KYOTO (TR) – A wave of vandalism by foreign tourists is plaguing Japan’s iconic sightseeing spots, with visitors caught using stones to carve graffiti into historic bamboo forests, reports TV Asahi (May 22).
Recent video footage taken on May 16 at Kyoto City’s renowned Fushimi Inari Taisha captured individuals, believed to be foreign tourists, scratching characters into the bamboo.
“They were using stones to graffiti the bamboo,” the person who filmed the incident reported.
Established in the Nara period, the historic shrine is a massive draw for international visitors. However, the post-COVID pandemic tourism boom has brought a surge of destructive behavior, with over 100 bamboo stalks in the shrine’s surrounding forest already scarred by carved vandalism.
“It’s truly sad that such a beautiful bamboo forest is being left so dirty,” a local Kyoto resident lamented.
Not only Kyoto
The vandalism is not limited to Japan’s ancient capital. At another popular tourist destination — highly favored by foreigners for its picturesque, combined views of Mount Fuji and green tea plantations — bamboo groves have also fallen victim to defacement.
Observers report a large amount of English graffiti, including phrases like “I Love You,” carved into the stalks. Other markings include Korean hangul script, with one carving bizarrely dated “April 14, 2026.”
As the damage continues to spread across multiple regions, Fushimi Inari Taisha has issued a direct warning to unruly sightseers.
“Acts such as graffiti on the shrine grounds are strictly prohibited,” a shrine representative stated. “We ask that visitors observe proper manners when paying their respects.”
