THE city of Kamakura in Kanagawa prefecture is trialling measures to ease crowding at a railway crossing near Kamakura-koko-mae Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway Line.
The city established a photo spot in a park west of the crossing and deployed city officials to guide tourists and promote better etiquette.
The crossing is famous as a real-life sightseeing spot for fans of the popular basketball manga Slam Dunk.
The number of tourists has been steadily increasing since the 2010s, with a significant surge in foreign visitors following the release of a film in 2022.
Since 2017, the city has deployed traffic guides to issue warnings, but disruptive behaviour such as trespassing, littering and illegal parking continues to plague the surrounding residential area.
According to city officials, an incident occurred in late August when a junior high school student on a bicycle was struck by a vehicle, believed to be an illegal taxi, as it backed up.
The student’s parents have since filed a petition with the city council demanding immediate action. — The Japan News/ANN
