Kyoto: Next Victim of Overtourism?

Above, the three-story pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The news about visitors with bad manners or behavior in Kyoto and other places in Japan is beginning to circulate the media around the world.

The latest is from the United Kingdom's The Independent.

They wrote:

Kyoto, Japan’s crown jewel of tourism, could be the next destination to become a victim of its own success. 

Residents and business owners in the city’s Gion-Shinbashi district have joined together to form a “scenery preservation” committee to combat issues brought on by overtourism, including “half-naked hikers, trespassing travellers and prolonged photo shoots”, according to Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun. 

The group has signed a memorandum demanding better behaviour from tourists. “If no countermeasures are taken, the elegant view of Gion will be spoiled,” said Kanji Tomita, vice representative of the group. 

Their campaign specifically targets enthusiastic selfie-takers, suggesting they spend less time posing, and people who strip off in public.

People have to realize that any time they are visiting a foreign country, they are guests and should be on their best behavior.

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