“Kyoto is not a theme park”: tourists banned from visiting the geisha district | Japan

The city of Kyoto, Japan, decided to impose new rules on tourists. From April onwards, visitors are prohibited from circulating on the private streets of the Gion neighborhood, best known for being the place where geisha work, one of the most recognized symbols of Japanese culture. Other places with a high number of tourists will also have new rules.

The young women who dedicate themselves to geisha art are recognized by their kimonos and white-painted faces, with elaborate hairstyles and flashy accessories.

According to The Guardian, several uncomfortable episodes between geisha and visitors have been reported. A group of inhabitants of the Gion neighborhood say that visitors do not respect the distance between young women, taking photos without permission and touching their kimonos without any care. They state that tourists “are out of control” and that they often invade private properties, resembling paparazzi. “Kyoto is not a theme park,” said Isokazu Ota, an employee at the Chamber, to The Associated Press.

From April onwards, circulation will be controlled for cars and, mainly, pedestrians. Circulation through the neighborhood’s private streets, entry into restaurants and tea houses becomes limited to geishas, ​​clients and residents, attests to the South China Morning Post. The streets will be properly signposted and fines can reach ten thousand yen (around 62 euros). Previously, measures had already been implemented to try to control these approaches, but without success.

To the South China Morning Post, Peter Macintosh, a Canadian writer who lived in Kyoto and organizes events with the presence of the iconic geishas, ​​said that tourists take advantage of the professionals, stealing some accessories that they sport in their hair, in addition to continuing to associate them with sex work. Macintosh recalls an episode in which a tourist threw money and a room key at one of the artists. There are also those who culturally appropriate geisha costumes and wear kimonos, a behavior that causes discomfort to the locals, who feel disrespected. “It’s crazy. It’s completely out of control”, confesses the writer.

Pamphlets and messages have been distributed to try to raise awareness among tourists. The local police have also been teaching artists self-defense techniques after complaints of insecurity, especially at night. “We don’t want to do this, but we are desperate”, emphasizes the group of inhabitants of Gion. The neighborhood’s central point, Hanamikoji Street, will remain open to the public. However, citizens are also concerned that the excess of tourists found in other streets will end up concentrating in that space.

Japan has faced problems with the high flow of tourists since the end of the pandemic. Other locations, such as Mount Fuji, will also have new restrictions. Anyone who wants to climb the mountain will have to pay 2000 yen (about 12 euros). The choice comes from the high number of visitors and the trash that is left behind by them, which even leads to dangerous behavior. The measure will come into force from June.

According to Reuters, Japan expects to surpass the tourist record recorded in 2019 this year, when it was visited by 31.88 million people.

Text edited by Ana Maria Henriques