Geisha alley ban divides opinion among Kyoto tourists

Visitors will be banned from entering private alleys in Kyoto's famous geisha district, as the ancient city tackles overtourism after the pandemic.

Kyoto residents have long expressed frustration with tourists behaving badly, especially in the city's picturesque Gion neighbourhood, home to teahouses where "geiko" -- as geisha are locally known -- and their young "maiko" apprentices, perform.