News Discussion

Japan Must Crack Down on Misbehaving Foreign Visitors

Troublesome behavior by foreign visitors to Japan is becoming a real problem. Wild dancing on trains. Jumping onto the road and disrupting an ekiden relay race. Mistreating the deer in Nara Park. Desecrating Shinto shrines with graffiti or worse. The list goes on and on.

Japan is gaining worldwide popularity as a tourist destination. The number of inbound tourists is soaring, giving a much-needed boost to the Japanese economy. That is a cause for joy, but, at the same time, we cannot ignore the malicious mischief of a small minority of foreign tourists. If left unchecked, their bad behavior risks damaging public sentiment towards other foreigners and even encouraging xenophobia.

As the old saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

We should encourage visitors from abroad to follow national and local laws and rules and respect Japanese culture and customs.

If foreigners do something that breaks the law, the police should not hesitate to arrest them. Furthermore, local governments, tourism organizations, and businesses should thoroughly warn them to follow the rules. The cooperation of local residents is also essential.

Here are a few examples of what we are talking about.

On March 23, Watatsumi Shrine in Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture, issued a message on social media. It reported that a "grave and unforgivable act of disrespect" had been committed by a foreign visitor. As a result, it announced it would bar all visitors except locals and others who had arranged to worship at the shrine.

For several years, the shrine had been subjected to malicious acts by rogue tourists, including those coming from South Korea. Their mischief included illegal parking, littering, defecation on the premises, and stone-throwing. There were even cases in which resident Shinto priests were verbally abused or physically assaulted when they warned visitors against engaging in certain behavior. According to the shrine's social media post, it had repeatedly discussed the problem with city officials and the police. Nonetheless, the trouble continued.

In Tokyo, also, there have been multiple occasions where Chinese visitors to Japan defaced Yasukuni Shrine with graffiti and caused other damage. Since 1869, the religious site has enshrined the souls of Japan's war dead.

At both religious sites, the situations are serious, and we cannot turn a blind eye.17件 The police, national government, and local governments all must crack down more vigorously on such outrageous behavior.

In addition, foreign YouTubers are causing a conspicuous nuisance. Last October 2024, a video of a group of Americans on a train in Yamanashi Prefecture sparked controversy. Widely circulated online, it showed the Americans rolling around on the carriage floor and dancing wildly on a train in Yamanashi Prefecture.

During the Hakone Ekiden in January 2025, a Chinese influencer drew criticism for unlawfully jumping onto the road and running alongside the runners.

The majority of foreign tourists observe proper etiquette and respect Japanese culture. Therefore, we must work that much harder to eliminate nuisance behavior. It benefits both when local residents feel comfortable with visitors and foreign tourists enjoy their trip to Japan.

1. 1. disrupt　（行為やその進行を）妨害する、中断させる、邪魔する；（物事の秩序を）混乱させる、破壊する
   The train service was disrupted by heavy snow.
2. 2. malicious mischief　悪意のあるいたずら（迷惑行為）；故意による器物損壊
   He was arrested for malicious mischief after damaging public property.
3. 3. If left unchecked　放置すれば、何もしなければ、野放しのままにされるならば
   If left unchecked, the situation could get out of control.
4. 4. deface　（～の表面や外観を落書きなどで）傷つける、損なう　※通常は建物や公共物
   The sign was defaced and hard to read.
5. 5. crack down on　～を厳しく取り締まる；厳罰に処する
   The police decided to crack down on illegal parking.

1. 1. According to the article, why is it important to deal with bad behavior by some tourists?
2. 2. How did the authorities react to repeated problems at the shrines, and was it effective?
3. 3. Have you ever witnessed a foreign tourist behaving badly in Japan? If so, what did you see, and how did people react?
4. 4. What do you think is the best way to prevent disrespectful behavior by tourists in Japan?
5. 5. What message would you want to send to tourists visiting Japan for the first time?

来日外国人の迷惑な振る舞いが問題となっている。

電車内で激しいダンスをする、車道に飛び出して駅伝大会を妨げる、奈良公園のシカをいじめる、果ては神社で狼藉（ろうぜき）を働く―などである。

日本は観光地として世界的人気を博している。インバウンド（訪日外国人客）は急増し、日本経済を潤している。うれしい話だが、一部の外国人観光客の迷惑行為が目につくようになった。放置すれば国民感情が悪化し、外国人排斥につながる恐れもある。

郷に入っては郷に従え、という。日本や地域のルール、法令を守り、日本の文化慣習を尊重するように促したい。

法に触れる迷惑行為があれば警察は遠慮なく検挙してもらいたい。自治体や観光団体・業者はルール順守の注意喚起を徹底してほしい。地域住民の協力も欠かせない。

長崎県対馬市の和多都美（わたづみ）神社は3月23日、「極めて重大かつ許されない不敬行為が外国人によって行われ」たとし、SNSで参拝目的以外の立ち入り禁止を表明した。

同神社では数年前から、一部の韓国人観光客らによる違法駐車やタバコのポイ捨て、排泄（はいせつ）、投石などの迷惑行為が続いていた。注意した神職が暴言を浴びせられたり、暴行を受けたりすることさえあった。神社が発信したSNSによれば、市や警察に何度も相談したが解決しなかったという。

日本の戦没者を祀（まつ）る靖国神社は、来日した中国人らによる落書きなどの被害を繰り返し受けている。

いずれもゆゆしき事態で容認できない。警察や政府、自治体はもっと熱心にパトロールや取り締まりをしてもらいたい。

外国人ユーチューバーらの迷惑行為も目立つ。昨年10月には、山梨県を走る電車内で米国人らのグループが床に転がるなど激しいダンスをした動画がインターネットで流れ、物議をかもした。今年1月の箱根駅伝では中国人インフルエンサーが車道に飛び出して選手と並走し、批判を浴びた。

大多数の外国人観光客はマナーを守り、日本の文化を尊重している。地域住民が不快な思いをせず、外国人観光客が楽しく日本をめぐるためにも、迷惑行為を解消したい。