Photo/Illutration Local license plates issued in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, feature the famed railway crossing from the popular anime series “Slam Dunk.” (Provided by Kamakura City)

KAMAKURA, Kanagawa Prefecture–Local officials will stop issuing the city’s popular license plates featuring the iconic railway crossing from the “Slam Dunk” manga and anime after the photo hot spot created an overtourism crisis.

The crossing near Kamakura-Koko-Mae Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway Line has become a pilgrimage site for fans of the basketball-themed series.

Visitors mainly from Asian countries flock to the spot, often crowding the narrow streets and causing traffic disruptions.

Complaints have mounted over illegal parking by pick-up and drop-off vehicles, prompting the city to deploy additional security staff to manage the situation.

Officials decided to abolish the license plates at the end of January to downplay the crossing and ease congestion at the tourist spot. They noted that the decision was not made in response to any direct requests from residents.

Introduced in 2014 to promote local tourism, the license plates depict a train passing the crossing with the ocean in the background.

Available for motorcycles with engines between 50cc and 125cc, residents could choose between a plain design or the crossing motif.

The latter proved particularly popular, with 70 percent of applicants in fiscal 2024 selecting the crossing design plate. 

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