More and more residents of Kyoto, Japan are expressing strong dissatisfaction over the pressures to daily life caused by the influx of tourists. Unlike the formerly tranquil image of the "thousand-year-old capital,” Kyoto is now seen as heading down a path of “lifestyle collapse.”
With the Japanese government setting a target of welcoming 60 million foreign tourists annually, local residents say their daily routines have been forced to give way to the needs of the tourism industry.
According to a report in "Weekly SPA!", Kyoto's public transportation system is one of the first to suffer. Many locals report that some buses are often packed full of foreign tourists with large luggage, leaving residents unable to board.
● Temple Priests Complain about Noisy Tourists
Moreover, the influx of tourists has eroded the living environment. Temples in popular tourist areas such as Gion and Higashiyama are now struggling with overflowing trash and deteriorating conditions. Temple priests complain that many foreign visitors make noise, eat and drink in front of main halls, and even sit directly on pilgrimage routes, blocking worshippers. Not only is this disrespectful, but these tourists also do not contribute to temple donations, actually increasing the burden on temple staff.
One monk mentioned that, lately—with the depreciation of the yen—large numbers of low-income backpackers from Europe have poured in. Lacking an understanding of Japanese religious culture, their behavior is hard to accept.
Historic buildings in Kyoto have not escaped change either. Many traditional machiya townhouses in the central and northern city areas have been converted into unmanned guesthouses, some of which have even caused fire hazards due to illegal usage.
● Shops Shift Focus to Foreign Tourists
Meanwhile, Nishiki Market, once a key spot for locals’ daily grocery shopping, nearly caters exclusively to tourists now. Vendors that once sold vegetables and prepared foods have turned into stores selling high-priced tourist snacks. Rows of “Instagrammable foods” costing 4,000 yen (about 116 ringgit) have replaced reasonably priced goods. More than half the shops now serve foreign tourists, making it hard for local housewives to shop as usual.
What’s more, even convenience stores are plagued by chaotic queues and disputes over cutting in line. Japanese restaurants around Ginkaku-ji repeatedly complain about foreign visitors wearing shoes on tatami mats, canceling reservations last minute, demanding vegetarian meals upon entering, or even playing loud videos on their phones while dining.
In response, inbound tourism consultant Keisuke Murayama pointed out that Kyoto is no longer in a phase of courting more tourists—it must now transition into a stage of refined management.