Beyond visitor numbers: Understanding overtourism risk in suburban Tokyo

Overtourism has become a growing concern in popular tourist destinations, where large numbers of visitors can put pressure on local communities and attractions. However, not all destinations face the same challenges. While busy city centers may struggle to manage crowds, less-visited suburban areas often face the opposite problem: attracting enough visitors. As tourism develops in these areas, an important question arises: Could places that currently receive relatively few visitors face new pressures as tourism grows?