Japanese Famous Soba Restaurant Excludes Foreign Tourists During Peak Hours
A chain of Japanese famous "standing dining" soba restaurants, "Fujisoba Meidai", has posted notices in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean at some of its branches: "Foreign tourists are not allowed to enter the store during lunch peak hours."
The chain stores are mostly located around office buildings, schools, and residential areas, not tourist attractions. During peak hours, regular customers from nearby office buildings and schools rush in within a short time, quickly eat, and leave. However, foreign tourists are not in a hurry, occupying the dining space of the local customers. "Standing dining" is designed for low-profit and high-volume sales, as well as quick meals to improve turnover efficiency. Although the influx of foreign tourists can increase sales, tourists like to treat eating as a "leisure activity." Taking photos, chatting, or luggage blocking the passage does not conform to the unspoken rules of "standing dining": "eat quickly and leave immediately."
Although the store removed the notice under the request of the higher-level operating company, it also shows that the influx of tourists has spread and infiltrated into the daily life of the city.
Compared to the sales revenue brought by the increase in foreign tourists, "Fujisoba Meidai" wants more to protect its "regular customers."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856251284154504/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.