Visitors to Gion’s red-light district, one of Kyoto’s most popular tourist destinations, will be unable to enter its picturesque alleyways as Japanese authorities try to grapple with a dramatic increase in tourism. was to be prohibited.
Residents of Japan’s ancient capital are struggling to reconcile problems with tourist overcrowding and poor etiquette with an economic upturn as tourist numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.
In Gion, where the traditional performing arts of geisha and maiko can be seen on their way to evening teahouse appointments, tourists with smartphones are regularly targeted, and some of them are encouraged to keep their distance and pay attention to women’s high prices. Some people ignore signs asking them not to touch the traditional kimono. Complaints have also been received about trespassers on private property.
In December, the Gion Resident Council called on the city government to take action against illegal tourists, saying their area was “not a theme park.”
Kyoto authorities said a ban on access to Gion’s narrow private roads is expected to go into effect next month, but it is unclear how the restrictions will be enforced.
“We don’t want to do this, but we are desperate,” City Council member Isoichi Ota said, adding that signs would be put up to remind visitors of the new measures.
Hanamikoji Dori, the area’s main road, will remain open to tourists.
Ota complained that some tourists act like amateur paparazzi when they spot a geisha walking on a narrow street only two meters wide.
Previous attempts to encourage tourists to stay away from women, including signs and fines of up to 10,000 yen for taking photos without their consent, have failed to deter tourists who decide to take photos of women. could not. It could also be a woman, a highly skilled entertainer or conversationalist whose sexual description is incorrect. Worker.
Kyoto, Japan’s capital for more than 1,000 years until 1868, is not the only Japanese destination to suffer from overtourism since coronavirus restrictions were lifted last April.
Yamanashi prefectural authorities announced this week that they will start charging 2,000 yen (£10.50) for climbing Mount Fuji. Climbers have been accused of littering Mt Fuji and risking their health and safety by attempting a 3,776-metre “bullet summit”. When the climbing season begins in July, the number of visitors per day will be limited.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan in January rose 79.5% year-on-year to about 2.69 million, reaching the same month level in 2019 before the pandemic forced the Japanese government to impose travel restrictions.
According to Kyodo News, the country with the most tourists was South Korea, followed by Taiwan and China.
