Tokyo Riverside BBQs Overrun by Nuisance Guests: Garbage, Noise, Fireworks, Mostly Foreign Visitors

Trash, noise, fireworks at night, there’s no one around to keep people in check

Popular barbecue spots along the Akikawa River attract many visitors from central Tokyo every summer. When the author visited, the riverside was bustling with people enjoying themselves in various ways.

However, in recent years, some visitors seem to care only about their own fun, frequently disregarding rules and causing disturbances. Local residents report being troubled by litter, fireworks, and noise, especially at night.

“At night, there are no patrols, so no one can stop them. Groups arrive by car in the middle of the night and make a huge commotion on the riverbank. They light fires directly on the ground—despite being prohibited—while setting off fireworks, shouting loudly in foreign languages, and generally doing whatever they want. Even if we call the police, another group soon shows up, so it’s almost meaningless. They also leave firework debris behind, which we have to clean up in the morning,” said a nearby resident.

Some troublemakers, aware that the police may be called, now move slightly downstream to avoid detection, continuing their rowdy behavior out of sight.

A man who has barbecued at the site every summer commented, “In the past two or three years, the number of foreign visitors has increased considerably, and the disruptive behavior has become more noticeable. Many of them are from Asia or the Middle East. Even small things, like parking, can lead to them honking aggressively, which is frightening.”

According to him, it’s common to see foreign visitors being scolded by site staff for breaking the rules. On the day the author visited, several groups were being warned.

“For instance, an Asian group brought their own speakers and played music while barbecuing. The staff told them to turn it down, and they argued for several minutes, insisting it was acceptable. But speakers are prohibited here. We want people to follow the rules. As for litter, they leave trash scattered around or burn it in the fire—including plastic bottles, which is dangerous.”

Brawls erupt too

The staff managing the barbecue park lamented that 90% of the people who break the rules are foreigners. Many of them don’t stop their disruptive behavior after just one warning, requiring multiple interventions. Communication is also difficult because some visitors don’t understand Japanese.

“We explain the facility’s rules to those who violate them. When we warned a group from the Middle East who were playing music and performing what seemed like a pre-meal ritual, they said, ‘These rules are for Japanese people, they don’t apply to us.’ Perhaps they wanted to emphasize the importance of their ritual, but if you use the facility, everyone should follow the rules regardless of nationality. We don’t want to make the rules stricter because of a few people, as everyone comes here to enjoy themselves.”

In recent years, incidents have escalated. “Last summer, visitors from India, Thailand, China, and Nepal started arguing, nearly turning into a brawl involving dozens of people. Alcohol was involved, which likely made things worse. To prevent this from happening again, anyone who breaks the rules is asked to leave. We want to protect those enjoying the facility and maintain a safe environment. You have to be firm to make improvements.”

Although disruptive behavior has decreased compared to last year, the problem persists like a game of whack-a-mole. Some foreigners may not fully understand why the rules exist, but to ensure everyone has an enjoyable time, rules must be followed.

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