Kyoto desperate for tourists, but still worried as Japanese yen weakens

Three years ago, foreign tourists poured into Yasuko’s liquor store in Nishiki Market non-stop each day. Now, only locals visit the area. — Reuters

Poring over the ledger at her more than 230-year-old liquor shop in Kyoto, Yasuko Fujii has mixed feelings about the return of foreign tourists who would crowd the streets of Japan’s ancient capital before the pandemic – and buy lots of whisky and wine.

Her ambivalence reflects a broader uncertainty in Japan about welcoming tourist hordes amid fears they could trigger a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, even though a weak yen would be a big draw for tourists and a boon for local businesses.