In response to a significant surge in tourism, the geisha district of Gion in Kyoto, Japan, has announced a ban on visitors entering its tranquil and picturesque alleyways. The ancient capital has been grappling with the challenges of increased tourism, as it brings financial gain but also overcrowding and incidents of misconduct among visitors.

Gion, renowned for its geiko and maiko traditional entertainers, has often been targeted by smartphone-wielding tourists who disregard signs requesting them to maintain a respectful distance and avoid touching the women's valuable kimonos. Furthermore, there have been numerous complaints of trespassing on private properties within the district.

In December, a council of Gion residents urgently appealed to the city's government for measures against unruly behavior from tourists, emphasizing that their neighborhood is "not a theme park." Responding to these concerns, Kyoto officials have announced that the ban on entering Gion's narrow private streets will go into effect next month. The specific details regarding the enforcement of this restriction, however, remain unclear.

Isokazu Ota, a member of the council, expressed the residents' desperation, stating, "We don't want to do this, but we're desperate." Ota added that signs would be prominently displayed to remind visitors of the new measures. It is worth noting that the district's main thoroughfare, Hanamikoji street, will still be open to tourists.

Ota further highlighted the issue of some visitors behaving like amateur paparazzi, specifically when they spot a geisha walking along the narrow streets, some of which are only two meters wide. Previous attempts to dissuade visitors from approaching the women through signage and fines for non-consensual photography up to ¥10,000 have proven ineffective, as some individuals remain determined to capture snapshots of these highly skilled entertainers.

Kyoto is not the only region in Japan struggling with overtourism since the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions last April. Authorities in Yamanashi prefecture have announced plans to charge ¥2,000 (£10.50) for climbing Mount Fuji due to issues such as littering and hikers risking their safety by trying to complete rapid ascents up the 3,776-meter mountain. In addition, daily visitor numbers to the mountain will be capped once the climbing season commences in July.

The latest data reveals a significant increase in foreign visitor arrivals to Japan, with January witnessing a staggering 79.5% surge compared to the previous year, equating to approximately 2.69 million travelers. This level matches that of January 2019, before the pandemic necessitated travel restrictions. Notably, the largest number of visitors came from South Korea, followed by Taiwan and China, as reported by the Kyodo news agency.

As authorities in Kyoto take decisive measures to address the challenges posed by overtourism, it remains to be seen how effective the ban on entering Gion's narrow private streets will be in managing the flow of tourists in the district. The delicate balance between reaping the benefits of tourism and preserving the cultural heritage and tranquility of these destinations continues to be a pressing concern for regions across Japan.