By Karim Hammam
A Japanese manga and anime series is fueling a tourism boom in Bibury, a picturesque Cotswolds village long known for its 17th-century weavers' cottages along Arlington Row.
Anime Series Puts Bibury on Japanese Tourist Map
The series Kin-iro Mosaic, originally a manga by Yui Hara and later adapted into a 12-episode anime and two films, features Bibury landmarks such as Arlington Row, a stone bridge over the River Coln, Bibury Trout Farm, and an ice cream stall as backdrops for the story of Japanese girls and a British exchange student.
Visitor Influx Strains Small Village
The village of just 627 residents can see up to 20,000 visitors in a single weekend, with Japanese fans making up a growing share of the crowds drawn by the animated depiction of their hometown.
Council Warns of River Damage
Parish councillors have raised concerns over tourists entering the shallow River Coln, including paddling and placing chairs in the water, which they say threatens wildlife such as swans and ducks.
Longstanding Reputation as Beauty Spot
Bibury's appeal predates the anime: 19th-century designer William Morris called it the "most beautiful village in England," and Japanese Emperor Hirohito described it as a "sacred place" after a 1921 stay.
