Picturesque Japanese hot spring town limits day trippers

A Japanese hot spring town popular for its photogenic snowy scenes began limiting entry to day trippers on Dec 23 in a trial to tackle overtourism during winter.

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Ginzan Onsen, a remote town in the northern Yamagata region, draws around 330,000 visitors each year.

Many share photos online of its old-fashioned buildings blanketed in snow and illuminated by lamplight that create a nostalgic atmosphere.

But the town's authorities have become fed up with a rise in road problems, quarrels and other nuisances.

From Dec 23, only people staying at local hotels will be allowed to enter the town after 8pm, while those wishing to visit between 5pm and 8pm will need a reservation.

Japan has seen a record influx of foreign tourists in 2024 as the weak yen swells a post-pandemic travel boom.