Foreign Tourist Accidents Continue at Japanese Railroad Crossings
Government Seeks Countermeasures, Including Posting Warning Posters
The number of foreign tourists involved in accidents while crossing railroad tracks in Japan is increasing. The unfamiliar structure of Japanese roads for foreigners has been identified as a major cause. As Japan is the country most frequently visited by South Koreans, extra caution is advised.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on the 23rd that "as the number of foreign visitors to Japan rises and safety accidents at railroad crossings have become a social issue, the Japanese government plans to strengthen multilingual warnings and safety measures."
Kobe, Saga, Kamakura... A Series of Foreign Tourist Deaths and Injuries
The railroad crossing in Enoshima, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the setting of the animation "Slam Dunk." Photo by Kyodo News
Accidents have continued since the beginning of this year. In January, two Chinese women entered the barrier at a railroad crossing in Tarumi Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and were struck and killed by a train. This location is known for a cafe overlooking the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which is considered a "hidden tourist spot" and was designed by architect Tadao Ando.
Similar accidents have occurred in recent months. At a crossing in Arita Town, Saga Prefecture last month, a Taiwanese woman died after colliding with a train. In Enoshima, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, a child from Hong Kong was involved in a collision with a train. This crossing is famous as the filming location for the animation "Slam Dunk" and attracts many foreign tourists, making it a representative area where the negative effects of "overtourism" have been highlighted.
620 Crossings in Central Tokyo Alone... World's Highest Density of Railroad Crossings
Nikkei cited the unfamiliarity of foreign visitors with railroad crossings as a cause of these accidents. Japan is a country with an unusually large number of at-grade crossings where roads and railways intersect at ground level.
According to Nikkei, as of the end of 2014, the number of major city railroad crossings was 16 in Seoul, 48 in New York, and 7 in Paris, but there were as many as 620 in the 23 central wards of Tokyo. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, there were 32,000 railroad crossings across Japan as of the end of fiscal year 2023. Japan has a structurally high number of crossings because, unlike other countries, it has built its transportation network with railways laid at ground level rather than underground or elevated.
Following the series of accidents involving foreign tourists, the Japanese government plans to post multilingual warning posters and notices prohibiting entry at crossings and major stations. From next year, the government is also considering making it mandatory for railway operators to provide multilingual safety notifications.
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