Japanese city hires guards to manage flood of tourists at site of iconic sea view
Japanese city hires guards to manage flood of tourists at site of iconic sea view
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Guards at Funamizaka slope in Otaru will help regulate visitor flow to popular tourist spot featured in 1995 Japanese film ‘Love Letter’. A Japanese city has hired security guards to oversee a scenic vista after it became inundated with tourists. Officials have been stationed to manage the overflow of tourists during the lunar new year holidays at the Funamizaka slope in Otaru of Hokkaido prefecture. The spot, featured in the 1995 Japanese film Love Letter, is popular with tourists for its views of the sea.
A Chinese tourist was struck by a train and killed while taking pictures on the tracks near the slope earlier this month. Her husband said she was trying to photograph a location featured in the 2015 Chinese film Cities in Love and did not notice the oncoming train.
There have been growing complaints by residents about visitors blocking roads and trespassing on private property. “The road is lined with houses and has heavy traffic. Tourists standing on the street or walking side by side often make it impossible for vehicles to pass. The impact on residents has been significant and this fiscal year has been particularly severe,” a city official told the Mainichi Shimbun.
On Tuesday, guards were stationed at three places carrying signs in English, Chinese and Korean urging visitors not to trespass on private property or take photos in the middle of the road, Kyodo News reported. The guards will remain deployed until the end of March and local police will step up patrols in the area.
