Japan blocks tourists from seeing Mount Fuji

A huge black barrier blocking views of Mount Fuji will be installed at a popular photo spot by Japanese authorities, annoyed by crowds of badly behaved foreign tourists.

Construction of the mesh net – 2.5 meters high and the length of a cricket field 20 meters – will begin as early as next week, an official from Fujikawaguchiko city said on April 26.

“It is unfortunate that we have to do this because some tourists cannot respect the rules,” he told the newspaper. AFP.

It is the latest direct action in Japan against overtourism, after residents of Kyoto’s geisha district banned visitors from small private alleys this year.

This is why Japan blocks the view of Mount Fuji from tourists

Record numbers of foreign tourists are traveling to the country, where the number of monthly visitors surpassed three million for the first time ever in March. Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, can be photographed from many spots in the resort town of Fujikawaguchiko.

But this viewpoint is especially popular because the majestic volcano appears behind a Lawson supermarket, which is ubiquitous in Japan. This visual juxtaposition “has created a reputation on social media that this place is very Japanese, making it a popular photo location,” said the city official, who declined to be named.

The mostly non-Japanese tourists are crowded on a stretch of sidewalk next to the Lawson store, he said. After traffic signs and repeated warnings from security officers fell on deaf ears, the city in the Yamanashi region decided on the big screen as a last resort.

The measure is also intended to protect a nearby dental clinic from the influx of tourists. They sometimes park there without permission and have even been seen climbing onto the roof of the clinic to take the perfect photo, the official said.

The city wishes it didn’t come down to this, he said, adding that the current plan is for the screen to remain until the situation improves. Tourism to Japan has boomed since pandemic-era border restrictions were lifted, and the government has worked hard to increase visitor numbers.

But this was not welcomed by everyone, including in Kyoto, where locals complained about excited tourists harassing the city’s impeccably dressed geisha. And this summer, hikers using the most popular route to climb Mount Fuji will be charged $13 (THB481) each, with numbers limited to reduce traffic jams.

Other top destinations worldwide are also struggling with visitor numbers, and on April 25 Venice started charging day trippers entrance fees to tackle mass tourism.

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(Feature image: Philip FONG/AFP)

All currency conversions have been completed at the time of writing

This story was published via AFP Relaxnews

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