News Navigator: What exactly is the ‘overtourism’ problem in Kyoto?

The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the “overtourism” problem in Kyoto.

Question: What does “overtourism” mean?

Answer: Overtourism is the excessive concentration of tourists in particular areas, making life difficult for locals and destroying the scenery. It is also called “tourism pollution.”

Q: How many people have been visiting Kyoto in recent years?

A: The number of tourists visiting the city of Kyoto had plummeted amid the coronavirus pandemic, but in 2022, an estimated 43.61 million people, or about 30 times the city’s population of 1.44 million, visited the city. This is about 80% of the pre-pandemic figure.

Q: That’s a huge figure, but what are the problems?

A: In the city of Kyoto, buses have recently become crowded with tourists with large suitcases, sometimes making it impossible for local residents to use them. This is especially serious for the elderly and people using baby strollers. Complaints about bad manners, such as littering and trespassing on private property, have also been raised.

Q: What countermeasures are being taken?

A: Kyoto Prefecture is promoting its northern part as “Kyoto by the Sea,” including the city of Miyazu, home to the Amanohashidate sandbar — one of the three most scenic spots in Japan — while promoting the area including the city of Uji, where tea leaves are grown, as “Kyoto Infused with Tea” in an effort to disperse tourists. The city of Kyoto is also increasing the number of bus services during the fall tourism season and calling on foreigners in various languages to maintain good manners.

Q: Are these measures working?

A: According to the prefectural government, the decentralization work has had some effect, but tourist spots in the city of Kyoto are still packed. In places such as Nishiki Market in the city’s Nakagyo Ward, known as “Kyoto’s kitchen,” it is difficult to even walk around, so further measures are required.

(Japanese original by Kotaro Chigira, Kyoto Bureau)