TOKYO: A recent instance of Japan’s difficulty dealing with unruly tourists despite a surge in foreign travel was the arrest of an American for vandalizing a revered temple in Tokyo.
Japan saw a record-breaking 27 million tourists through September, contributing 5.86 trillion yen (US$37.5 billion) to the country’s GDP. However, instances of public intoxication, vandalism, and “overtourism” at well-known locations have spurred discussion about how to deal with the influx of tourists and rule breakers.
A 65-year-old American was arrested by Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Wednesday, November 13, on suspicion of defacing a torii gate at the Meiji Jingu Shrine on Tuesday by carving alphabetical characters into its pillar.
According to the Jiji news agency, the suspect and his family traveled to Japan on Monday for sightseeing. Jiji claimed that authorities arrested him at his hotel based on security camera footage on suspicion of engraving five family name letters into the wooden pillar with his fingernail.
Authorities have been compelled to take extraordinary measures to reduce littering and crowding due to the influx of tourists. A vista of Japan’s sacred mountain that went popular on the internet was blocked in May by a barrier built by a small town close to Mount Fuji. In an effort to reduce misuse, mountain park rangers implemented trail fees and admission limits for the first time this summer.
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