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.
Related News Stories: Japan town calls in security to control unruly tourists Japanese town installs barrier to block viral Mt. Fuji photo spot What's on during Daytona Beach Bike Week Town begins work to block Mt. Fuji photo spot due to unruly tourists Picture prefect: Japanese city deploys guards to control unruly ... Why are there so much teenager sitting on floor in shinjuku ... Holes poked in Mount Fuji barrier, Japan town says Town Begins Work to Block Mt. Fuji Photo Spot Due to Unruly Tourists 'Unruly' tourists lead town to block Fuji view - Bangkok Post Japan Town To Block Mount Fuji View With Giant Barriers To Stop ...
TravelMole Editorial Team
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt