What is Japan doing to tighten control over tourism?

Since Japan reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of foreign tourists have returned to the Land of the Rising Sun. More than 25 million tourists visited Japan in 2023, and nearly 5.5 million visited in the first two months of 2024 alone, exceeding the figure for the same period in 2019 by 7%.

Therefore, Japan is implementing a plan to tighten tourism management, addressing issues such as bad behavior by tourists and overcrowding. This includes banning tourists from certain streets in Kyoto's famous Geisha district and limiting the number of hikers climbing Mount Fuji, the country's highest peak.

Kyoto restricts tourist access to areas within the Gion district.

Kyoto's Gion district, home to traditional geisha and maiko (apprentices who become geisha), is seeking to limit tourists from disturbing or harassing geisha and residents. Geisha are known as women who have performed traditional dance, music, and games for centuries in Japan. In Kyoto, they typically work in tea houses in the Gion district.

This area has long been a magnet for tourists, who flock to photograph famous performers in elaborate kimonos, traditional hairpins, and distinctive makeup as they stroll from tea house to tea house. Over the years, there have been reports of overly enthusiastic tourists harassing women and sneaking into residential areas, despite signs prohibiting photography of performers without their consent.

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Local district official Isokazu Ota told the media, "Last April, we put up signs asking tourists to stay away from the private roads." The signs, written in both Japanese and English, state that these are private roads leading into residential areas and that walking on them will result in a 10,000 yen fine (approximately 1.6 million VND).

It's worth noting that the ban only restricts access to certain streets in Gion for residents; tourists can still walk on public streets to visit popular attractions such as the 1,300-year-old Yasaka Shrine and the stunning Tatsumi Bridge.

Mount Fuji requires an entrance fee and uses barriers to restrict tourist access.

As for Mount Fuji, while not completely banning tourists, this famous UNESCO World Heritage site limits the number of visitors to 4,000 per day and charges a climbing fee of 2,000 yen (approximately 325,000 VND) per person.

This move aims to protect the site from overcrowding. The new regulations will take effect on July 1, 2024, when the climbing season begins. The measure is intended to protect the environment and raise funds for safety measures for visitors and climbers. In recent years, the number of climbers has been so overwhelming that it has caused traffic congestion and excessive littering. These issues have raised environmental concerns for the sacred volcano, which is revered by many Japanese people.

Furthermore, in response to the problem of tourists behaving inappropriately while viewing Mount Fuji, the Fujikawaguchiko town government, near this famous mountain, has erected a special barrier to restrict tourists from taking photos of Japan's most famous scenic spot.

Authorities in Fujikawaguchiko have begun erecting large barriers to block the view of Mount Fuji from the Lawson convenience store in town. This location has traditionally attracted many foreign tourists who visit daily to take photos of the majestic mountain in the background.

An official from Fujikawaguchiko was quoted by the Japan Times as saying, "It's regrettable that we have to do this because some tourists cannot respect the rules: they don't obey traffic laws, litter, trespass on people's property, park illegally, and smoke outside designated areas..." Many locals believe that building the mesh barriers is regrettable but perhaps necessary to cope with the overwhelming number of tourists.

Although Japan is currently restricting tourist access to the Gion area and Mount Fuji, it is still welcoming international visitors in other ways. For example, in March 2024, the Japan Immigration Services Agency announced the provision of a 6-month digital nomad visa for citizens from 49 countries. Under this visa, foreign digital nomads can reside in Japan for up to 6 months, an increase from the current 90 days under the visa-free short-term tourism program, and are not permitted to work during their stay.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao