Authorities in Otaru, Japan, have deployed security guards to deter tourists from taking selfies at an iconic photo spot. This move was due to a need to control the negative effects of over tourism at the location, with the guards deployed in response to complaints by the locals.
The location in question is the Funamizaka Slope, situated in a small city of Otaru on the island of Hokkaido. Made popular by the 1995 Japanese film, Love Letter, it features a steep street which offers a stunning view of the port and sea. This contributed to the street’s status as a popular tourist attraction in Japan.
Visitors have been reported to engage in disruptive and even dangerous behaviours for the sake of the perfect social media-worthy photos and selfies. One resident noted that people have trespassed onto private property just to snap photos.
Funamizaka is a narrow and busy street flanked by houses, and is easily blocked by groups of tourists. The security guards posted are tasked to deter visitors from disrupting traffic and other unwanted activities that may inconvenience the locals.
Despite the use of multilingual signs asking visitors to behave appropriately, the issue has worsened in recent months. In January, a Chinese woman was killed by a train in Otaru while attempting to take a photograph and was unaware of the moving train.
This isn’t the first time Japan has resorted to such measures to keep tourists from disrupting the peace. Other notable places in the country include a Lawson convenience store in Kawaguchiko, which prominently features Mount Fuji in the background. Its popularity as a location for photo ops prompted the installation of a black screen to obstruct the view of the mountain.
(Source: The Guardian)
Nurul Kamil contributed to this article.
