[evanny]

Jbaymore. nice to meet. you. as it happens my major is also asian culture and japanese language. so don't think you have the longest cock.

i am well aware Japan has different seasons and climates. however they are not the kind the tourists usually go for. Japan has snow - so what? anyone will choose Alps over Japan. Japan has beaches - most people will chose Hawaii or Egypt over Japan. flee markets? don't compare Japan which is clean and neat to the charm of the 3rd world country flee markets.
history - not as diverse in eyes of many or mainstream. do you think more people will know who Tokugawa was or King Arthur? or what the fuck General Perry was?

So if you are so educated in Japan as you say, you should understand why it won't, at least for a while, reach the popularity the other world regions have.
1. Location
2. Can't compare to the charm or climate of North Africa-Middle East or art history of Europe. (hmmm..Matsuo Basho? how many will know him in the western world compared to Dante?
3. History is not mainstream.

that is not to say Japan isn't a nice place. it is. but it is not mainstream and probably never will. it is too clean and neat and also too expensive for most people and the history for average joe, as said before, ends with samurai and geisha.