Letter from Tokyo: why Thais come to Japan

The frequently asked question is: Why do Thais keep coming to Japan? Are they coming for shopping, sightseeing, eating teishoku (set-lunch) and ramen (noodles) or for 

 other less-conspicuous reasons? The answers are many.

After the visa-waiver came into force in July 2013, Thai tourists have been flocking into the island nation ever since, pumping up the arrivals from a few hundred thousand annually to 450,000 in 2014. Last year, the number doubled to nearly one million. Most have visited Japan more than one time.

Proliferation of budget airlines offering more bargain flights also helped up the numbers. With a weaker yen, things Japanese are less expensive. Each Thai tourist now spends between $600-$1,000 (Bt21,000-35,000) a day. These visitors are middle class people from the capital and other major Thai cities.

According to Booking.com website, six out of 10 foreign cities most popular among Thais in the past year were all in Japan. Tokyo ranked the first, followed by Osaka and Sapporo. Fuji Kawaguchiko, Fukuoka and Kyoto came in at the eighth, ninth and tenth places. The four non-Japanese cities were Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur – ranking second, third, fifth and seventh respectively.

Asking Thai tourists randomly for reasons they came to Japan, their answers are predictable—shopping, eating and sightseeing. In fact, food is one of the biggest attractions for Thais, who love the fresh and milder taste of Japanese cuisine — raw or cooked. Also counted is the aesthetic aspect of cuisine arrangement, which competes with Thai cuisine’s food carving.

More sophisticated travellers would be philosophic, saying they appreciate the orderliness, cleanliness and good manners (marayad) of Japanese people and all these qualities could easily connect with Thais, both positively and negatively.

In Thailand, marayad is the national character. But Japanese etiquette impresses the Thais even more. Wherever they go, whoever they encounter, they bow and bow. Thai visitors feel very much at home, as it is much of the same in the way we “wai” and “wai” in Thailand. 

Those shopping all agreed that purchasing normal or discounted goods in Japanese department stores or shops was a real treat, as they were purchasing all genuine products — no fake goods – at reasonable prices. 

“No cheating” is one of the most sited factors why Thais keep returning to Japan. When they get into a taxi, they are confident the drivers will not reject them or take a misled route or wrong destination. If they lose something, they are confident they will get it back.

Since most Thais come with their families, especially senior citizens and children, security and safety of groups is top priority. Doubtless, lots of Thais travel in huge groups, family-style. In relation to this, Thai woman travellers often opt to travel alone in Japan, without fear.

At a recent Japan-Expo last month in Bangkok, Japan’s railway companies enjoyed brisk business unseen before as the popularity of travel passes soared, covering the country’s four main islands — allowing tourists to combine and travel unhindered and cheaply within a period of time.

Of late, more and more Thais have discovered that driving in the countryside is another great way to see Japan. With more Thais behind the wheel, accidents do occur, causing complications for concerned parties. Stern warnings have been issued to potential drivers that the Japanese law regarding driving under the influence of alcohol and other wrongdoing is very stringent. 

The above-mentioned reasons are conventional answers. However, to understand the Thai affinity towards Japan, it is important to go deep into the Thai psyche of wanting a perfect society. Being an independent country, unconquered by a Western power and without foreign oppressors, Thai society has evolved in its own way to be tranquil or a bit messy throughout its modern history. Thais longing for a place with orderliness, a kind of predictable routine and calm, choose to come to Japan.

To them, Japan represents an ideal place possessing an environment that is missing in their country. Many Thais who can afford to purchase tickets often return to Japan — sometimes just for a short break.

Two lesser cited additional reasons are the brief alliance between the two countries during the Second War World. Although their collaboration was a marriage of convenience, it bonded the two governments and the two peoples. Even at the height of the anti-Japan movement in the ’70s, relations continued unabated and friendly.

Furthermore, the Thai Royal Family and Japanese Imperial Family are also very close. Members of their families have exchanged visits often. The youngest son of Emperor Akihito, Prince Akishino Fumihito, is a regular visitor to Thailand, where he has made his name as a Thai fishing specialist.

Finally, there is an empathy between the Thai and Japanese people that has cemented their friendship. During the East Japan earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, Thai people donated both in kind and in cash – more than one billion yen to the victims. Among Asian nations, that was the largest.