Japanese town overwhelmed by visitors installs obstruction to hinder sight of Mount Fuji
"Unfortunately, we had to implement these drastic measures," a town official said to CNN during the meeting held last month where the town's council decided to obstruct the most-admired views of Mount Fuji with a 20-meter long black screen.
This small-town located in Yamanashi prefecture has recently been in the eye of the storm encountering international scrutiny. There is a particular viewpoint in Fujikawaguchiko, situated at the base of Mount Fuji and near the start of the most-used trails up the mountain, that had become so enticing for visitors that it led to issues for locals.
The predicament became so severe that businesses not even related to tourism have intervened. One such example is the Ibishi Dental Clinic, which is in the same building as this photo spot. The clinic informed that their staff and patients have had to encounter tourism-related disturbances.
"In addition to discarding garbage, trespassing on the premises, smoking, eating in the parking lot, or even rooftops, there were various instances of nuisance illegal acts, including verbally abusing us or throwing away their cigarettes when we asked them to move their vehicles. The neighbors were often forced to be in the position of calling the police", stated the clinic.
"It has become routine for foreigners to be always present from the crack of dawn to late at night at the popular photo spot, and locals are unable to exchange words with them in Japanese," the statement adds.
The Ibishi Dental Clinic is one of the several businesses that petitioned the Fujikawaguchiko authorities to address the situation.
Overcrowding woes in Japan
Ever since Japan began accepting foreign tourists shortly after the pandemic, millions have flocked to the country and its top tourist attractions, with more than 3 million people per month visiting in March and April 2024, and no signs of the trend slowing down as Americans and Europeans plan their summer holidays.
While tourism-related problems are global, from Paris to Hawaii, Fujikawaguchiko's predicament is remarkable for various reasons. Unlike other instances, it's not a specific attraction that has drawn massive influx - it is a popular viewing point where Mount Fuji serves as the backdrop. The ideal location for photographers is in front of a convenience store, with tourists standing right in the middle of the road.
A majority of tourists prefer staying in Tokyo, which is just 100 km away, rather than spending the night at Fujikawaguchiko. Consequently, the town, that only has a population of 10,000, can't generate revenue needed to compensate for the damage caused by thousands of visitors, or the littering, degradation, and traffic problems they bring with them.
"I've witnessed people straying onto the road, people on electronic scooters flouting traffic regulations and getting into accidents. There have been several accidents involving foreign tourists recently," Haruhito Tsuchiya, a 49-year-old local who works in the tourism industry, voiced out to Reuters.
Lawson, the convenience store with a prominent presence in front of Fuji that is often displayed in social media Mount Fuji pictures, also stated they would work to reduce the influx of disorderly tourists.
"We sincerely apologize to the local residents, customers of these stores, and others for contributing to inconvenience and anxiety due to the popularity of the Lawson Kawaguchiko Station Branch," the company said in a May 5 statement.
Lawson then announced that private security guards would be recruited for the Kawaguchiko store and signs would be put out in several languages asking tourists not to litter or hinder traffic.
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The town's council decided to install a 20-meter long black screen to obstruct the views of Mount Fuji due to the excessive number of tourists, making it difficult for locals to enjoy their daily routine and causing disturbances in businesses like the Ibishi Dental Clinic.
As tourism continued to surge in Fujikawaguchiko, with over 3 million visitors per month, the town struggled to cope with the increased demand, resulting in littering, traffic problems, and even accidents involving foreign tourists.
Source: edition.cnn.com
