While Japan’s popularity as a holiday destination has grown exponentially over the last few years — kicking Bali out of the top spot as Aussies’ favourite hotspot — an influx of tourists has left a sour taste in the mouths of locals, prompting a new rule banning visitors from select areas.
An outcry from residents living in Kyoto’s famous geisha district called Gion urged the city’s government late last year to take action amid a surge of complaints the area’s quaint streets have become a “theme park”.
As a result, this month signs were installed “that tell tourists to stay out of our private streets”, local official Isokazu Ota said. Visitors, armed with cameras and hoping to get a glimpse of geisha and their maiko apprentices wearing their ornate kimonos, will now be greeted with warnings of a 10,000 yen fine, which comes to about A$100
The signs say in both Japanese and English: “This is a private road, so you are not allowed to drive through it,” although the keep-out warning is aimed mainly at pedestrians, not cars, as the Japanese wording refers to generically “passing through”.
While the ban covers several blocks of Gion, the district’s public streets will remain open to tourists, so the ancient capital will still be teeming with visitors from around the world — as experts warn other countries could introduce similar new laws in a bid to crack down on travellers.
yahoo news
