By Eldrid Yarte
Over the years, Japan’s tourism industry has experienced a significant boom. While it may have a positive effect on the economy, it can put a strain on the environment. Green tourism, however, has become more of a thing across the country and it’s now easier to travel sustainably in Japan. If you’re traveling in Japan; sustainable travel isn’t about camping under the stars. You’re more than welcome to stay at Airbnbs in Japan, just support local businesses, and respect both the environment and local culture of the area.
Sustainability has always been a big thing for me and when I visited Japan as a sustainable traveler it made me realize that there were plenty of ways to travel sustainably in Japan. In recent years, Japan has definitely climbed the ranks in being a sustainable travel destination.
Here, I’ll be sharing some of the things that I learned as a sustainable traveler that visited Japan.
1) Enjoy the seasonal eats
Japan is big on seasonal produce, and you really should enjoy the ever-changing menus and produce that’s available throughout the year. Since most of the produce is grown around Japan, you’ll be minimizing food air miles and reducing emissions that are emitted through artificial greenhouse production.
Some of the seasonal eats that you can enjoy range from sweet fish in the summer, bamboo shoots in the spring, sweet potatoes in the Autumn, citrus fruits in the winter and more. The Japanese are also incredibly skilful at incorporating seasonal produce into their menus, so it’s worth checking out.
2) Shop with the locals
If you’re staying in an Airbnb, you’ll want to be cooking with some of the amazing produce that Japan has. While you may be tempted to head to the nearest supermarket, that may not always be the best option. While foreign supermarkets are doing what they can to promote sustainability, it’s still not prevalent in Japan just yet.
Your best bet to buying fresh produce is heading to a local farmer’s market. There, you’ll have everything that you need from fresh eggs to homemade jams and more. If you can’t find a farmer’s market, explore your local area and try to look out for a greengrocer. Usually, these greengrocers are run by elderly locals and most of the local people shop there. When you shop at these stores, you’re supporting the local community, and you’ll most likely meet some friendly people along the way as well.
3) Purchase sustainable souvenirs
While it may be tempting to buy souvenirs at one of the large shopping malls, the easiest way for you to support local businesses is to buy locally made souvenirs. One way is to purchase homemade jams and sauces while you’re at the farmer’s market. Sometimes, there may also be art markets with local artisans selling their handmade crafts.
If you’re looking for something a little more out of the ordinary, check out brands like Modeco. This incredible brand takes waste materials and transforms them into a range of items from clothes to stationery, accessories and more. Japan is at the forefront of fashion, but sustainable fashion is also a growing trend and definitely something that can be researched more into if that’s something you’re interested in.
4) Help to minimize waste
While in Japan, I realized that the Japanese weren’t great when it comes to packaging items sustainably. In fact, they’re a big fan of disposable items in that regard from chopsticks to plastic bags and more. There are, however, some ways for you to go about minimizing single-use plastic waste.
To start, you’d want to have your own shopping bag to put your items in. That way, you won’t be contributing to plastic bag waste. Then, it’s a good idea to purchase a bamboo chopstick and cutlery set that you can take around so you won’t have to use their disposable chopsticks. Try to also get a reusable water bottle or coffee cup and avoid purchasing drinks. If you’re keen, you can also bring along a lunch box to put your home-cooked food or leftovers in.
5) Sustainable transportation is a breeze
There are plenty of sustainable options when it comes to traveling around Japan. For one, the Japanese are huge on cycling so you can easily rent a bike and cycle around whichever area that you’re in. Alternatively, there are also plenty of other ways to travel around in Japan from the bullet trains to the metro.
Prefer to drive? Not to worry, you can rent both hybrid of electric cars in Japan, and there are plenty of charging stations around the country to charge your car at. If you’re not keen on sitting on a train, you can also consider traveling by ferry in Japan rather than catching a plane.
6) Get off the beaten path
It can be tempting to head to the usual spots in Japan such as Tokyo, Osaka, etc. However, you can easily reduce over-tourism by heading to places that are off the beaten path. Soak in some of the natural hot springs or delve into Samurai history in Fukushima province. When you explore the places that aren’t as overrun by tourists, you’ll also be helping out the rural communities more. As a bonus, you’ll also be traveling to a destination with fewer people. If you can’t avoid the cities, try going on a tour that’s run by a family-owned business instead.
7) There are plenty of green spaces to relax at
One great thing about Japan is that there are plenty of green spaces to decompress and relax at. Even if you’re in the bustling city of Tokyo, you’ll find plenty of greenery at Yoyogi Park around the beautiful Meiji Jingu Shrine. There are also plenty of hikes to conquer in Japan from climbing Mount Fuji on a day trip to hitting the slopes at Nagano for a day of skiing. Okinawa is also a great destination to visit for some gorgeous hiking to cascading waterfalls, kayaking or snorkeling in the ocean with colorful fish.
It didn’t come as a huge surprise to me that I didn’t face any difficulty visiting Japan as a sustainable traveller. While there are some things that can be improved on, the idea of living in harmony with the natural world is very much prevalent in Japanese culture and that’s evident all over Japan. I hope that the above gives you further insight into sustainability in Japan, and you’ll give this remarkable country a visit.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media