Japan Surveying "Overtourism"

Above, Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's campaign to boost tourism numbers is working. The numbers of foreign tourists have doubled over the past few years.

But this has caused some problems with local citizenry in such places as Kyoto and Kamakura with tourist overcrowding.

The Japanese government is conducting a survey on "tourist pollution".

The Japan Times reported:

Japan is launching its first survey on “overtourism,” or the phenomenon of a popular destination becoming overrun with tourists in an unsustainable way, to counter nuisances such as noise and congestion that disrupt local residents’ lives, according to officials. 

The Japan Tourism Agency aims to compile a report by the end of March based on a survey of municipalities with major tourists spots, and to explore ways to foster environments where tourism can coexist with residents’ lives amid a surge in foreign visitors to the country. 

The agency has already sent questionnaires to around 50 local governments and will start a further survey of another 150 or so before the end of October. 

Tourism-related problems occur during peak seasons at popular sites such as the ancient cities of Kyoto and Kamakura, with commuter traffic affected by severe congestion on trains and buses.

To read more, go here.