India, March 13 -- Japan's Tourism Ministry recently unveiled a plan addressing the country's overtourism problem. More than 25 million foreign tourists arrived in the country in 2023, a whopping six times the amount from the previous (yes, still-covid-era, but still) year, with the metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto drawing two-thirds of international visitors. Spring's cherry blossom season and its associated hanami (flower-viewing activities), make for the busiest tourism inflow all year. It's also a season I often tell visitors to avoid. I hate to be a sakura spoilsport or the bah humbug of blossoms, but let's face it: cherry blossoms are less beautiful when you're surrounded by swarms of sakura snappers.

Crowds in Ueno Par...