Japan stores say business not too affected by drop in Chinese tourists thanks to tourists from other countries

Tensions are high between China and Japan.

This has led to some unorthodox methods to get around the potential tension.

This potential shortfall in Chinese visitors has prompted discussion on Japanese media.

One such investigation by Kansai TV Network surveyed shops in the Osaka and Kyoto areas to see how much businesses have been affected.

The reporter checked in on a snaking line of foreigners outside a popular rice bowl store.

However, while the store would usually see about 20 per cent of the customers from China, there were no Chinese tourists on the day itself.

The reporter, approaching every customer, asked for their nationalities.

There were Indonesians, Australians, Taiwanese, and even a Singaporean.

According to the 20 shops surveyed, only two saw a significant decline in business.

Both were notably tourist-dependent stores, for example, a kimono rental store.

Apart from the foreign tourists, stores noted that there were higher domestic tourists thanks to the year-end festivities.

This might also suggest that there will not be enough footfall during regular months to make up for the shortfall in Chinese tourists.

The geopolitical tensions were expressed in other ways among Chinese tourists who did make their way to Japan.

According to the news report, of the 64 Chinese tourists the reporter spoke to, only four agreed to be interviewed.

Image from KTV/YT