Japan, amid an unprecedented travel boom, is starting to charge tourists more to visit | CBC News

There's a meme circulating that the average millennial midlife crisis unfolds like this: 

1. Take up running.
2. Make house plants your entire personality.
3. Buy an air fryer.
4. Start planning a trip to Japan.

First of all, ouch. But second of all, the accuracy.

The allure of Japan has called to travellers (young and old, for the record) for years, but especially since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unique mix of cultural traditions and cutting-edge modernity, its emphasis on wellness and aesthetic of comfort, and its natural landscapes and popular attractions are just part of what makes Japan so appealing to many.

Last year, Japan was named the best country to visit in the world by the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards.

And now, bolstered by a weak yen, it's also more affordable, leading to an unprecedented travel boom that saw the country cross the 10-million visitor mark at its fastest-ever pace this year. For many, it's a welcome boost, after tourism to Japan was all but halted for more than two years during the pandemic, as the country put up some of the world's strictest border controls.