11 March 2024 , 12:50
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One of Japan's most popular sightseeing districts has banned tourists.
Since the ancient capital of Kyoto reopened to visitors following the pandemic, locals have struggled to square the enormous financial benefits of tourism with the massive crowds which have flocked there in the past two years.
Overcrowding in the narrow streets and tourists behaving badly have become an increasingly sore topic in the iconic city, so much so that officials have now decided to act. Visitors to the geisha district of Gion – one of Kyoto’s most popular sightseeing spots – will be banned from entering its picturesque alleyways.
"We don’t want to do this, but we’re desperate," said council member Isokazu Ota, the Guardian reported. He said tourists were acting like amateur paparazzi.
Maiko women walking in Kyoto (Getty Images)Geiko and maiko traditional entertainers can be spotted in the area making their way to teahouse appointments. Their journey through the tight alleys is one which enthrals visitors to Kyoto, who arrive in large numbers to catch sight of the geisha.
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It has been an increasing bugbear of the performers that some tourists ignore signs requesting that they keep their distance and refrain from touching the women’s expensive kimonos. There have also been complaints about people trespassing on private property, as well as of visitors brandishing their phones wildly in a bid to get a picture of the entertainers.
Before Christmas a council of Gion residents urged the city’s government to take action against unruly tourists, arguing that their neighbourhood was "not a theme park". Now Kyoto officials have decided to ban visitors from the narrow private streets from next month.
It remains unclear exactly which alleys the ban will be in force in, and what will happen to those who breach the restrictions. A previous fine of 10,000 yen (£53) for those caught taking non-consensual photographs of the workers failed to deter some visitors to the area.
The area’s main thoroughfare, Hanamikoji street, will remain open to tourists, while signs at the end of certain alleyways will remind tourists that they aren't welcome in all parts of the city. Elsewhere in Japan, authorities in Yamanashi prefecture have started charging ¥2,000 (£10.50) to climb Mount Fuji. Hikers have been caught littering and attempting super-quick ascents of the mountain, which can be dangerous. Daily visitor numbers will also be capped when the climbing season begins in July.
Japan had one of the longest and most complete travel bans during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. Since it opened up its borders at the end of October 2022 visitors have been flooding back. The number of foreign visitors to Japan soared 79.5% in January from a year earlier to about 2.69 million, reaching levels seen in the same month in 2019.
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