Travel Advisory: Kyoto Station Escalators Become Hotspot for Voyeurism, Youngest Offender Just 10 Years Old

Travelers to Japan should stay alert. Kyoto, a world-renowned tourist destination, has recently seen a surge in voyeurism cases at the station, prompting police to warn commuters to be cautious of perverts on escalators. This year alone, there have been eight arrests related to such incidents, with offenders ranging in age from 10 to 50.

In September this year, Japanese police distributed flyers at Kyoto Station to raise awareness about preventing voyeurism. According to a recent report by the Asahi Shimbun, an escalator near the north-south free passage at the exits of JR Kyoto Station and Kintetsu Kyoto Station has been the site of multiple voyeurism cases this year, leading to the arrest of eight suspects. Some were caught in the act by plainclothes officers, who witnessed them using their phones to film up women’s skirts.

Police caution that escalators in crowded stations are prime spots for such crimes, especially between 7 and 8 a.m., when perpetrators take advantage of the chaos to blend into the crowd if caught. Additionally, standing in the middle of an escalator where there's more space can also make you a target for those looking to follow and film discreetly.