘a*******’, prompting the woman to mutter, ‘F****** crazy, man.’
That remark set him off, and he spun around, shouting: ‘What?! What?!’
The Australian man stepped between them, warning: ‘You’re going to touch her I’ll knock you out. You don’t talk to women like that.’
Unfazed, the snowboarder insisted: ‘You don’t smoke.’
‘Yeah, you don’t talk to women like that either, mate,’ the tourist snapped back.
Calling them ‘a*******’ once more, he finally walked away.
Smoking in public spaces was widely prohibited in Japan, and while indoor smoking was more common, it was usually restricted to designated areas.
It was unclear when the confrontation took place, but the footage had spread rapidly on social media, amassing over 13 million views and sparking thousands of comments.
‘As an Australian who’s lived in Japan for years, the locals get pretty sick of our s*** when we break rules and act rudely,’ one user wrote.
‘There are no smoking signs all over Japan! She knew what she was doing,’ another claimed.
A third commenter speculated that the incident had occurred at the Oakley lookout in the Happo One Resort in Hakuba.
They claimed there were clear signs restricting smoking to designated rooms for heated tobacco.
‘It’s well known that smoking in public is not allowed in Japan,’ they added.
Another agreed the woman was in the wrong but believed the snowboarder’s reaction was excessive.
‘She’s in the wrong for smoking, and visiting Japan it’s very clear you can’t just smoke anywhere so she probably knew she was in the wrong,’ they said.
‘But he was way too aggressive in his approach, and should have left it after she apologised.’
Some locals expressed frustration over what they saw as worsening tourist behaviour.
‘Many people are absolutely fed up here with tourists,’ one Australian living in Japan wrote.
Japan had been grappling with a tourism boom, with a record-breaking 36.9 million international visitors in 2024—an increase of 47.1 per cent from the previous year.
While the economic benefits were substantial, with tourism bringing in an estimated 44.6 trillion yen ($455 billion), some residents felt overwhelmed by the influx of foreign visitors.
A survey by Jalan Research Center in November found 60 per cent of Japanese respondents believed there were too many tourists.
Major concerns included overcrowding, rubbish, and disruptive behaviour.
Kyoto had taken steps to curb bad tourist behaviour by banning visitors from certain alleys in Gion.
The city’s historic geisha district had faced complaints that the neighbourhood was being treated like a theme park.
In response to the growing frustrations, the Japanese government introduced a strategy aimed at reducing overtourism.
The plan encouraged visitors to explore regional areas rather than crowding major hotspots like Tokyo and Kyoto.
The weak yen had made Japan an attractive destination for Australians.
A record 637,300 Australians visited between January and September in 2024—a 42 per cent increase from the same period in 2019.
Australians were among the top markets for the longest stays, further contributing to the strain on major cities.
In a rare move, Japan’s tourism board urged Australian travellers to look beyond the usual hotspots to ease congestion.
‘We strongly encourage Australians to consider lesser-known destinations, as well as look at shoulder travel seasons, such as autumn,’ said Naoki Kitazawa, executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organisation’s Australian office.
‘Japan’s summer—known locally as the “green season”—is another great option, where the country’s rural and regional areas really come into their own.’
He stressed that responsible tourism was crucial for both visitors and locals.
‘Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Golden Route offer incredible experiences, but there’s so much more to discover beyond the obvious and what’s trending on social media,’ he said.
‘Just like in Australia, the real magic often lies in exploring the hidden gems of cities and popular destinations, where you’ll find the true essence and diversity of the culture.’
Watch the intense exchange unfold as tensions reach a boiling point on the slopes.
Check out the full video below.
With Japan cracking down on overtourism and tensions rising between locals and visitors, do you think stricter regulations are the answer?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
