Kyoto's famous geisha district enforces ban on tourists from private alleys in response to overtourism

Gion district in Kyoto addresses overtourism by banning visitors from private alleys, responding to residents' concerns.

Visitors will be banned from entering private alleys in Kyoto's famous geisha district, a local representative said on Thursday, as the ancient city tackles overtourism after the pandemic. Kyoto residents have long expressed frustration with tourists behaving badly, especially in the city's Gion district, home to teahouses where "geiko" -- as geisha are locally known -- and their young "maiko" apprentices, perform.

A crowd of tourists walk on the street near Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, western Japan March 30, 2023. (REUTERS)

In December, a Gion district council comprised of residents urged Kyoto City to tackle the issue, saying their neighbourhood "is not a theme park". One member previously told Japanese media about an instance of a maiko's kimono being torn and another who had a cigarette butt put in her collar.

With the problem ongoing, the council decided to step up its response. "We will ask tourists to refrain from entering narrow private streets in or after April," Isokazu Ota, an executive member of the council, told AFP. "We don't want to do this, but we're desperate," he said, adding that they will put up signs.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.