Overtourism has become a major concern in Kyoto, a city renowned for its historical and cultural treasures. In recent years, local councils and city authorities have implemented various measures to manage crowding and address disruptive tourist behaviours.
Signs were installed in Gion to prevent visitors from trespassing on private roads and properties. More recently, Kyoto introduced a new circular sightseeing bus route within the city centre and announced a significant increase in accommodation tax, which is set to rise by up to 900 percent in March next year.
Just this week, the municipal government was forced to take drastic action in the iconic Arashiyama bamboo forest. In response to persistent vandalism, authorities have decided to cut down parts of the beloved bamboo grove. According to the Mainichi, approximately 20 bamboo plants along a 30-metre stretch of the natural attraction were felled in an attempt to widen the space and prevent people from reaching the plants to carve graffiti on them.
Sadly, some of the bamboo plants that were removed had already sustained severe damage from graffiti. A recent official survey revealed that as many as 350 bamboo plants in this popular and historically significant site may have been defaced. The damage not only marred the beauty of the bamboo grove but also posed a serious health threat to the revered plants.
More alarmingly, additional cuts may be carried out to protect the site. Local authorities are currently reviewing the impact of this measure and may consider removing more plants to further deter vandalism.
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