From littering to congestion: Japan acts as hot spots overrun by tourists

Levies, entry limits and warning signs part of moves amid strain on locals, environment

- Walter Sim

Japan is far from reaching its desired 60 million annual visitors by 2030, but is already grappling with overtourism as its famous omotenashi hospitality - the idea of wholeheartedly serving guests - is pushed to the brink.

Some areas are struggling with congestion, either all year round like in Kyoto or seasonally like Hokkaido's Niseko in winter or Tokyo's Nakameguro in spring.

Foreigners are being blamed for bad behaviour amid complaints of littering, traffic violations, rowdiness and even the defacement of sacred sites like temples and shrines.

"Just as people do not behave out of hand when they visit a friend's home, tourists need more self-awareness that they are guests in an area," tourism expert

Hideki Endo of Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto told The Sunday Times.

Researcher Mizuki Nagano, of tourism-focused Jalan Research Centre, noted that there are wide-ranging problems, such as the destruction of the natural environment, poor behaviour, littering, and lost opportunities due to crowding.

"Overcrowding makes it difficult for residents to lead their usual lives, thus reducing the attractiveness of the area, which in turn lowers tourist satisfaction," he told ST.

Mr Keisuke Murayama, chief executive of tourism firm Yamatogokoro and a government adviser on tourism, said that while the causes, degree and type of overtourism vary by region, the potential solutions generally include informing visitors about etiquette, establishing entry limits, controlling demand through taxes and price increases, and striving for better visitor distribution.

Japan is reassessing its relationship with visitors amid a tourism boom fuelled by its wealth of soft power in food, nature and culture, and renewed global attention to its entertainment output.

While it is trying to promote off-the-beaten-track tourism, many travellers flock to hot spots like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.