People seeking to melt away their stress at one of Japan's famous hot springs are instead finding themselves immersed in throngs of tourists and cars jamming the streets Ginzan Onsen has become such a hotspot that it has begun restricting visitors amid concerns about overtourism and later acclaimed for its Western-style wooden inns Ginzan Onsen in northeastern Japan's Yamagata Prefecture is now struggling with being too popular The influx of selfie-seeking tourists has led to serious overcrowding The community wants to protect its cultural heritage and architecture from the Taisho period (1912-1926) when nostalgia for Japanese tradition grew amid rapid societal change and Westernization snow-covered townscape to the hidden "swordsmith village" in the popular manga "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba," which debuted in 2016 It's also known as a filming location for the 1980s NHK television drama series "Oshin," and it may have inspired scenes in the 2001 hit animated fantasy film "Spirited Away." which literally means "silver mine hot spring," grew due to the mining and production of silver After mining declined in the Meiji era (1868-1912) the town transitioned to hot spring tourism by building several resorts and ryokan along the river in the early 20th century some 334,000 tourists visited the 13 ryokan and restaurants in Ginzan Onsen in fiscal 2023 -- about 25 times its population of approximately 13,000 Foreign tourists accounted for some 20,000 of these visitors sometimes blocking the passage of emergency vehicles Locals complain of having to clean up after foreign tourists who leave a mess the city and the hot springs association collaborated to implement admission restrictions for day-trippers from December 2024 to February of this year Visitors were required to leave their vehicles at the tourist information center and ride a paid shuttle bus the rest of the way Tickets to the onsen district had to be purchased in advance and the number of visitors at the resort was limited to about 100 per hour from early evening to night tourists were soaking in footbaths and munching on Ginzan's famous curry buns "I have come here many times to see the snowy scenery," said a 53-year-old man visiting from Taiwan said he was glad he and his wife could take their time sightseeing without massive crowds With a record number of foreign tourists visiting Japan last year and overtourism countermeasures under consideration at popular tourist spots nationwide Ginzan's conservationists are watching closely to see whether the new measures will preserve the serenity of the cherished hot spring resort Based on a survey of visitors for about two weeks through January road congestion dropped compared to previous years Only 43 percent of day-trippers felt that the hot spring resort was crowded 95 percent of respondents supported the admission restrictions saying they were "acceptable" or "unavoidable." when paid admissions to the hot spring area began many tourists gathered in advance to slip in before being charged in effect causing the area to become even more crowded "We have found some new issues to deal with," said Eiji Wakimoto "We will continue to make corrections and aim for an improved format." Officials are considering implementing the visitor limits throughout the year "The main purpose is to control congestion and prevent accidents and trouble," said Kentaro Koseki He also believes it is important to preserve the town's atmosphere "I want people to spend a quiet time in Ginzan Onsen where you can even hear the snow falling," he said Japanese-style inn operator eyes U.S. expansion after N.Y. listing Hoshino Resorts to open Japanese-style hot spring inn in New York state FEATURE: Condemned manor house gets reprieve as important cultural property To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Today's print edition Home Delivery A Japanese hot spring town popular for its photogenic snowy scenes began limiting entry to day-trippers on Monday in a trial to tackle overtourism during winter a remote town in northern Yamagata Prefecture draws around 330,000 visitors each year.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Many share photos online of its old-fashioned buildings blanketed in snow and illuminated by lamplight that create a nostalgic atmosphere In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division started limiting entry to day-trippers in December to prevent evening traffic jams please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent By Jo Nakato / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer The hot spring town has seen an uptick in the number of foreign tourists wishing to see the night view in winter resulting in frequent traffic jams on the road leading to it The city government and the hot springs association made the decision because the traffic congestion often made it difficult for hotel guests and emergency vehicles to access the area The entry restriction applies to day-trippers who visit the hot springs using their own car or a rental car Overnight guests who use the parking lots of ryokan inns are not subject to the restriction which is scheduled to continue until February Those wanting to enter the hot spring town must park their cars at Taisho Romankan a tourist center located about 1.5 kilometers from the center of the hot springs area visitors must enter the hot springs town by shuttle bus or a local taxi The shuttle bus service is available at any time during this period with a call button located at the tourist center’s bus stop reservations will be required through a special website for the shuttle bus service The number of visitors will be limited to 100 people per hour the city will ask visitors to refrain from entering the area Ginzan Onsen is a popular hot spring town known for its fantastic night view The warm colors of the lights against the white snow are very beautiful,” a visitor from Taiwan said According to the Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization the number of foreign visitors to Ginzan Onsen is increasing The number of visitors from January to August 2024 reached 59,300 compared to 49,600 for the entire year of 2023 But there is only one narrow prefectural road leading to the hot springs area from the city’s downtown Drivers not accustomed to the snow who come without winter tires often get stuck on the slopes and block traffic The Ginzan Onsen hot spring association says it has also received complaints that snowplows are sometimes unable to enter due to cars parked in areas without permission we called an ambulance after a tourist fell on the icy road and complained of severe leg pain But the ambulance arrived very late because of the traffic jam,” head of the association said “The hot spring resort is crowded with tourists during the daytime when the night view is beautiful,” he said making it easier for our overnight guests and employees to access the area.” Obanazawa Mayor Hiroshi Yuki said: “Rules are necessary to maintain the area as a tourist attraction We would like to examine the results to see how much these rules have helped solve problems.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun a popular Japanese hot spring town known for its scenic snowy views has begun limiting entry to day trippers during winter peak season becoming another destination to tackle overtourism amid the country's record influx of travelers Located in the Yamagata region about 420km north of Tokyo the onsen is one of the most famous in Japan Travellers from around the world flock to the 300-year-old town during winter not only for a dip in the onsen but its picturesque scenery of traditional Edo-period buildings blanketed in snow - speculated to be the inspiration for Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki's film Spirited Away But its popularity has also caused problems for residents in the otherwise tranquil town with reports of altercations over photo spots and parking places "Many guests became angry (were shouting) over good spots for the purpose of taking pictures and making people seek better places and easier ways than others," the onsen said on its website regretting that its "vague management" had caused issues those wanting to enter the onsen town after 5pm will be required to purchase a ticket according to Ginzan Onsen Information Centre Visitors without bookings at local hotels will be banned after 8pm Those driving themselves will be required to park at a nearby tourist centre and use shuttle buses to get into the town from the Ginzan Onsen Overtourism Measures Project Office told CNN daytrippers who drove often got stuck in snow-covered roads causing traffic congestion and blocking ambulance access and sometimes visitors have a dispute with each other telling them to move out of the way There have been times when people almost fell into the river after bumping into each other," he added Ginzan Onsen is joining a raft of popular tourist destinations to regulate visits as Japan receives a record tourism boom in recent months The country already recorded 33 million overseas tourists this year until November beating the 31.9 million record set by the whole of 2019 according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation In May, Fujikawaguchiko, a small town at the base of Mount Fuji, had to erect a large black net to block the view of a popular photo spot featuring a convenience store against the famous mountain The net was removed in August after the craze had subsided Other places such as Mount Fuji and Himeji Castle - Japan's largest castle located in western Hyogo Prefecture - are proposing to raise entry fees for visitors The historic city is the latest to place restrictions on short-term rentals and tour groups as officials say the status quo is unsustainable for residents Crowds at the fountain are becoming "very difficult to manage" As iconic tourism hotspots like Venice and Mt Fuji start cracking down on tourists an expert says we need to change how we travel Venice has become the first city in the world to introduce a charge for tourists - $9 Residents of a small town are at their wits' end over tourists' behaviour as some park illegally and climb on roofs to get the perfect photo Ginzan Onsen hot springs is the filming location of the Japanese serialized morning television drama Oshin.* The traditional Japanese inns that line both banks of the Ginzan River were built from about 1910 to the 1930s The serialized morning television drama Oshin aired from April 1983 to March 1984 visits a hot spring area deep in the snow of Yamagata Prefecture without telling her family where she was going Filming locations where the story starts at Ginzan Onsen The many scenes shot at the snow-covered Ginzan Onsen are impressive The scene where the young Oshin visits her working mother was also filmed at Ginzan Onsen Oshin was a long-running TV drama of about 300 episodes that aired in more than 60 countries around the world and became very popular many people come from overseas to visit Ginzan Onsen and look for traces of Oshin January and February are especially bustling with overseas visitors The warm orange glow of the gas lamps against the white snow piled up on the nostalgic streets is an attractive sight "Many of our visitors from overseas have never seen snow before and they find the nighttime scenery especially beautiful Some even say it reminds them of the food stalls in the animated film Spirited Away." a Japanese animated feature film directed by Miyazaki Hayao and released in 2001 is acclaimed around the world and has won several international awards Although it is said that there was no specific model for the film's setting Sasahara says that fans visit the area because the atmosphere of the town in the film resembles their impression of Ginzan Onsen which is located on the Sea of Japan coast in the Tohoku region the northernmost part of Japan's main Island Silver mining started here in the 15th century and under the direct control of the then-Tokugawa Shogunate the city was developed in the first half of the 17th century and called Nobesawa Ginzan ("Nobesawa Silver Mine") Hot springs were discovered during the development of the silver mine thus the name Ginzan Onsen ("Silver Mine Hot Springs") "The town of Ginzan Onsen has looked the way it is today since the 1910s The buildings back then had been considerably damaged by flooding of the Ginzan River and joiners competed with each other to restore these buildings and transformed them into the multi-story Western-style wooden structures that exist today." and Ginzan Onsen took on its current appearance you should wear winter boots or other non-slip footwear and the snowscape of the hot spring resort area." * A television drama broadcast by NHK from April 1983 to March 1984 a young girl born into a poor farming family from the modern era to the postwar period and through to the present day Average viewer ratings over a year of broadcast were high with a top viewer rating of 62.9% (November 12) The series was also aired overseas and received high viewer ratings in some countries No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form In collaborating with Japan Agricultural Cooperative Japan has created the sweets so that the summer fruit could be enjoyed all-year-round YAMAGATA — Three new sweets that have been developed to increase the appeal of Obanazawa-zuika watermelons a local specialty extensively grown in and around the city of Obanazawa were debuted at an event held in the city in February collaborating with Japan Agricultural Cooperative’s Michinoku-Murayama branch office and others jelly and baumkuchen cake — so that the summer fruit could be enjoyed all-year-round A local food processing company and a marketing research firm provided guidance when developing the recipes for the sweets The sorbet and jelly are made with watermelon juice mixed with lemon juice to reduce the strong melon flavor Some elaborate techniques were used to maintain the watermelon’s refreshing taste The sweets use watermelons that can’t be sold due to visible defects such as holes but otherwise have the same sweetness and taste so using them to make the sweets helps to reduce food waste The baumkuchen cake uses a pale red watermelon-flavored cream in the middle instead of juice making it look like an Obanazawa-zuika watermelon It is made using powdered Yukikirari brand rice they will be served at restaurants in the city sometime in the future,” said the person in charge of development The manga entered its "final battle" in November 2022 The manga is an adaptation of the Assault Lily: League of Gardens stage play series The manga launched in Monthly Bushiroad in July 2020 Bushiroad published the manga's third compiled book volume in January 2022 Ken'ei Obanazawa and Minori Chigusa recently launched a new Assault Lily manga titled Assault Lily Last Bullet: Secret Garden Sweet Memoria on the website Manga Ōkoku in June 2022 The Assault Lily Project is a mixed-media franchise based on 1/12-scale action dolls and figures conceived by the doll maker AZONE International and the creative group acus in 2013 The theme of the project centers around battles waged by beautiful girls with weapons The franchise's stage play cast members reprised their roles in the anime Assault Lily Fruits, the Assault Lily franchise's mini anime, premiered in the game app in July 2021 The mini anime featured a returning cast and staff from the Assault Lily Bouquet television anime The franchise also includes two novels and a smartphone game that launched in Japan in January 2021