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Japan town calls in security to control unruly tourists
A small town in Japan has taken drastic measures and hired a team of security guards to manage hordes of inconsiderate tourists.
Otaru, a small port town on Hokkaido island has been inundated by crowds of tourists with some of them causing mayhem.
They are blocking roads and pavements to scramble for iconic photos at Funamizakam a steep street offering outstanding views of the port and ocean.
It was a location in the 1995 Japan film Love Letter and the 2015 Chinese movie Cities in Love, which have sparked interest in the town.
The town was in the headlines recently when a Chinese woman was killed by a train while distracted taking photos.
Local residents have complained about large crowds of tourists blocking roads and some trespassing on private property to get a better vantage point to take photos.
“The road is lined with houses and has heavy traffic. Tourists standing on the street or walking side by side often make it impossible for vehicles to pass. The impact on residents has been significant,” a city official told the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.
A record 36.7 million people visited Japan last year.
Several areas have taken action against overtourism issues such as inconsiderate behavior and overcrowding in Kyoto, Fujikawaguchiko near Mount Fuji and the spa town of Ginzan Onsen.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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