In Kyoto's Gion district, high-end fixer Maggie James laments the overwhelming presence of tourists who treat the area as an amusement park. As visitors flood the streets dressed in rented kimonos, they disrupt local life and misunderstanding local customs further complicates interactions. Residents, including the elderly, have reported invasions of privacy, with tourists casually entering their homes. The situation has worsened to the point where aggressive 'geisha-hunting' creates safety concerns, prompting the city to alert smartphones of geisha presence to curb the problem.
Gion's quiet streets lined with lanterns are now filled with foreign tourists who treat the area like an amusement park, disrupting local life and culture.
Maggie James expressed concern, saying, 'None of them are Japanese,' highlighting how visitors often misunderstand and disrespect Kyoto's customs and traditions.
Tourists have taken to opening private doors in machiya homes, not realizing they are invading personal spaces—'I was just sitting watching TV and the door opened,' one elderly resident lamented.
A growing problem in Gion is 'geisha-hunting tourists,' who pursue geishas aggressively, making local residents feel unsafe, prompting city alerts to notify visitors of their presence.
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