Beloved tourist destination to enforce major new drinking ban
The latest actions in Shibuya City come after similar restrictions were trialled last year during Halloween.
One of Tokyo’s most popular and famous neighbourhoods has taken the decision to ban drinking outdoors.
From October, it will be forbidden to consume alcohol in public places or on the streets in the iconic Shibuya City, a self-governed district of Japan’s capital, between 6pm and 5am.
Mayor Ken Hasebe stressed that while they were not banning drinking, they would prefer to see people consume alcohol inside.
He explained: “By establishing the rule, we would like to convey the district’s intentions, including during patrols — we would prefer people to enjoy their drinks inside restaurants.”
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The latest move isn’t the first time restrictions have been applied in the Shibuya district. CNN Travel reported that Halloween related celebrations were banned last year and restrictions on drinking alcohol outside were part of those measures which proved popular with local people.
As well as hoping to cut down on negative behaviour associated with alcohol, there has also been a drive to reduce the impact of overtourism on Shibuya and Tokyo as a whole.
A statement released by the city highlighted how the “damage caused by overtourism” had become “serious” resulting in littering and “altercations” with local people.
Shibuya isn’t the only part of Japan where measures are being taken to reduce the impact of tourists on the local environment and population.
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Under new rules, tourists will also be banned from taking photographs of one of the country’s most iconic landmarks, Mount Fuji. The changes are a result of the badly behaved tourists in recent years.
A new mesh barrier, 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high, will now be put in place in a hotspot where tourists take photographs of the mountain. The spot in question sits behind a Lawson convenience store, a common brand in Japan.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse, an official from Fujikawaguchiko said: “It’s regrettable we have to do this, because of some tourists who can’t respect rules.”
Locals have also complained that tourists are leaving litter behind and ignoring traffic regulations as they attempt to get the best and most Instagram-worthy snap of Japan’s highest peak.
The hope is the new measures will deter people from attempting to take the same photo in the future.
