Photo/Illutration Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination for its ski and hiking resorts. (Yuichi Koyama)

HAKUBA, Nagano Prefecture—The local government here will introduce fines for public nuisances, such as late-night fireworks and littering, following a surge in disruptive behavior at the popular ski resort driven by growing inbound tourism.

Violators may face fines of up to 50,000 yen ($340) for behavior that disturbs residents and blemishes the local environment under the new rules.

To strengthen enforcement, the village plans to revise its existing ordinance by December, ahead of the peak ski season. 

Introduced in 2015, Hakuba’s current ordinance bans unruly behavior, including late-night fireworks, littering, skiing on public roads and smoking or drinking on the street. 

Officials say these no longer go far enough after the sharp increase in foreign tourists in recent years.

The number of overnight stays by overseas visitors has more than doubled, rising from 100,000 in 2015 to 250,000 in 2023.

With this influx has come a rise in previously unforeseen issues, such as graffiti and sticker vandalism on utility poles, as well as noisy gatherings on the streets at night and vehicles without snow tires.

Officials said the new penalty is intended to warn and discourage tourists’ disruptive behavior rather than immediately impose strict fines.

Hakuba is not alone in adopting community behavior regulations to maintain public order and safety.

According to the Research Institute for Local Government, 20 municipalities across the country have enacted similar ordinances, with penalties in place for areas that include Fukuoka, Kyoto and Tokyo’s Ota Ward.

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