FUKUOKA –
A preferred temple in Fukuoka Prefecture has launched a 500 yen admission charge for international vacationers whereas permitting Japanese residents and foreigners dwelling in Japan to enter free, a measure geared toward decreasing disruptive conduct and serving to defend the spiritual website.
Nanzoin Temple in Sasaguri, Fukuoka Prefecture, is understood for its big reclining Buddha statue, which measures 41 meters lengthy and weighs about 300 tons. The temple attracts roughly 1 million guests a yr.
Problems started to develop after international tourism recovered following the coronavirus pandemic, with the temple reporting inappropriate conduct by some guests.
Incidents included folks enjoying loud music and dancing in entrance of the reclining Buddha, leaving rubbish in restrooms, enjoying in water at sacred areas and even hanging underwear to dry at a purification basin.
In response, Nanzoin launched a dual-pricing system final yr beneath which solely international vacationers are charged an admission charge. The charge was initially 300 yen earlier than being raised to 500 yen in March this yr.
Japanese guests stay exempt, as do international nationals who dwell in Japan.
The temple says the system additionally supplies a possibility for workers on the entrance to immediately clarify prohibited conduct and native guidelines to guests. Revenue from the charge can be used for measures together with the deployment of safety personnel.
Temple officers say disruptive conduct has declined significantly because the system was launched, suggesting that the measure has had a noticeable impact.
During an roughly three-hour remark of the temple grounds, no conspicuous examples of the sorts of conduct beforehand reported had been seen.
Some international vacationers additionally expressed assist for the system. One customer mentioned that vacationers had been friends within the nation and described the charge as truthful, including that guests ought to respect the principles of the place they’re visiting.
The coverage comes as locations throughout Japan seek for methods to handle rising numbers of abroad guests whereas defending cultural and non secular websites.
Charging totally different costs primarily based on residency or customer standing is already used at some vacationer sights abroad, and supporters of Nanzoin’s system say the comparatively modest 500 yen charge might help fund workers, multilingual steerage, upkeep and environmental enhancements.
Others have advised that the principle concern will not be nationality however whether or not guests respect native customs and guidelines, arguing that clearer multilingual directions and direct steerage from workers might help forestall issues attributable to vacationers who might merely be unfamiliar with anticipated conduct.
With overtourism inserting higher stress on in style locations, Nanzoin’s strategy is attracting consideration as one doable technique to steadiness welcoming guests with preserving the atmosphere and dignity of culturally vital websites.
Source: 3分でわかる時事ニュース速報