Photo/Illutration Tourists climb into the shrubbery of a park close to the Enoshima Electric Railway's Kamakura-Koko-Mae Station in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, to take photos and videos on Sept. 6. The nearby railway crossing grew into a hot spot after being immortalized in the anime series "Slam Dunk." (Junji Murakami)

KAMAKURA, Kanagawa Prefecture—For years, a humble little railway crossing at Kamakura-Koko-Mae Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway Line here has become an unlikely symbol of the ills of overtourism. 

It is a “holy site” for fans of the popular high school basketball anime series “Slam Dunk,” which immortalized the seaside crossing on-screen.

Every day, tourists from around the globe flock here to capture the perfect shot: a retro train, affectionately known as the “Enoden,” rolling past the crossing with a stunning ocean view in the background.

But the picturesque scene has devolved into what officials call a “state of chaos.”

The conduct of overseas visitors--who frequently gather in front of the crossing, disrupt traffic flow and discard trash--has led to a constant influx of grievances filed with city hall by exasperated local residents.

In response, the city of Kamakura announced on Sept. 11 a new experiment: luring the crowds off the streets and into a designated photo corner set up in a nearby park.

The four-day trial will run from Sept. 13 to 16.

The city will deploy 12 staff members and two Chinese-speaking interpreters to the site.

Their mission is to guide foreign tourists coming from the station toward the park and urge them not to take photos on the road near the crossing. Staff will then lead visitors one by one into the orderly photo area, help them get their shot as the Enoden train passes and then cycle in the next person.

A tent and trash cans will be set up in the park where officials will even measure the collected garbage to quantify the problem.

In preparation, the city cut down trees in the park on the morning of Sept. 11 to clear a space for the photo area.

“By observing the flow of tourist traffic, we hope to resolve the congestion around the chaotic crossing,” a city official said.

However, residents who have long suffered from the tourist deluge are skeptical that this will be the slam-dunk solution the city hopes for.

“I was surprised that they suddenly cleared the park's trees," said a first-year high school student who lives near the crossing. "While it's good they're experimenting to see if they can get people off the road, don't the fans want to take pictures right next to the crossing?"

A woman in her 50s living in an apartment in front of the station fears the plan could backfire.

“If the city creates an officially endorsed photo spot, won't that just attract even more foreign tourists?" she said worriedly.

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