Faced with complaints from neighbors about the
hordes of tourists
obsessed with
photographing geishas
, Kyoto, the former Japanese imperial capital, has
restricted access to the famous neighborhood where these delicate
women in kimono
are found
.
The local council of Gion, regretting that
some visitors behave like "paparazzi"
and believe they are in "an amusement park", announced last week that tourists
would not be able to access the neighborhood's private streets from April.
Since the mass return of tourists to Japan after years of Covid-19, Kyoto is facing an increase in visitors, some of whom
harass geishas to photograph them
and immediately send the images to
Instagram and other social networks
.
Several witnesses explain the case of an apprentice geisha whose kimono was torn or another who found cigarette butts in her dress.
Who are geishas
Contrary to what many think, geishas are not prostitutes but
entertainment artists
who entertain their clients with Japanese dances, musical performances and games.
Geisha women walking in Gion, Kyoto.
Photo Shutterstock
The
fascination with these women has been increasing
since the premiere of the series
"Makanai, the maiko cook
", in early 2023 on Netflix, set precisely in Gion.
Visiting Kyoto,
Dutchmen Anna and Mark Van Diggenen
agree with the decision of the Gion local council.
"You have to respect these women" and their privacy, says Anna.
Her husband warns, however, that the prohibition signs will not deter less civil tourists: "They can establish rules, but it is impossible to enforce them."
Young people wearing traditional Japanese kimono at Daigo-ji temple.
Photo Shutterstock
Authorization issue
"It is important
to clarify what is authorized and what is not
," says Tetsuo Nishizawa, owner of a bar in the neighborhood.
Since 2019, there is already a
ban on taking photographs
in the private alleys of Gion, under penalty of a fine of up to 10,000 yen ($68).
But this measure has not been enough.
A postcard from Kyoto, Japan.
Photo Shutterstock.
Some visitors regret the future ban on walking those streets, with their wooden buildings.
"For me, it's a
unique heritage area
that people want to see, and we would like to photograph the architecture," says Jane Stafford, an Australian traveling with her friends.
"It's a shame that people can't enjoy it in small groups," he adds.
Other restrictions on tourism in Japan
Kyoto is not the only place in Japan that has taken measures against mass tourism.
Kiyomizu-dera.
Kyoto, Japan.
Photo Shutterstock
Starting this summer, a limited number of people will be able to travel the most famous trail of the archipelago and
climb the mythical Mount Fuji
, near Tokyo.
And you will also have to pay an entrance fee of 2,000 yen ($13).
In
Osaka
, the main city in western Japan, municipal authorities are considering
imposing a tax on foreign visitors
in addition to the existing tourist tax.
Fred Mery / AFP