France

Paris Syndrome is a medical condition which mainly affects Japanese women in their thirties, it strikes down an average of 12 people per year, and has forced the Japanese embassy to open a 24-hour hotline. Many of the million Japanese tourists who visit Paris every year arrive with a highly romanticised idea of the French capital, and the realities of the city can come as a surprise to some.

In 2006 alone, the Japanese embassy was forced to provide a flight, and accompanying medical team for four people for whom the culture shock was too much. Although the difference between Japanese and French cultures is huge, the fact that this is a recognised condition speaks volumes.

Literature, cinema, and TV have all built up an idealised version of the city of lights since before world wars, and as a result France remains by far the most visited country in the world. In 2012 alone the industry accounted for €77.7bn, most of which is spent in Paris and the French Riviera.