A stunning town in Japan, which is rumoured to have been the inspiration behind a celebrated film, has been battling with the effects of overtourism, prompting a visitor limit. The quaint Ginzan Onsen, nestled in Japan’s Yamagata region, attracts approximately 330,000 tourists annually.
Its name, meaning “silver mine hot spring”, entices visitors worldwide with its idyllic vistas and age-old architecture. Believed to have influenced the backdrop for Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning animation ‘Spirited Away’, the town features charming ryokans and vintage Edo-period storefronts.
But recent times have seen a surge in overcrowding, ugly scenes at coveted photo spots, and even locals facing rudeness. Overcrowding has gotten so dire that it’s caused emergency responders to sometimes ditch their vehicles and race to emergencies on foot.
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To combat these pressing issues, the Ginzan Onsen association has enforced new regulations. Starting from the 7th of January to the end of March, there will be limits set during peak hours.
While unrestricted access runs from 9 am to 4 pm, post 5 pm, only visitors with prior bookings are permitted to remain in the town. Furthermore, from 5 pm until 8 pm, a ceiling of 100 day-trippers possessing pre-bought passes will be able to enter the township, reports the Express.
Stricter parking rules are also on the horizon starting February. During their visit, day-trippers must park in a specialised lot located two kilometres from the springs and catch a shuttle service, which comes at a cost of 1,150 or £5.87, to get to the heart of Ginzan Onsen.
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Takayuki Saito, head of commerce and tourism for Obanazawa, has revealed to AFP that “traffic jams have sometimes been caused by cars getting stuck in the snow, because travellers were driving with normal tyres” instead of the necessary snow tyres. The town’s website also highlighted issues with tourists, stating: “Many guests became angry over good spots for the purpose of taking pictures, leading to traffic rules being broken, cheating, and making people seek better places and easier ways than others.”
This comes after Japan experienced a bumper year for tourism, with a record-breaking 33.38 million visitors from January to November 2024, beating the previous record of 31.88 million set in 2019.
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