Recently, we have been hearing about "overtourism." Even in Hokkaido, tourist destinations are facing problems such as the increase in tourists disrupting the lives of local residents. We interviewed them about the current situation and countermeasures. Hakodate is one of the leading tourist destinations in Japan. With a population of 240,000, about 5.3 million tourists visited last year. One of the most popular spots is Mount Hakodate. Many tourists visit in search of the million-dollar night view, but... ■Reporter Aina Maeda: "There is currently only one hour left until the ropeway opens at 9:00, but there is a long line outside the building." The Mount Hakodate Ropeway is in the middle of the Obon holiday. This year, the demand for domestic travel is increasing due to the weak yen, and Hakodate was the setting for a popular anime, which was a tailwind. The ropeway is so crowded that the wait can be as long as an hour. At the observation deck at the top of the mountain, tourists lined up in layers to see the night view even while it is still light outside. ■From Yamaguchi: "I'm tired, it's more than I expected." ■From Iwate: "I didn't think there would be so many people, so I thought I'd be able to take my time and look around." The crowds don't just stop at the tourist facilities. On the Hakodate tram at the foot of the mountain... ■Maeda Aina: "The tram driver has just arrived. However, this tram is also full, and there's a long line at the boarding point." There were so many people lined up that the tram stop was overflowing. ■From Aomori: "I want to ride the tram, but it's so crowded, I wonder if I can get on. I have a stroller." It's even more crowded. On the bus heading to the top of Mt. Hakodate... ■Maeda Aina: "This is the bus stop for the bus heading to Mt. Hakodate. It's right in front of the boarding point, but there's a huge line of people. I wonder how many people there are, and it looks like it's going to continue." The line is so long it blocks the aisle... ■Maeda Aina: "The bus has just departed, but the line is not breaking up, in fact it's getting longer." Tourists have a hard time enjoying the night view. Meanwhile, some Hakodate residents are expressing their confusion. ■Hakodate resident: Q: Do you ever find it difficult to cope with the large number of tourists? "Yes, sometimes. I feel like I have a lot of luggage." The city has also begun measures to curb overtourism, which is undesirable for local residents and tourists alike. ■Hakodate City Mayor Oizumi Jun: "Tourists who come to visit have to wait in long lines, and the crowded night ropeway on Mount Hakodate is a typical example. We are working to somehow improve these situations." Meanwhile, some tourist spots have made difficult decisions due to overtourism... This is Ima Tetsumasa, who owns a farm in Chitose City. ■Ima Tetsumasa: "Everyone came and said it was beautiful, so the tourism association suggested we open it up to everyone." Ima has been planting sunflowers for fertilizer on his farm for about 20 years. This place is called Palette Hill, and about 1 million sunflowers bloom on the hillside. It gradually gained popularity as a photogenic spot known only to those in the know, and the Chitose Tourism Federation also promoted it, but... ■Ima Tetsumasa: "After a while, it was full, or rather, the parking lot was limited and it was difficult to accommodate everyone, especially on weekends." Since there were no parking lots nearby, Ima opened his house grounds to tourists as a parking lot, but there were so many cars parked that he couldn't get his tractor out, and it started to interfere with work. Some tourists entered the sunflower fields with bad manners, and after discussing with the Tourism Federation, it was decided to stop active tourism promotion. ■Ima Tetsumasa: "Tourists should look at the situation and make a judgment, and if it seems like it's a nuisance, they should consider going on another day." "I want people to see it, but I have to work and make a living from it, so it's a bit of a dilemma." Overtourism is a problem in various places. Experts point out that measures should also be considered to deal with the recent style of tourism in which tourists enjoy the areas where local residents live. ■Associate Professor Ishiguro, Hokkaido University Graduate School: "Until now, local residents have come to enjoy visiting the places and shops that are called tourist destinations, but how do we sort these areas? It's not just about increasing the number of tourists, but also about how to coordinate within the community. The shape of tourism is changing. Rather than being fixated on the short-term goal of increasing the number of tourists, we need a way for tourists and local residents to coexist from a long-term perspective. ▼HTB Hokkaido News Official Website https://www.htb.co.jp/news/ ▼For information and video, click here: "Recommended!! Video Post" https://www.htb.co.jp/news/info.html ▼HTB Hokkaido News SNS Twitter / htb_news Facebook / htbnews TikTok / htb_hokkaidonews #HTBHokkaidoNews #Overtourism #TouristPollution