Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese.

Japan’s booming tourism industry has sparked overtourism concerns in recent years. In Fujikawaguchiko, authorities installed a 2.5-meter-high black barrier blocking Mt. Fuji’s view from a viral Lawson convenience store. In Kyoto, private alleys in the geisha district have been closed off after complaints about unruly visitors.

On this episode of Coto Radio, Mr. Nagai is joined by teacher Hidari to talk about traveling in Japan, from iconic sightseeing spots like Mt. Fuji and Kyoto to local food favorites. They also explore the phenomenon of “anime pilgrimages,” or seichi junrei (聖地巡礼), where fans visit real-life locations featured in movies and anime, and discuss the challenges of overtourism. Along the way, they introduce useful Japanese expressions while reminding listeners to enjoy Japan responsibly and follow local rules.

Must-Visit Spots for Foreign Visitors

In this episode, our host, Nagai-sensei and Hidari-sensei, talk about the most popular destinations for travelers in Japan. Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Yakushima often come up as top recommendations from students, while Nagasaki holds a special place for Hidari-sensei as his hometown. 

Mt. Fuji is, of course, a must-see. Climbing it is tough, but the teachers agree that even just seeing it up close is worth the trip. Nagai-sensei even shared that he has climbed Mt. Fuji eight times, sometimes leading groups of over 100 students.

“Climbing is really hard, so at least go close and see it with your own eyes! It’s the tallest mountain in Japan!” Hidari-sensei remarks.

Eat Like a Local, Travel Like a Local

The conversation also highlights how food is central to travel in Japan. Trying local specialties is something recommended not only for foreigners, but for all travelers.

Examples included champon, a popular Nagasaki-style noodle dish in Japan, and Sasebo burgers from Nagasaki. A Sasebo burger does not refer to a single style of hamburger, but rather a general term for handmade, made-to-order burgers that originated in Sasebo City.

But the idea extends globally: pizza in Italy, pho in Vietnam, tacos in Mexico.

“This isn’t just for foreigners. Eating the local specialty is always part of the travel experience,” said Hidari-sensei

Anime and Movie Pilgrimages: Seichi Junrei

A unique form of tourism in Japan is anime pilgrimages. Fans visiting real-life locations featured in anime and films. These places may not be famous on their own, but gain popularity after being shown in works like Your Name, Suzume, or Slam Dunk.

One of the most famous examples is the red staircase at Suga Shrine in Yotsuya, Tokyo, which appeared in Your Name. Fans flock there to recreate the iconic scene of the main characters crossing paths.

“Why are you taking pictures on such an ordinary staircase? There are plenty of other famous spots… but that’s the power of anime pilgrimages,” Nagai-sensei admits. 

This trend is also seen with idols and musicians, as fans visit shops or restaurants recommended by their favorite stars.

The Challenge of Overtourism in Japan

While Japan has many places to visit, the teachers also point out a growing concern: overtourism. As the number of international visitors continues to rise, certain famous spots have become overcrowded, leading to safety issues, environmental damage, and frustration for local residents.

A clear example is Mt. Fuji. In July and August 2023 alone, over 220,000 climbers were recorded. This puts enormous strain on the mountain environment, with problems like litter, trail erosion, and even “bullet climbing” (people rushing to the summit overnight without proper rest, which is dangerous for both the climber and rescuers).

Another case is the viral photo spot at a Lawson convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko. Tourists lined up daily to snap pictures of the store with Mt. Fuji towering behind it, causing heavy congestion and inconvenience for locals. 

“If overtourism continues, people will start saying things like ‘I can’t stand it,’” says  Nagai-sensei.

Ready to listen to the full transcript? Brush up your listening skills with Coto Academy!

A big part of becoming fluent in Japanese and speaking with confidence is developing your listening skills, expanding your vocabulary, and practicing natural conversation.

If you want to start speaking Japanese and get better at listening, this is your sign to join conversation-focused, practical lessons at Coto Academy, Tokyo and Yokohama’s top-rated Japanese language school. With campuses in Shibuya, Yokohama, Iidabashi, and Minato, as well as online classes, our courses focus on real, practical Japanese that you can use in daily life.

Why join Coto Academy?

• Small classrooms with only up to 8 students for personalized support
• Professional native Japanese teachers, all trained to help you succeed
• Over 60 different Japanese classes across 18 levels, tailored to your needs

Interested in learning more about Coto Academy and joining? Contact us by clicking the button below!

New Vocabulary from The Podcast

Check out the new Japanese words you might encounter along the way as you listen to the podcast.

日本語	ローマ字	英語翻訳
引き続き	hikitsuzuki	continuously/as before
早速（ですが）	sassoku (desu ga)	immediately/without delay
観光スポット	kankou supotto	sightseeing spot/tourist attraction
名物	meibutsu	specialty (local specialty)
慌てて～する	awatete ~suru	to spread/become widespread
連続もの	renzoku mono	series (TV, manga, etc.)
バンバン～	banban ~	rapidly / in quick succession
広まる	hiromaru	to spread / become widespread
描く	kaku	to do something in a hurry/panic
代表	daihyou	enthusiast/nerd (often anime/manga context)
オタク	otaku	sense of discomfort/something feels
違和感	iwakan	to spread/become widespread

New Grammar From the Podcast

Along the way, the teachers introduced some new Japanese grammar. Find the full list of new grammar points below.

文法	ローマ字	英語翻訳
Aに限らずB	A ni kagirazu B	not limited to A; also B
～というわけではない	~ to iu wake dewa nai	it doesn’t mean that ~
～ないと…（てしまう）	~ nai to … (te shimau)	if ~ not done, …will happen
～てくる／～てきた	~ te kuru / ~ te kita	to gradually come to do ~ / has come to ~
いくつも…	ikutsu mo …	It doesn’t mean that ~
～だらけ	~ darake	full of ~ / covered with ~

Useful Japanese Phrases From the Podcast

Not just words and grammar, here are a few extra phrases that

フレーズ	ローマ字	英語翻訳
とにかく～	tonikaku ~	anyway / in any case / above all
聖地巡礼	seichi junrei	pilgrimage to a sacred site / visiting anime/manga locations
○○そのものは～	○○ sono mono wa ~	as for ○○ itself…
○○を舞台にした～	○○ o butai ni shita ~	~ set in / based on ○○
正直～です	soujiki ~ desu	honestly, ~

Podcast Transcript

Below is a transcript of an episode of Coto Radio, a podcast presented by Coto Academy available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We recommend listening to it in its original form for the full effect. The transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Nagai-sensei:

どうもこんにちは！Cotoラジオをお聞きいただきましてありがとうございます。
Doumo konnichiwa! Coto rajio o okiki itadakimashite arigatou gozaimasu.
Hello! Thank you for listening to Coto Radio!

Cotoでレッスンしている学習者の皆様そして世界中の日本語学習者の皆様こんにちは！お元気でしょうか！？
Coto de ressun shite iru gakushuusha no minasama soshite sekaijuu no nihongo gakushuusha no minasama konnichiwa! Ogenki deshou ka!?
Hello to all learners taking lessons at Coto, and to Japanese learners around the world! How are you doing?

日本で一番スポーツとビールが好きな日本語教師Nagaiです。
Nihon de ichiban supootsu to biiru ga suki na nihongo kyoushi Nagai desu.
I’m Nagai, a Japanese teacher who loves sports and beer the most in Japan.

学校でもし会ったら、「ハーイMr.Nagai」と声をかけてください！どうぞよろしくお願いします！
Gakkou de moshi attara, “Haai Mr. Nagai” to koe o kakete kudasai! Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
If you see me at school, say “Hi, Mr. Nagai!” Nice to meet you!

こちらのプログラムでは、日本のニュースや生活の中の話題について、できるだけ簡単な日本語で先生たちといっしょに会話をしていきます。
Kochira no puroguramu de wa, Nihon no nyuusu ya seikatsu no naka no wadai ni tsuite, dekiru dake kantan na nihongo de sensei-tachi to issho ni kaiwa o shite ikimasu.
In this program, we talk about Japanese news and daily life topics in as simple Japanese as possible, together with the teachers.

日本語がまだはっきり聞き取れない！という方は、ぜひリラックスして聞くことができるリスニングのテキストだと思って聞いてみてください。
Nihongo ga mada hakkiri kikitore nai! To iu kata wa, zehi rirakkusu shite kiku koto ga dekiru risuningu no tekisuto da to omotte kiite mite kudasai.
If your Japanese listening isn’t clear yet, please relax and treat this as a listening text.

すごくナチュラルに話していますので語彙はちょっと難しいかもしれませんが、まあ、使っている文法はだいたいN4レベルで勉強するものなので、内容は理解できる………はず！
Sugoku nachuraru ni hanashite imasu node goi wa chotto muzukashii kamo shiremasen ga, maa, tsukatte iru bunpou wa daitai JLPT N4 reberu de benkyou suru mono nanode, naiyou wa rikai dekiru………hazu!
We speak very naturally, so the vocabulary may be a little difficult, but the grammar is mostly N4 level, so you should be able to understand the content… probably!

「はず」…はN3ですか? すみません、理解できると信じています！
“Hazu”… wa N3 desu ka!? Sumimasen, rikai dekiru to shinjite imasu!
The word “hazu”… is it N3 level? Sorry, but I believe you can understand it!

さて、今日、私といっしょにお話してくれるのは「クマ被害」のお話に引き続き、麻布校レッスンでおなじみ、左先生です！
Sate, kyou, watashi to issho ni ohanashi shite kureru no wa “Kuma higai” no ohanashi ni hikitsuzuki, Azabu kou ressun de onajimi, Hidari sensei desu!
Now, joining me today to talk, following our last discussion about bear damage, is the familiar Azabu school teacher, Hidari-sensei!

Hidari-sensei:

はい、こんいちは。よろしくお願いしまーす！
Hai, konnichiwa, yoroshiku onegaishimaasu!
Yes, good afternoon. Nice to meet you!

Nagai-sensei:

はい、今回もよろしくお願いします！ではでは、早速ですが、質問です！
Hai, konkai mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu! Dewa dewa, sassoku desu ga, shitsumon desu!
Yes, thank you for joining again! Now, let’s get straight to the point. Here’s the question!

Hidari-sensei:

 はい、答える前に、言葉の説明です！「早速」は、翻訳するといろんな英語が出てきますが、この使い方は Let’s get straight to the point…、「すぐにメインのトピックにいきます！」というサインですね。
Hai, kotaeru mae ni, kotoba no setsumei desu! “Sassoku” wa, hon’yaku suru to ironna eigo ga detekimasu ga, kono tsukaikata wa “Let’s get straight to the point…”, “sugu ni mein no topikku ni ikimasu!” to iu sain desu ne.
Before answering, let me explain a word! “Sassoku” can be translated in many ways, but here it’s used like “Let’s get straight to the point”—a signal that we are moving immediately to the main topic.

Nagai-sensei:

 ありがとうございます。いつものように言葉の説明もしていただきました。
Arigatou gozaimasu. Itsumo no you ni kotoba no setsumei mo shite itadakimashita.
Thank you. As usual, she also explained the meaning of the words.

では、もう一度、早速ですが質問です。テデンッ！！外国人にとって、日本に来たら、1度は行ってみたい観光スポット…と言えばどこですか？？
Dewa, mou ichido, sassoku desu ga shitsumon desu. Teden!! Gaikokujin ni totte, Nihon ni kitara, ichido wa itte mitai kankou supotto… to ieba doko desu ka??
Now, once again, let’s get straight to the question! For foreigners, when they come to Japan, which sightseeing spot do they want to visit at least once??

あ～いや、お勧めにしましょうか！先生のお勧めの観光スポット！！
Aa iya, osusume ni shimashou ka! Sensei no osusume no kankou supotto!!
Ah, let’s make it a recommendation! What sightseeing spots do you recommend, sensei?

Hidari-sensei:

 私のおすすめはもちろん出身地の「長崎」なんですが、学生からよく聞くのは「京都」「広島」「屋久島」でしょうか。「黒部ダム」も人気で、私もいつか行ってみたいところです。
Watashi no osusume wa mochiron shusshin-chi no “Nagasaki” nan desu ga, gakusei kara yoku kiku no wa “Kyouto”, “Hiroshima”, “Yakushima” deshou ka. “Kurobe Damu” mo ninki de, watashi mo itsuka itte mitai tokoro desu.
My recommendation is, of course, my hometown, Nagasaki, but students often mention Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Yakushima. The Kurobe Dam is also popular, and I want to visit it someday, too.

Nagai-sensei:

黒部ダム。おおきいですね。 なるほど。じゃあ「富士山」はどうですか？
Kurobe Damu. Ookii desu ne. Naruhodo. Jaa “Fujisan” wa dou desu ka?
Kurobe Damu.. that is pretty big. I see. Then, how about Mount Fuji?

Hidari-sensei:

それはもちろん！ただ、登るのは本当に大変なので、とにかく近くに行って、自分の目で、しっかり見てほしいです！日本一の山ですから！
Sore wa mochiron! Tada, noboru no wa hontou ni taihen nano de, tonikaku chikaku ni itte, jibun no me de, shikkari mite hoshii desu! Nihon ichi no yama desu kara!
Of course! But climbing it is really hard, so at least go close and see it with your own eyes! It’s the tallest mountain in Japan!

Nagai-sensei:

はい、本当に、本当に近くで見ると大きいですよ！うわっ！でかい！って思いました。僕ちなみに、8回登ってます。
Hai, hontou ni, hontou ni chikaku de miru to ookii desu yo! Uwa! Dekai! tte omoimashita. Boku chinami ni, hachi-kai nobottemasu.
Yes, really—seeing it up close, it’s huge! Wow! I thought. By the way, I’ve climbed it 8 times.

Hidari-sensei:

えー！？先生、趣味ですか？プライベートですか？
Ee!? Sensei, shumi desu ka? Puraibeeto desu ka?
What!? Sensei, is it a hobby? Was it for personal reasons?

Nagai-sensei:

いえ、最初の1回はプライベートで、大学生の時先輩の命令コマンドでしたね…。行くぞ！はい！って。
Ie, saisho no ikkai wa puraibeeto de, daigakusei no toki senpai no meirei komando deshita ne… Iku zo! Hai! tte.
No, the first time was personal, but when I was a college student, it was a senior’s command… “Let’s go! Yes!”

あとは全部、日本語学校の先生になってからです。学生の参加者のパーティーのキャプテンとして。あの～、一番多い時は、160人くらいいました。もちろん先生1人じゃないですよ！何人かでエスコートしました。
Ato wa zenbu, nihongo gakkou no sensei ni natte kara desu. Gakusei no sanka-sha no paatii no kyaputen to shite. Ano~, ichiban ooi toki wa, hyaku rokujuu-nin kurai imashita. Mochiron sensei hitori ja nai desu yo! Nan-nin ka de esukooto shimashita.
After that, all the climbs were when I became a Japanese school teacher, as the captain for student parties. At the busiest time, there were about 160 people. Of course, I wasn’t alone; several of us escorted them.

Hidari-sensei:

すごいですね。
Sugoi desu ne.
That’s amazing.

Nagai-sensei:

若かったな～…って思います…。本当に。
Wakakatta naa… tte omoimasu… Hontou ni.
I feel like I was really young back then… really.

Hidari-sensei:

あ、そうだ！　あとは、スポットだけじゃなくて、食べ物かな～！
A, sou da! Ato wa, supotto dake janakute, tabemono ka na!
Oh, that’s right! And not just the spot, but the food too!

Nagai-sensei:

あ～。行った先で、そこの名物を食べる！っていう旅ですね。
A~. Itta saki de, sokono meibutsu o taberu! tte iu tabi desu ne.
Ah, so traveling to eat the local specialty of the place you visit!

Hidari-sensei:

はい、これはでも外国人に限らず、旅のお勧めですよね！
Hai, kore wa demo gaikokujin ni kagirazu, tabi no osusume desu yo ne!
Yes, but this is recommended not only for foreigners, but for all travelers!

Nagai-sensei:

お！文法！！「Ａに限らずＢ」ですね。日本語の先生っぽい！
O! Bunpou!! “A ni kagirazu B” desu ne. Nihongo no sensei-ppoi!
Oh! Grammar!! “A ni kagirazu B,” right? You sound like a Japanese teacher!

Hidari-sensei:

そうです。では、日本語の先生、わたくし左が、ご説明します。まず、「ず」は昔の言葉で「～ない」。

Sou desu. Dewa, Nihongo no sensei, watakushi Hidari ga, go-setsumei shimasu. Mazu, “zu” wa mukashi no kotoba de “~nai.”
That’s right. Well then, as your Japanese teacher, I’ll explain. First, “zu” is an old form of “nai” (not).

「限る」は「それだけ、それ以外はだめ！」という意味なので、一緒に使うと、「それだけ、それ以外はだめ！…じゃないよ！他のものでもいいよ！！」という意味になります。
“Kagiru” wa “sore dake, sore igai wa dame!” to iu imi nanode, issho ni tsukau to, “sore dake, sore igai wa dame! …janai yo! Hoka no mono demo ii yo!!” to iu imi ni narimasu.
“Kagiru” means “only this, nothing else is allowed.” So together, it means “Not just that, others are also okay!”

Nagai-sensei:

はい、あの、「限る」は「限り」って名詞の形になっているのを、よく見ます。
Hai, ano, “kagiru” wa “kagiri” tte meishi no katachi ni natte iru no o, yoku mimasu.
Yes, I often see “kagiru” used as the noun form “kagiri.”

Hidari-sensei:

そうですね。「今夜限りの20％OFF！」「現品限り」「一回限り」とか。Cotoもよく出してますよねキャンペーンのお知らせ。
Sou desu ne. “Konya kagiri no 20% OFF!”, “genpin kagiri”, “ikkai kagiri” toka. Coto mo yoku dashitemasu yo ne, kyanpeen no oshirase.
Right. Like “20% OFF tonight only!”, “limited to stock on hand,” or “one time only.” Coto often uses these phrases in campaign ad,s too.

Nagai-sensei:

だから、日本語を読んで「慌てて買いに行く！」ことができたらそれはみなさんの日本語レベルが上がっている証拠です！
Dakara, Nihongo o yonde “awatete kai ni iku!” koto ga dekitara sore wa minasan no Nihongo reberu ga agatte iru shouko desu!
So if you can read Japanese and rush out to buy something, that’s proof your Japanese level has improved!

Hidari-sensei:

「慌てて何かする」…は、急がなければなりません！
“Awatete nanika suru”… wa, isoganakereba narimasen! 
“To do something in a hurry” means you must act quickly! 

早くしないと終わってしまう！困る！大変だ！…と思って、他にしていることをストップしてそれをすることです。Rush to do somethingですね。
Hayaku shinai to owatte shimau! Komaru! Taihen da!… to omotte, hoka ni shite iru koto o sutoppu shite sore o suru koto desu. Rush to do something desu ne.
You think, “If I don’t do this now, it’ll end! That’s a problem! Oh no!” So you stop what you’re doing and rush to do it.

Nagai-sensei:

はい。あ、そう、それで…、えっと～、「旅行」とか「観光」と言えば、日本人もそうですけど、今までは、その場所にある有名な建物とか景色とか…を見に行っていたんですよ。
Hai. A, sou, sore de… etto~. “Ryokou” toka “kankou” to ieba, Nihonjin mo sou desu kedo, ima made wa, sono basho ni aru yuumei na tatemono toka keshiki toka… o mi ni itte ita n desu yo.
Yes. Oh, right, so… speaking of “travel” or “sightseeing,” until now, people, including Japanese, would go see famous buildings or scenery at a place.

Hidari-sensei:

はい、そうですね。
Hai, sou desu ne.
Yes, that’s true.

Nagai-sensei:

はい。食べ物とかもそうです。 その土地で有名な食べ物を食べに行く！
Hai. Tabemono toka mo sou desu. Sono tochi de yuumei na tabemono o tabe ni iku!
Yes, and food as well. You go to eat the famous food of the area!

韓国に焼肉！メキシコにタコス！あとは・・・？
Kankoku ni yakiniku! Mekishiko ni takosu! Ato wa…?
Korean BBQ in Korea! Tacos in Mexico! And then…?

Hidari-sensei:

イタリアにピザ、ベトナムにフォー、あ、長崎にちゃんぽん！あとは長崎に佐世保バーガー
Itaria ni piza, Betonamu ni fou, a, Nagasaki ni chanpon! Ato wa Nagasaki ni Sasebo bagaa.
Pizza in Italy, pho in Vietnam, oh, champon in Nagasaki! And Sasebo burgers in Nagasaki!

Nagai-sensei:

そう、そうそう。 長崎いいですね～。いっぱいありますね。
Sou, sou sou. Nagasaki ii desu ne~. Ippai arimasu ne.
Yes, exactly. Nagasaki is great, so many things.

ちょっとその長崎の話、次のトピックに関係あるんですけど、今あの～世界中に「日本のアニメ」がバンバン広まっているじゃないですか。
Chotto sono Nagasaki no hanashi, tsugi no topikku ni kankei aru n desu kedo, ima ano~ sekaijuu ni “Nihon no anime” ga banban hiromatte iru ja nai desu ka.
That Nagasaki talk actually connects to the next topic — Japanese anime is spreading rapidly around the world, right? 

有名な連続ものもそうですし、その時代その時代の映画、「サマーウォーズ」とか、「君の名は」とか、「すずめの戸締り」とか。
Yuumei na renzoku mono mo sou desu shi, sono jidai sono jidai no eiga, “Samaa Woozu” toka, “Kimi no Na wa” toka, “Suzume no Tojimari” toka.
There are famous series, and also films from different eras, like Summer Wars, Your Name, and Suzume.

Hidari-sensei:

名探偵コナン、セーラームーン、スラムダンクそうですねー。
Meitantei Konan, Seeraa Muun, Suramu Danku sou desu ne~.
Detective Conan, Sailor Moon, Slam Dunk… yes.

あとは、やっぱりジブリの作品ですか。
Ato wa, yappari Jiburi no sakuhin desu ka.
And of course, Studio Ghibli works.

Hidari-sensei:

ニッポン代表！！ジブリ！ えーっと、そのアニメや映画にいろんな場所が出てくるんですよ。
Nippon daihyou!! Jiburi! Eetto, sono anime ya eiga ni ironna basho ga dete kuru n desu yo.
Japan’s representative!! Ghibli! Well, anime and movies show many places. 

しかも、日本のアニメーションってかなりリアルにその場所を描きますよね。
Shikamo, nihon no animeeshon tte kanari riaru ni sono basho o egakimasu yo ne. 
And Japanese animation often depicts them very realistically. 

だから、その映画のワンシーンに出てくる場所に実際に行って、映画の中のキャラクターと同じことをしたり、同じ格好をしたりして写真を撮るっていう。
Dakara, sono eiga no wan shiin ni dete kuru basho ni jissai ni itte, eiga no naka no kyarakutā to onaji koto o shitari, onaji kakkou o shitari shite shashin o toru tte iu.
So fans actually visit those spots and take photos doing the same poses as the characters.

Hidari-sensei:

「聖地巡礼」と言われている旅のし方ですね。「聖地巡礼」を直訳すると pilgrimage（ピルグリメイジ）で宗教用語なんですけど。
“Seichi junrei” to iwarete iru tabi no shikata desu ne. “Seichi junrei” o chokuyaku suru to pilgrimage de shuukyou yougo nan desu kedo.
That style of traveling is called seichi junrei, or “pilgrimage.” Literally, it means religious pilgrimage.

Nagai-sensei:

はいそれです！ ただもともとの意味とはちょっと違って、有名な場所に行くのではなく、建物や場所そのものは特に有名というわけではないのに、アニメによってすごく知られている。
Hai sore desu! Tada motomoto no imi to wa chotto chigatte, yuumei na basho ni iku no de wa naku, tatemono ya basho sono mono wa tokuni yuumei to iu wake de wa nai noni, anime ni yotte sugoku shirarete iru. 
Yes, that’s it! But the meaning here is a bit different — not about visiting a historically famous place. Instead, it’s places that aren’t famous on their own, but have become well-known because of anime. 

そんなところに人が「聖地巡礼しましょう！」って言って集まってしまうんですよ！
Sonna tokoro ni hito ga “seichi junrei shimashou!” tte itte atsumatte shimau n desu yo!
And then fans gather there, saying, “Let’s do a pilgrimage!”

Hidari-sensei:

 ねー。そこに住んでいる人にしたら、「え～、、なんで？？ この坂がどうしたの？」みたいな。
Nee. Soko ni sunde iru hito ni shitara, “Ee… nande?? Kono saka ga doushita no?” mitaina.
Right. For people who live there, it’s like, “Huh? Why?? What’s so special about this slope?”

Nagai-sensei:

そうそう、「え、なんでそんな何もない階段で写真撮る？」みたいな…。他にあるよ、もっと有名な建物とか公園とか…。
Sousou, “Ee, nande sonna nanimo nai kaidan de shashin toru?” mitaina… Hoka ni aru yo, motto yuumei na tatemono toka kouen toka…
Exactly. Like, “Why are you taking pictures on such an ordinary staircase?” There are plenty of other famous places, like buildings or parks. 

「ごめんなさい、ちょっとそこ、じゃまなんですけど…。」みたいな。それが「聖地巡礼」。観光の形が変わってきました。
“Gomen nasai, chotto soko, jama nandesu kedo…” mitaina. Sore ga “seichi junrei”. Kankou no katachi ga kawatte kimashita.
Or people saying, “Excuse me, you’re kind of in the way…” That’s what anime pilgrimages are — the shape of tourism has changed.

Hidari-sensei:

 最近は映画やドラマ、アニメの舞台になったところだけでなく、好きなアイドルやミュージシャンがおススメしていたお店などに行って同じものを買ったり、食べたりというパターンもあるようです。
Saikin wa eiga ya dorama, anime no butai ni natta tokoro dake de naku, suki na aidoru ya myuujishan ga osusume shiteita omise nado ni itte onaji mono o kattari, tabetari to iu paataan mo aru you desu.
Recently, people don’t just visit places from movies, dramas, or anime. They also go to shops recommended by their favorite idols or musicians, to buy or eat the same things.

あ、そういえば、長井先生は「聖地巡礼」しないんですか？ ほら、バスケットボールの「スラムダンク」オタクじゃないですか？
A, sou ieba, Nagai-sensei wa “seichi junrei” shinain desu ka? Hora, basukettobooru no “Slam Dunk” otaku janai desu ka?
Oh, by the way, don’t you do anime pilgrimages, Mr. Nagai? I mean, you’re a Slam Dunk basketball otaku, right?

Nagai-sensei:

ええ、まあ正直オタクと言われて違和感はないレベルです。
Ee, maa shoujiki otaku to iwarete iwakan wa nai reberu desu.
Well, honestly, I wouldn’t feel it’s strange to be called an otaku.

Hidari-sensei:

あの鎌倉の「江ノ電」の踏切…。すごく有名じゃないですか！
Ano Kamakura no “Enoden” no fumikiri… Sugoku yuumei janai desu ka!
That Kamakura “Enoden” railroad crossing… it’s super famous, right?

Nagai-sensei:

江ノ電、江ノ島電鉄鎌倉高校前ね。七里ガ浜のほうにちょっと行くんですけど…
Enoden, Enoshima Dentetsu Kamakura Koukou Mae ne. Shichirigahama no hou ni chotto ikun desu kedo…
Yes, Enoden — at Kamakura High School Station. It’s near Shichirigahama.

アニメがスタートして最初のオープニングで、「君が好きだと叫びたい」という歌の…（熱く語り出す）
Anime ga staato shite saisho no oepuningu de, “Kimi ga suki da to sakebitai” to iu uta no… (Atsuku katari dasu)
In the anime’s opening scene, during the song Kimi ga Suki da to Sakebitai… (he starts passionately describing the scene).

Hidari-sensei:

ちょっと、何言ってるかわからないです。
Chotto, nani itteru ka wakaranai desu.
Um, I don’t really understand what you’re talking about.

Hidari-sensei:

ですよね！！ですよね…。
Desu yo ne!! Desu yo ne…
Right?! I knew it…

Nagai-sensei:
多分、初級の学生が、「授業で先生がずっと言葉の説明しててよくわかんなかったー」って言うあの気持ちでした今、この時間。
Tabun, shokyuu no gakusei ga, “Jugyou de sensei ga zutto kotoba no setsumei shitete yoku wakannakatta~” tte iu ano kimochi deshita ima, kono jikan.
I think I just felt what beginner students feel when they say, “The teacher kept explaining words in class, but I didn’t understand anything.”

Nagai-sen:

いやすみません。え～っと、何の話でしたっけ、
Iya sumimasen. Ee… tto, nan no hanashi deshita kke,
Ah, sorry. Uh… what were we talking about again?

Hidari-sensei:

聖地巡礼！
Seichi junrei!
Anime pilgrimages!

Nagai-sessei:

あ、そう、聖地巡礼！ 僕は、しません。
A, sou, seichi junrei! Boku wa, shimasen.
Ah, right — anime pilgrimages! I don’t do them.

Hidari-sensei:

しないんですか～。え～意外。
Shinain desu ka~. Ee~ igai.
You don’t?? Wow, surprising.

Nagai-senssei:

ええ。僕はしないんですけど、今、すごい人なんですよ。あそこ。
Ee. Boku wa shinain desu kedo, ima, sugoi hito nan desu yo. Asoko.
Yeah, I don’t, but those places are packed now. 

外国の方、特にアジアの方々ですね、ニュースにもなってますが…。
Gaikoku no kata, toku ni Ajia no katagata desu ne, nyuusu ni mo nattemasu ga…
Especially with people from overseas, mostly from Asia. It’s even been in the news.

その～、市や町は、そんな観光スポットとして「すごくアピールして来てくださいー！」って言ってるわけじゃないのに、
Sono~, shi ya machi wa, sonna kankou supotto toshite “Sugoku apiiru shite kite kudasai~!” tte itteru wake janai noni,
The cities or towns aren’t even officially promoting these places as tourist spots,

人が来てしまう場所というのが結構たくさん日本にあって、それが大きい問題に発展しているケースがあるんですよね。
hito ga kite shimau basho to iu no ga kekkou takusan Nihon ni atte, sore ga ookii mondai ni hatten shite iru keesu ga aru n desu yo ne.
Yet people still come in huge numbers. In Japan, there are actually a lot of places like that — and in some cases, it’s developed into a big problem.

Hidari-sensei:

「発展する」…という言葉は、大抵、とてもいい意味で使いますねー。
“Hatten suru”… to iu kotoba wa, taitei, totemo ii imi de tsukaimasu ne~.
The word hatten suru (to develop) is usually used in a positive sense

何かができる場所が広がって、さらにできる技術、テクニックもレベルアップして、上にも横にも大きくなっていくという意味の言葉です。
Nanika ga dekiru basho ga hirogatte, sara ni dekiru gijutsu, tekunikku mo reberu appu shite, ue ni mo yoko ni mo ookiku natte iku to iu imi no kotoba desu.
This phrase means that the scope of what can be done expands, the skills and techniques that can be used also improve, and things grow both upwards and horizontally.

そのケースは、つまり、「オーバーツーリズム」と呼ばれる社会問題ですね。人が予想よりも多く来てしまうので、問題がでてしまう
Sono keesu wa, tsumari, “oobaatsuurizumu” to yobareru shakai mondai desu ne. Hito ga yosou yori mo ooku kite shimau node, mondai ga dete shimau.
But in this case, it refers to a social issue called overtourism: when more people than expected come, leading to problems.

Nagai-sensei:

はい、オーバーツーリズム。too much ツーリズムです。
Hai, oobaatsuurizumu. Too much tsuurizumu desu.
Yes — overtourism. Simply put, too much tourism.

Hidari-sensei:

来て欲しいけど、人が増えたらそれだけ問題も増えます。
Kite hoshii kedo, hito ga fuetara sore dake mondai mo fuemasu.
We want visitors to come, but the more people there are, the more problems there will be.

Nagai-sensei:

富士山も登山客が列に、ラインになってますからね。いや、列じゃない、渋滞ですね。Traffic jam。
Fujisan mo tozankyaku ga retsu ni, rain ni nattemasu kara ne. Iya, retsu janai, juutai desu ne. Traffic jam.
On Mt. Fuji, climbers form not just lines, but real traffic jams. 

あと、これも調べました。去年OPENしてからCLOSEする9月までの2か月間で、富士山の登山客は22万1000人だったそうです。
Ato, kore mo shirabemashita. Kyonen OPEN shite kara CLOSE suru kugatsu made no nikagetsukan de, Fujisan no tozankyaku wa 22-man 1000-nin datta sou desu.
I looked this up — in just two months last year, from the opening to the September closure, there were 221,000 climbers.

これ、計算すると1日3680人が登ってることになります。
Kore, keisan suru to ichinichi 3680-nin ga nobotteru koto ni narimasu.
That’s about 3,680 people climbing per day.

Hidari-sensei:

それは、ゴミも増えるし、ルールが守れない人もいますよー。
Sore wa, gomi mo fueru shi, ruuru ga mamorenai hito mo imasu yo~.
That means more trash, and some people are not following the rules

あとね、登る人だけじゃなくて、富士山の写真撮る人ですよね～。
Ato ne, noboru hito dake janakute, Fujisan no shashin toru hito desu yo ne~.
That means more trash, and some people not following the rules.

近くにあるコンビニの上に富士山が積んであるように見える写真を撮る！っていうねー。ニュースになってました。
Chikaku ni aru konbini no ue ni Fujisan ga tsunde aru you ni mieru shashin o toru! tte iu nee. Nyuusu ni nattemashita.
And not only climbers, but also people taking photos — like the famous shot where Mt. Fuji looks like it’s stacked on top of a convenience store roof. That even made the news.

Nagai-sensei:

はい、あそこは、信号がないのに、写真撮るために道路を渡る人があまりにも多くて、すごく危ないから、ついに、写真が撮れないようにネットを張りましたから。
Hai, asoko wa, shingou ga nai noni, shashin toru tame ni douro o wataru hito ga amarini mo ookute, sugoku abunai kara, tsuini, shashin ga torenai you ni netto o harimashita kara.
Yes, at that spot, even though there’s no traffic light, so many people were crossing the road just to take photos that it became dangerous. Finally, they put up a big net so photos couldn’t be taken.

Hidari-sensei:

はい、私たちが見て欲しいのは、ここじゃないんですー。
Hai, watashitachi ga mite hoshii no wa, koko janain desu~.
Yes, that’s not what we want people to see. 

こんな細い歩道に1日3000人も来ないでください…。
Konna hosoi hodou ni ichinichi 3000-nin mo konaide kudasai…
Please, don’t have 3,000 people a day crowding into such a narrow walkway…

Nagai-sensei:

…と、いうことです。たくさんお客さんには来て欲しいけど、ルールを守って！ということですね。
…to, iu koto desu. Takusan okyakusan ni wa kite hoshii kedo, ruuru o mamotte! to iu koto desu ne.
…And that’s the point. We want many visitors, but please follow the rules!

Hidari-sensei:

でも、その後のニュースで、結局あの黒いネットにも、小さい穴をいくつも空けられて、その穴から写真撮る人はやっぱりたくさんいるそうですよ。
Demo, sono ato no nyuusu de, kekkyoku ano kuroi netto ni mo, chiisai ana o ikutsumo akerarete, sono ana kara shashin toru hito wa yappari takusan iru sou desu yo.
But later news said that in the end, people poked small holes in that black net, and many are still taking pictures through those holes.

Nagai-senseii

あ～そうなんですか、穴！？ じゃあもう結構穴だらけに…。
Aa~ sounan desu ka, ana!? Jaa mou kekkou anadarake ni…
Oh, really? Holes!? So now it’s full of holes…

Hidari-sensei:

はい、「だらけ」…それがあっても自分はぜんっぜん嬉しくないものがたくさん見えて嫌になる…という気持ちになったら使ってみましょう。
Hai, “darake”… Sore ga atte mo jibun wa zen~zen ureshikunai mono ga takusan miete iya ni naru… to iu kimochi ni nattara tsukatte mimashou.
Yes, “-darake” means when there’s a lot of something, but it’s something you don’t like seeing, and it makes you unhappy.

Nagai-sensei:
オーバーツーリズムの問題は、このままだと、本当に「最近、観光客だらけで嫌んなっちゃう」とか「富士山がごみだらけになってしまった」とか…言われるようになってしまいます。
Oobaatsuurizumu no mondai wa, kono mama da to, hontou ni “Saikin, kankoukyaku-darake de iyannacchau” toka “Fujisan ga gomi-darake ni natte shimatta” toka… iwareru you ni natte shimaimasu.
If overtourism continues, people will really start saying things like, “Lately it’s tourist-darake and I can’t stand it,” or “Mt. Fuji has become gomi-darake (covered in trash).”

Hidari-sensei:

そうですね、でも、だからと言って、逆に「ルールだらけ」にもしたくないですよね。たくさん観光客に来て欲しい気持ちもちゃんとありますから。
Sou desu ne, demo, dakara to itte, gyaku ni “ruuru-darake” ni mo shitakunai desu yo ne. Takusan kankoukyaku ni kite hoshii kimochi mo chanto arimasu kara.
That’s true. But at the same time, we don’t want it to become “rule-darake” either. We still want many tourists to come.

Nagai-sensei:

そう思います。皆さんもルールを守って！
Sou omoimasu. Minasan mo ruuru o mamotte!
Exactly. Everyone, please follow the rules!

Hidari-sensei:

ね、いつも周りの人のことを考えて！
Ne, itsumo mawari no hito no koto o kangaete!
Yes — and always think of the people around you!

Nagai-sensei

日本をもっともっと楽しんでください！
Nihon o motto motto tanoshinde kudasai!
Please enjoy Japan even more! 

あ、じゃ最後に左先生に、本当にここはいろんな意味でお勧め！っていうベスト左スポットを聞いてお別れしましょうか！
A, ja saigo ni Hidari-sensei ni, hontou ni koko wa ironna imi de osusume! tte iu besuto Hidari supotto o kiite owakare shimashou ka!
Oh, and finally, let’s ask Hidari-sensei for his top recommended spots before we finish!

Hidari-sensei:
東京だと、外苑前の銀杏並木、隅田川クルーズ、千鳥ヶ淵の桜でしょうか。
Toukyou da to, Gaienmae no ichou namiki, Sumidagawa kuruuzu, Chidorigafuchi no sakura deshou ka.
In Tokyo, I’d recommend the gingko trees at Gaienmae, the Sumida River cruise, and the cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi.

Nagai-sensei:
今教えてもらったところにも、ぜひ、ルールを守って出かけてみてください！それでは本日もお時間となりました。お相手はMr. Nagai、そして…
Ima oshiete moratta tokoro ni mo, zehi, ruuru o mamotte dekakete mite kudasai! Soredewa honjitsu mo ojikan to narimashita. Oaite wa Mr. Nagai, soshite…
Please, when you visit the places we mentioned today, follow the rules! That’s all for today. I’m Mr. Nagai, and…

Hidari-sensei:
左でしたー！
Hidari deshita~!
I’m Hidari!

Nagai-sensei:
ありがとうございました。
Arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you very much!

Ready to learn Japanese? Fill out the form below to get started!

Boost your confidence and start speaking Japanese from day one with conversation-focused lessons at Coto Academy. With campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, we offer fun, flexible classes centered on practical, everyday Japanese. Choose from intensive or part-time courses to fit your schedule and start using Japanese outside the classroom right away. To get started, fill out the inquiry form below and our staff will get back to you soon!