Kyoto bans tourists from parts of geisha district amid reports of bad behaviour

Gion residents asked city council to crack down after rise in tourist numbers leads to increased harassment of traditional entertainers

Visitors to the geisha district of Gion – one of Kyoto’s most popular sightseeing spots – will be banned from entering its picturesque alleyways as authorities in Japan attempt to tackle a dramatic rise in tourism.

Residents of Japan’s ancient capital have struggled to reconcile the financial boost from a return to pre-pandemic visitor numbers with overcrowding and incidents of bad behaviour among tourists.