This snowy Japanese town represents love. But overtourism is turning the sweetness sour
CNN —
Tranquil and blanketed in pristine white snow, the Japanese city of Otaru serves as the backdrop of a popular 1995 romance blockbuster that continues to bring starry-eyed travelers to the region every winter.
But this sleepy city tucked away on the west coast of the island of Hokkaido has become the latest flashpoint in Japan’s ongoing battle against overtourism.
Local authorities recently deployed security guards to remind tourists to refrain from unruly behaviors, including trespassing onto private premises and obstructing road traffic.
The increased focus on foreign travelers follows the death of a Hong Kong woman on the outskirts of Otaru. The 61-year-old tourist was hit and killed by a train on January 24 while reportedlysnapping photos on the tracks at Asari Station, known for its view of the coastline juxtaposed by trains passing through the snow.
However, Otaru City Hall officials told CNN tourists had been causing disruptions since before the traveler’s death.
Otaru, which has a population of about 100,000 people, recorded 98,678 overnight international visitors last year, the highest number on record. That figure doesn’t include those making day trips from Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast.
Parts of Japanese director Shunji Iwai’s “Love Letter” — a film in which the death of a man brings his fiancé and his high school crush together to retrace his life — were shot there.
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Funamizaka is one particular area that rocketed to unwanted fame after being featured in the film. The neighborhood offers an