國際時事跟讀VIP Ep.K942: 北海道小城因拍照人潮失去寧靜 Otaru: Paradise Lost to Photo-Seeking Crowds

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國際時事跟讀VIP Ep.K942: Otaru: Paradise Lost to Photo-Seeking Crowds

Highlights 主題摘要：

• Otaru, a small Japanese city famous for its winter scenery and movie locations, is struggling to manage an overwhelming number of tourists.
• After a tragic accident and increasing tourist disruptions, local authorities have deployed security guards to control crowds and prevent dangerous behavior.
• Japan's tourism challenges extend beyond Otaru, with various cities implementing creative solutions to balance tourism with local community needs.

In the serene city of Otaru, where pristine snow blankets the landscape and historic warehouses line the picturesque canal, local authorities are facing an unprecedented challenge. This peaceful port city on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, known for its starring role in the 1995 romantic film "Love Letter," has transformed from a hidden gem into a tourism hotspot that's testing the limits of local infrastructure and patience, forcing officials to implement strict crowd control measures.

在寧靜的小樽市，潔白的雪景覆蓋著整座城市，歷史悠久的倉庫群沿著風景如畫的運河而建，當地政府正面臨前所未有的挑戰。這座位於日本北海道的和平港口城市，因在 1995 年浪漫電影《情書》（Love Letter）中擔任主要場景而聞名，如今已從一顆隱藏的明珠蛻變為觀光熱點，不斷考驗著當地基礎設施和居民的耐心，迫使官方必須實施嚴格的人流管制措施。

The surge in international visitors has reached record-breaking numbers, with the city of 100,000 residents hosting nearly 99,000 overnight international tourists last year. This figure doesn't account for the numerous day-trippers from Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital, merely 25 miles away. The situation has become particularly acute in the Funamizaka neighborhood, where tourists flock to capture the quintessential Japanese winter scene: wooden houses with snow-laden roofs cascading down a slope, culminating in a breathtaking view of the Sea of Japan. This location's popularity skyrocketed after being featured in "Love Letter," a film where the protagonist's death brings together his fiancée and high school crush in a poignant journey through his past.

國際旅客人數突破歷史新高，這座擁有 10 萬居民的城市去年接待了將近 9.9 萬名過夜的國際遊客。這個數字還不包括從僅 25 英里（約 40 公里）外的北海道首府札幌前來的眾多一日遊旅客。情況在船見坂社區尤其嚴重，遊客蜂擁而至，只為捕捉典型的日本冬季景象：木造房屋的屋頂堆滿積雪，沿著斜坡層層疊疊，最後在日本海的壯麗景色中畫下完美句點。這個地點在《情書》中作為場景後人氣暴漲，這部電影講述主角死亡後，未婚妻與高中暗戀對象一同追溯他過往人生的動人故事。

Recent events have highlighted the darker side of this tourism boom. A tragic incident occurred when a 61-year-old tourist lost her life while attempting to photograph trains against the snowy coastal backdrop at Asari Station. This unfortunate event has intensified concerns about tourist behavior, prompting local authorities to implement new security measures. Three security guards have been deployed to patrol Funamizaka, equipped with multilingual banners warning against disruptive behaviors such as trespassing and road obstruction. These measures will remain in place until at least March 31, with additional support from local police during peak hours. The guards are specifically tasked with displaying warnings in English, Chinese, and Korean, reflecting the diverse origins of Otaru's visitors.

近期事件凸顯了觀光熱潮的陰暗面。一名 61 歲的遊客在朝里車站嘗試拍攝雪景襯托火車的照片時不幸喪生。這起不幸事件加劇了對遊客行為的擔憂，促使地方當局採取新的安全措施。三名保全人員被派駐在船見坂巡邏，手持多國語言的警示標語，警告不得擅闖私人場所和阻礙交通。這些措施將持續到至少 3 月 31 日，尖峰時段還有當地警察協助。保全人員特別負責展示英文、中文和韓文的警告標語，反映了來訪小樽遊客的多元來客。

This situation reflects a broader challenge facing Japan as it grapples with overtourism. Similar issues have emerged in other scenic locations across the country. The town of Fujikawaguchiko near Mount Fuji had to install a black screen to block a popular photo spot that was causing daily disruptions to local life. Meanwhile, Ginzan Onsen, a historic hot spring town, has begun restricting day visitor access during peak seasons to preserve its authentic atmosphere. These measures represent Japan's ongoing efforts to balance tourism growth with the preservation of local communities and cultural heritage, as the country continues to attract millions of international visitors eager to experience its unique blend of tradition and natural beauty. With Japan receiving over 33 million visitors in the first eleven months of 2024 alone, destinations like Otaru serve as a stark reminder of tourism's double-edged nature.

這種情況反映了日本在應對過度觀光時所面臨的廣泛挑戰。類似的問題也在全國其他景點出現。富士山腳下的富士河口湖町不得不架設黑色屏障，遮擋一個造成日常生活干擾的熱門拍照景點。同時，歷史悠久的溫泉鄉銀山溫泉已開始在旺季限制一日遊旅客入場，以維護其純樸氛圍。這些措施代表了日本在平衡觀光成長與保護在地社區及文化遺產之間的持續努力，因為這個國家持續吸引著數百萬國際遊客前來體驗其獨特的傳統與自然之美。僅 2024 年前十一個月，日本就接待了超過 3,300 萬名遊客，像小樽這樣的景點，正充分展現了觀光業兩面刃的本質。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字：

1. Quintessential (Quin-tes-sen-tial) [adjective. being the most perfect or typical example of something]: The situation has become particularly acute in the Funamizaka neighborhood, where tourists flock to capture the quintessential Japanese winter scene.
2. Culminating (Cul-mi-nat-ing) [verb. ending or reaching the highest point]: The wooden houses with snow-laden roofs cascading down a slope, culminating in a breathtaking view of the Sea of Japan.
3. Breathtaking (Breath-tak-ing) [adjective. so beautiful or amazing that it takes your breath away]: The wooden houses with snow-laden roofs cascading down a slope, culminating in a breathtaking view of the Sea of Japan.
4. Poignant (Poign-ant) [adjective. making you feel sad or full of pity]: This location's popularity skyrocketed after being featured in "Love Letter," a film where the protagonist's death brings together his fiancée and high school crush in a poignant journey through his past.
5. Trespassing (Tres-pass-ing) [verb. going onto someone's private property without permission]: Three security guards have been deployed to patrol Funamizaka, equipped with multilingual banners warning against disruptive behaviors such as trespassing and road obstruction.

Reference article:
1. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/02/travel/otaru-hokkaido-japan-overtourism-intl-hnk/index.html
2. https://www.euronews.com/travel/2025/01/31/bouncers-hired-to-control-crowds-in-japanese-city-after-tourist-is-killed-while-taking-a-p