Tourism Misbehaving tourists face fines of up to ¥50,000 in Hakuba

[thomas]

I wonder how this will be enforced.

Hakuba officials are moving to tighten city ordinances on disruptive behaviour, from fireworks in the small hours to careless littering, following a sharp rise in problems linked to the influx of inbound tourists. A revised ordinance, due by December ahead of the busy ski season, will allow fines of up to 50,000 yen (about $340) for anyone disturbing the peace or spoiling the local surroundings.

Hakuba first introduced regulations in 2015 banning unruly conduct, including setting off fireworks at night, leaving rubbish, skiing on public roads, and smoking or drinking in the streets. However, officials now argue these provisions are inadequate in light of the sharp rise in foreign visitors. Overnight stays by international tourists have more than doubled in recent years, climbing from 100,000 in 2015 to 250,000 in 2023.

With this influx has come a rise in previously unforeseen issues, such as graffiti and sticker vandalism on utility poles, as well as noisy gatherings on the streets at night and vehicles without snow tires. Officials said the new penalty is intended to warn and discourage tourists' disruptive behavior rather than immediately impose strict fines. Hakuba is not alone in adopting community behavior regulations to maintain public order and safety. According to the Research Institute for Local Government, 20 municipalities across the country have enacted similar ordinances, with penalties in place for areas that include Fukuoka, Kyoto and Tokyo's Ota Ward.

Unruly tourists now risk fine of up to 50,000 yen in Hakuba | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Ukigumo]

Enforcement is, indeed, the issue. Japan is a country where the natives wouldn't even say 'boo!' to a ghost let alone intervene with misbehavior that might cause an embarrassing scene! They might as well impose the death penalty for all the use it'd be.

So unless a police officer is directly watching the incident unfolding, this is just hot air and the miscreants will know it.

 

[thomas]

Exactly. Imagine a pack of unruly Brits, Ozzies, or Yanks being reprimanded and fined by a Nagano municipal worker.

 

[Ukigumo]

Exactly. Imagine a pack of unruly Brits, Ozzies, or Yanks being reprimanded and fined by a Nagano municipal worker.

The Ozzies would slap him, the Yanks impose tariffs upon him before declaring war and the Brits would pour a pint of beer over his head whilst chanting "Oi! Oi! Oi!"

 

[johnnyG]

Ha ha ha.

So maybe then they can't get thru immigrations to board their flight home until they pay any/all fines?

Oh, you want to contest them? Please stick around for a few weeks or more for that.

Or pay up now and board as you had planned.

 

[Ukigumo]

During the contest action, the Japanese government would probably have to provide board and lodgings! One week of that (in the UK) is about £1000 (¥201,000)!

I wonder if inbounders could be vetted before they entered Japan? Do they have a previous criminal record? Is there evidence of misdemeanors on their social media? Do they drink excessively? Do they read children's comics/watch cartoons or play video games? Yes to any of these would exclude them from entry or, at the very least, require them to wear an electronic tag on their ankle……one capable of administering powerful electric shocks…or, maybe, sheer the foot right off

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Unless they could be taken to the nearest airport and deported . I don't see a lot of fear in these plans.

 

[Ukigumo]

Deporting people seems to be more difficult than people think assuming they have human rights type legislation in Japan. Perhaps they don't…

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I think you would need a government owned airline ; civilian airlines would worry about security. Kind of a no win situation. I'd go with the powerful taser guns used here in the US , LOL. BAD GAIGIN.....ZAP !

 

[mdchachi]

Unless they could be taken to the nearest airport and deported . I don't see a lot of fear in these plans.

It could disrupt their vacations and be costly. But people who would do that probably don't have much foresight.

Deporting people seems to be more difficult than people think assuming they have human rights type legislation in Japan. Perhaps they don't…

I don't think it would be difficult for tourist visas. Maybe there are more protections for other types.

 

[salyavin]

I suppose one way they could try to enforce this is Japan now requires an evisa https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/visaonline.html
they could deny it if they do not pay, basically not allow them to visit Japan again.

 

[Ukigumo]

I think the word 'again' is the operative. I don't think these types of people want to visit Japan multiple times; they're 'destination baggers' and they'd go once, perform their disgraceful behaviour and never return.

They do these sorts of things to post the video evidence on (un)social media; without those platforms, they probably wouldn't bother. So that has to be the point of redemption. Since unsocial media won't even remove illegal/immoral content, the likelihood of them doing so for a video of chin-ups on a torii, dancing on a commuter train etc are non-existent.

It's for this reason I do not use unsocial media and in the memory of Molly Russell.

 

[Ukigumo]

…plus our outrage of these behaviours is derived from viewing them on antisocial media. If we couldn't see them, we wouldn't be outraged even if they were still going on. I don't like this 'out of sight, out of mind perspective', but I thought I'd introduce it into the debate.