'Kyoto's kitchen' tests measures to tackle littering スーパーコピー財布  other effects of overtourism July 12, 2024 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese version Kyoto's Nishiki Market district is seen jam-packed with tourists, in the city's Nakagyo Ward on April 20, 2024. (Mainichi/Kenichiro Fuji) KYOTO -- As the number of foreign tourists to Japan increases to beyond pre-pandemic levels, workers in one tourist hotspot in Kyoto are sounding the alarm about "overtourism." What measures are being taken there? Litter in 'Kyoto's kitchen' Nishiki Market コピーブランド靴  located within walking distance of Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi Station ブランド靴コピー  is a roughly 390-meter-long shopping street with a 400-year history of selling food, garnering the nickname "Kyoto's kitchen." About 130 shops line the corridor, selling everything from freshwater fish to pickled goods to "wagashi" Japanese confectionaries. At its narrowest, shops on either side are separated by a gap of just 3.3 meters. A sign to deal with issues related to overtourism is seen at Nishiki Market in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward on June 7, 2024. (Mainichi/Tsuyoshi Kosaka) A notice posted on the shutter of one greengrocery in the area warns, "Don't eat here." A traffic cone stands in the way to keep customers from engaging in on-the-spot consumption. The shop owner said, "If garbage is dropped on the street, it's hard to get rid of the stains. This is a real problem since tourists started eating while walking." It was around 2012 when the area began to see a boom in visitors from abroad. The variety of foods lined up at storefronts caught the interest of foreigners. Many images of the symbolic red, yellow and green pattern on the arcade ceiling were also posted on social media. Then the number of shops selling foods that could be eaten on the spot, such as seafood tempura and beef on skewers, increased. For shops catering to local customers, crowding caused a loss of customers. Garbage from tourists' meals began to litter the neighborhood, and local residents complained one after another. An association of shop owners at the market in 2018 distributed display materials in English and Chinese to the shops asking patrons to avoid eating or drinking while walking. Shop owners were also encouraged to communicate this to foreign visitors. However, to this day people can be seen walking through the crowds with food in hand. Akira Shimizu, 60, chief clerk of the business group, said, "Some stores more strongly feel that they want to sell items (rather than warning visitors), so it's a difficult problem." Signs reminding foreign visitors to not eat and walk can be seen at Nishiki Market in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward on June 7, 2024. (Mainichi/Tsuyoshi Kosaka) Pay to toss: Tests held of charged garbage disposal That doesn't mean their hands are tied. In 2022 and 2023 ブランドコピーバッグ  as foreign visitor numbers recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, two test runs of for-pay garbage disposal were held. Businesses placed trash bins for customers to dispose of their waste for a 100-yen (about 60-cent) fee. The aim was to encourage tourists to bear the burden of protecting the environment and landscape, but hardly anyone used the system. "It did not lead to a change in behavior," Shimizu recalled. The Kyoto City Tourism Association has installed a live camera at the market, showing online how crowded the district is, in a bid to get tourists to split up. This too, has reportedly had no serious impact. Over the Golden Week holiday period from late April to early May this year, as large numbers of tourists were expected, people were thoroughly instructed to walk on the left side. Security guards were posted and there were on-site announcements. Stores in the market are built along a straight street, making it difficult for people to pass each other if the flow of people is blocked. Analysis of sensor information showed that at times, the flow of people walking on the right side of the street was reduced to one-third to one-fourth of those keeping left, suggesting that the instructions had a certain effect on the flow of people. Going forward, relevant parties plan to encourage pedestrians to keep left during busy periods such as the Gion Festival every July. Foreign visitors are quizzed on rules at Nishiki Market as a way to inform them, in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward on May 22, 2024. (Mainichi/Tsuyoshi Kosaka) Upping manners through quizzes The problems associated with high tourist numbers stem partly from a lack awareness of the local customs and norms among foreign visitors. For that reason, quizzes are being carried out to raise awareness. "You can enjoy eating while walking at Nishiki Market. True or false?" goes one of the questions. The quizzes are conducted by members of the Kyoto-based general incorporated association Touristship, which aims to tackle issues surrounding overtourism. Representative director Chieko Tanaka, 26, emphasized, "As a tourist destination, it is important to disseminate information on rules that we want people to follow." The issues of overtourism are not limited to Japan. Nishiki Market this spring connected with markets in Florence, Italy, and elsewhere to start working toward them becoming recognized as intangible cultural heritage sites by UNESCO. This move envisions measures to relieve the issues caused by overtourism. While the criteria for selection of intangible cultural heritage sites are tough, the market hopes that seeking recognition will provide an opportunity for its value to be reassessed. Shimizu noted, "Through this process, association members can gain a common understanding of the history and value of Nishiki Market. By conveying this to tourists, it may also lead to improved manners." (Japanese original by Tsuyoshi Kosaka コピー時計  Osaka Business News Department) Font Size SML Print Go to The Mainichi Home Page Related Articles Limited express sightseeing bus service begins in Kyoto to ease 'overtourism' problem Town near Mt. Fuji blocking view of peak at Lawson store photo spot amid 'overtourism' 'Touristship' raises awareness about problems with too many travelers in Kyoto, beyond Kyoto market joins global efforts to get historic spots UNESCO heritage status News Navigator: What exactly is the 'overtourism' problem in Kyoto?