I don't want to point fingers at my fellow Americans as I see other tourists behaving just as badly. I think a significant percentage of tourists are inexperienced in different cultures and see the temples and palaces of Imperial Japan as some sort of theme park rather than as a city where people live, work, pray and generally have their existence. They behave as they would in Disneyland or someplace similar. Everything is so different that it just doesn't seem real.

Also, with the advent of less expensive travel, we see folks who just shouldn't be allowed out without a keeper. I am reminded of a redneck who, upon seeing a lovely and elegant young lady visiting a temple in kimono, loudly exclaimed to his wife - "look, its one of them geeshas." Worse was the Aussie who, upon seeing me first ask permission and then photograph another young kimono-clad girl, ran over and grabbed her, putting his arm around her so his wife could get a picture of him with her. The girl looked terrified. I quickly apologized to her even though I wasn't at fault. When I tried to explain the problem to the guy he just stared at me like I was speaking Greek. I had gotten my picture so why shouldn't he? Reminded me of tourists getting photos with Goofy or Mickey at D-land. The difference, of course, was that the girl was not an actor in costume, put there for photos.

You see "clueless tourist syndrome" everywhere. I don't see a problem with trying to educate a few of them.