Tourists are to be banned from parts of Japan’s famous geisha district in Kyoto following complaints of “overtourism”.
“Kyoto is not a theme park,” said the local council amid discontent about over-zealous visitors with cameras hoping to snap a glimpse of the famous geishas.
Geishas are professional entertainers who are trained in various traditional arts including dance and music and are an iconic part of Japanese culture.
Visitors crowd the narrow, quaint streets of the area called Gion in Japan‘s ancient capital city, often following tour guides who show people around and lecture for long hours, according to local district official Isokazu Ota.
“We are going to put up signs in April that tell tourists to stay out of our private streets,” he said.
A sign will say in both Japanese and English: “This is a private road, so you are not allowed to drive through it.”
It is aimed mainly at pedestrians, not cars, as the Japanese wording refers to generically “passing through”.
“There will be a fine of 10,000 yen,” the sign adds, which is about £53.
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Gion district in Kyoto, where tourists will be banned from some areas. Pic: iStock
The district’s public streets will remain open to tourists, so the area and the rest of Kyoto will still be teeming with visitors, both from Japan and around the world.
Complaints about “overtourism” began years ago, but cooled somewhat when the COVID-19 pandemic brought numbers of visitors down.
Now, tourists are back with a frenzy after the long-awaited lifting of restrictions.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I can understand why the city would want to protect the geisha district from tourists. On the other hand, I think it’s important for people to be able to experience this unique part of Japanese culture.
Absolutely ridiculous. Geishas are part of the city’s history and culture, and banning tourists from their district would be a huge mistake
This is a very interesting and informative article. I had no idea that the city was considering banning tourists from the geisha district.
I think this is a good move. The geisha district is a special place, and it’s important to protect it from the hordes of tourists who flock to the city every year.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I can understand why the city would want to protect the geisha district from tourists. On the other hand, I think it’s important for people to be able to experience this unique part of Japanese culture.
This is a very interesting article. I had no idea that the city was considering banning tourists from the geisha district.
I can’t believe they’re doing this. Geishas are a cultural treasure, and this ban is just going to hurt the city’s tourism industry.
This is so sad. Geishas are such a beautiful and important part of Japanese culture, to ban tourists from their district is a shame.
I think this is a great idea. The geisha district is a special place, and it’s important to protect it from the hoards of tourists who flock to the city every year.
OMG, how horrible from the city! Geishas are an important cultural heritage, and should be protected.
This is so messed up. Geishas are a part of Japan’s heritage, and this ban is just going to make it harder for people to learn about and appreciate this beautiful culture.
This is so messed up. Geishas are a part of Japan’s heritage, and this ban is just going to make it harder for people to learn about and appreciate this beautiful culture.