It’s unfortunate, but unhinged tourist behaviour has become pretty standard practice at many sites of natural beauty or cultural significance over the last couple of years, be it vandalism, excessive noise or just plain bad behaviour. In fact, there are plenty of destinations that now want tourists to stay away altogether.
And one particular area in Kyoto is one of them. Local officials in the Japanese city have announced they will be closing tourist access to the Geisha district – Gion – next month, due to ‘out of control behaviour’.
The area is a tourist magnet, and hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city flock to Gion to catch a glimpse of the professional entertainers. The geisha and maiko (who are the teenage trainees) are known for their trademark kimonos, decorative hair ornaments and distinctive white make-up, and the tradition dates back hundreds of years.
But under the new protection, the small alleyways in the historic district will be completely cut off to tourists, and several restaurants and teahouses will only serve the geisha, their clients and local residents, according to South China Morning Post.
This measure hasn’t come out of nowhere. Back in 2019, authorities introduced a fine for those caught harassing geishas, after horrendous cases emerged of geishas being chased down the street or their photo being taken without consent. Notices which state unsolicited photography will lead to a ¥10,000 (£52, €61) fine also often go unnoticed.
‘...I think the foreign tourists waiting for maiko to come out in the alleys of Gion’s photography-prohibited areas know the rules but are ignoring them. Even if we warn tourists, it’s difficult to get through to them at this point,’ said Isokazu Ota, Gion’s representative secretary of the town South Side District Council, to CNN.
Time Out's take
Time Out’s News Editor Ed Cunningham lived in Kyoto for a year, and said: ‘It’s not surprising that tourists have been banned from Gion – and, to be honest, it’s about time. During the time I lived in Kyoto, I often saw unhinged tourists behaving awfully in Gion, screaming, running and barging people out of the way in the hunt for a glimpse of a geisha. Geishas deserve privacy and respect, hopefully this’ll get them that.’
So, while it’s a shame for the visitors who act respectfully, it sounds like this measure can’t come soon enough. The local council are hoping the restriction will not only help protect the geisha and maiko but will also help to preserve the long-running Japanese tradition.
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