Tourism Is Driving Up Hourly Wages Across Japan. Some Businesses Aren’t Happy

There’s good wages to be had in tourism-heavy towns like Niseko and Hakone. But some employers are grousing they can’t afford to pay.

Wages in Japan have remained stagnant for decades. So you think it would be a good thing when wages go up in parts of the country. That’s what’s happening in areas of Japan such as Niseko, Hakone, and other heavy tourist draws. However, one group of people isn’t happy about the development: employers.

Hokkaido Shimbun reports that the massive influx of tourists to the popular ski resort town of Niseko has left resorts in a scramble to hire workers. That’s caused some resorts to start offering hourly wages up to 2,000 yen ($12.89).

That’s good money for Japan. The current average hourly nationwide is 1,055 yen ($6.88). Japan’s government wants to raise it to 1,500 yen ($9.79) within the next 10 years.

A similar phenomenon, says Nikkei, is happening across Japan. Wages in Japan’s Taito City (home of Ueno Park and Tokyo Museum) are up 7% and up 8.10% in Hakone and other parts of Kanagawa Prefecture. In Niseko, says Nikkei, the average hourly wage has gone up a whopping 10%.

Some employers, though, aren’t happy. Businesses from the supermarket to the postal service are complaining they…