Shocking images show hordes of tourists lining an iconic Kyoto street, raising concerns that the iconic Japanese destination is being overrun by visitors.
Hundreds of people, packed back to back, can be seen struggling to walk down historic Sannenzaka Street in the city’s Higashiyama district.
Authorities were even forced to direct traffic on the narrow, 400-meter-long cobbled street, with one travel blogger describing Kyoto as “the seventh ring of hell now.”
The video, which has been widely shared on social media, suggests Kyoto is struggling to keep up with tourist numbers.
A French travel YouTuber shared the clip with the caption: “Kyoto, what a hell it has become.” How can you enjoy the visit in such conditions?
Johnny Waldman, who runs the travel blog Spoon and Tamago, also posted the video with the caption: “Unpopular opinion: Kyoto is the seventh ring of hell right now.”
While Sannenzaka Street, which leads to the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple, is no stranger to crowds, it seems particularly busy this season.
One person commented on the clip: “I feel lucky to have visited before the tourist explosion.”
Shocking images show hordes of tourists lining an iconic Kyoto street, raising concerns that the iconic Japanese destination is being overrun by visitors.
Another user shared a photo from 2008 when it was “a quiet side street,” but added that the area “looks terrible now.”
A third added: That’s crazy, I’m so happy I went 8 years ago, without any crowds.
“Now I go out into the mountains and see temples, just as beautiful with just a handful of Japanese tourists.”
It comes as popular destinations around the world have been struggling to cope with increasing numbers of visitors.
Earlier this year, Bali demanded a ban on the construction of new hotels and nightclubs in tourist spots on the island.
Noisy backpackers, heavy traffic and the conversion of rice paddies into luxury villas have angered locals living on the “island of the gods”.
The plan, which would affect four tourist spots, was formally requested by the Bali provincial government in September.
Bali is Indonesia’s most popular island, with 3.5 million tourists visiting between January and June this year alone.
Foreign arrivals have increased since it reopened to tourism after the Covid-19 pandemic and there are now 541 hotels on the island, up from 507 in 2019.
Authorities were even forced to direct traffic on the narrow, 400-meter-long cobbled street, with one travel blogger describing Kyoto as “the seventh ring of hell now.”
However, its rise in popularity has sparked an angry reaction among locals, who frequently complain on social media about traffic jams, crime and overdevelopment.
Meanwhile, this summer Spain faced a wave of anti-tourism protests and visitors in Barcelona were even sprayed with water guns by protesters.
The mayor of the Catalan capital has also committed to eliminating short-term tourist rentals in the city within five years.
Mayor Jaume Collboni believes the move will make Barcelona more affordable for young people who have been forced to leave the city due to rising rents.
And in Mallorca locals started a movement to “reclaim the beaches” from tourists with demonstrations that took place during the summer.
A shocking video shows a woman sitting on a path leading to the popular Caló des Moro cove while a local shouts to potential tourists: “Whoa, whoa, whoa!”
While Italy is reportedly considering introducing a tourist tax and Greece plans to crack down on cruise ship traffic.