日本旅遊景點在生態系統遭受多年破壞後禁止拋硬幣傳統

多年來一直自願清除這些錢的坂本潛水員告訴日本媒體富士新聞網，有些錢堆高達一公尺。

A Japanese tourist site has been plagued by visitors throwing coins into a sacred pond, despite a ban on the practice and the threat of jail time.

日本的一個旅遊景點一直受到遊客向神聖池塘投擲硬幣的困擾，儘管這種做法被禁止，並面臨入獄的威脅。

The Oshino Hakkai tourist site, which is known for its eight clear freshwater ponds, has been battling the problem for years.

忍野八海旅遊景點以其八個清澈的淡水池塘而聞名，多年來一直在與這個問題作鬥爭。

A diver surnamed Sakamoto, who has been voluntarily removing the money for years, told Fuji News Network that some piles are as high as one metre.

多年來一直自願清除這些錢的坂本潛水員告訴富士新聞網，有些錢堆高達一公尺。

After the coins are thrown into the water they mix with the mud at the bottom of the pond, and it is extremely difficult to clear them out, Sakamoto said.

坂本說，硬幣被丟進水中後，會與池底的泥土混合，很難將它們清理出來。

The tourist site bans coin tossing because the metals are believed to be harmful to the ecosystem. The number of plants in the water have reduced as a result of years of the tradition.

該旅遊景點禁止拋硬幣，因為人們認為金屬對生態系統有害。由於多年的傳統，水中植物的數量已經減少。

Under Japan’s Cultural Properties Protection Act, people who throw coins into Oshino Hakkai can face a jail term of up to five years or a fine of up to a million yen (US$6,500).

根據日本的文化財產保護法，向忍野八海丟硬幣的人可能面臨最高五年的監禁或最高一百萬日圓（6,500 美元）的罰款。

Fuji News Network recorded five groups of tourists in two hours tossing coins into one of the ponds.

富士新聞網記錄了五組遊客在兩小時內向其中一個池塘丟硬幣的情況。

One tourist said they did not know it was not allowed, and did it after seeing coins in the pond, to “wish for good luck”.

一名遊客表示，他們不知道這是不允許的，看到池塘裡有硬幣後就這麼做了，以「祈求好運」。

Staff at the tourist site also noticed more 500-yen (US$3) coins being thrown this year, as the Japanese yen weakened and people did not want to diminish the strength of their wishes.

該旅遊景點的工作人員也注意到，隨著日圓貶值，人們不想削弱自己願望的強度，今年人們拋出了更多的 500 日圓（3 美元）硬幣。

The site was looking for ways, other than erecting more signs, to stop the behaviour while not disturbing the beautiful scenery.

除了豎立更多標誌外，該網站正在尋找其他方法來阻止這種行為，同時又不影響美麗的風景。

It is not the first time Japanese sites have reportedly been bothered by the thoughtless behaviour of tourists.

據報道，這並不是日本景點第一次因遊客的輕率行為而受到困擾。

In May, Yamanashi prefecture had to install a large black screen on the roadside to block the view of Mount Fuji after tourists kept gathering for photos in front of a Lawson convenience store with the mountain as a backdrop and disrupting the lives of residents.

今年5月，山梨縣因遊客不斷聚集在以富士山為背景的羅森便利商店前拍照，擾亂了居民的生活，不得不在路邊安裝大型黑屏來遮擋富士山的視線。

Local media outlets later discovered small holes had been poked through the black screen, allegedly by tourists.

當地媒體後來發現黑屏上被戳出了小洞，據稱是遊客造成的。

Last year, a Buddhist temple called Chosenji in Japan’s Saitama prefecture in greater Tokyo was reported to have set up a special “Bodhisattva for coins”.

去年，據報道，位於東京都埼玉縣的一座名為長泉寺的佛教寺廟專門設立了「錢幣菩薩像」。

Tourists have been invited to place their good luck coins on the base of the statue rather than throw them into the pond and disturb the marine creatures and their habitats.

遊客被邀請將幸運硬幣放在雕像的底座上，而不是把它們扔進池塘里，擾亂海洋生物及其棲息地。