TOKYO, Japan – Buoyed by a weak yen and an explosion into the worldwide pop culture zeitgeist, Japan has been experiencing a tourism boom. During the period January 2024 through July 2024, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reported a record high 3,292,500 international visitors. Tokyo continues to be the most popular destination with data from Statista, a global data collection platform, showing 19.54 million tourists visiting the Japanese city between 2014 and 2023. For those waiting to visit this iconic metropolis, here are a few things to look out for.

Look out for the Tenji blocks on the sidewalks of Tokyo, Japan.

THE SIDEWALKS SPEAK
Having 6,158 persons per square kilometre, Tokyo is not only Japan’s most densely populated prefecture, it‘s one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The famous Shibuya Crossing is the perfect statement on pedestrian culture in Tokyo with up to 2,500 people using the intersection every two minutes. Overseas visitors to Tokyo will immediately notice tenji blocks, textured yellow tiles that line many of its sidewalks. Tenji translates to Braille, thus Braille blocks. These are installed for the visually impaired, allowing them to navigate the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Invented by Seiichi Miyake in 1965, they were eventually adopted nationwide, and evolved into the two main styles used in Japanese public spaces, including buildings. The line-shaped tenji blocks provide directional guidance, while the dot-shaped blocks, usually found at crosswalks, denote caution. So while the tenji blocks embedded into the Tokyo sidewalks may not literally speak, they do so figuratively to the visually impaired.

One of the many visual Easter eggs when walking in Tokyo, are the progress bars on the crossing lights.

PROGRESSIVE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAGE
For those tourists who can see, some may do a double take once they reach and peer up at an intersection crosswalk. Most Westerners will be familiar with a numerical countdown to indicate the changing state of the crossing light. In Tokyo, where everyone seems to be stuck to their phones, it might be appropriate that instead of numbers there are two bars that slowly disappear over time, as if downloading an App to a mobile device, acting like a video game character’s health bar, or mimicking a dying smartphone battery. This isn’t as earth-shattering as the blocks, but it’s a small fun item to observe on a short vacation.

VENDING MACHINE HAVEN
Convenience appears to be king in Tokyo, and Japan overall. A grand example of this is the sheer number of vending machines that can be found on the streets of the city. Japan-guide.com notes that at one machine per 30 people, Japan has one of the highest vending machine densities in the world. For tourists strolling through Tokyo they can generate a sense of awe, function and ambiance. They are often placed not only in seemingly totally random locations, but can sit alone, or in numerically large packs prominently displaying their products. Drinks are their most popular good. Hot, cold, tea, soda, energy or health drinks, and beer, they beckon, especially during the night as their illumination adds to the unique atmosphere of Tokyo’s narrow streets. Dig deeper and their contents expand to everything from rice, to instant noodles, to disposable cameras.