Japanese city begins blocking views of Mount Fuji from ‘bad-mannered’ tourists

Photos taken from a narrow stretch of sidewalk across a busy road from the Lawson store – which are ubiquitous in Japan – are widely shared online – Copyright AFP Philip FONG

Caroline Gardin

Work has begun in a small Japanese town to erect a barrier blocking views of the country’s most famous landmark, Mount Fuji, after locals complained about bad behavior from photo-hungry tourists.

The city of Fujikawaguchiko began building mesh panels in a spot where endless streams of mainly foreign tourists visit every day to take photos of the majestic mountain behind a Lawson supermarket.

Photos taken from a narrow stretch of sidewalk across a busy road from the Lawson store – which are ubiquitous in Japan – are being shared widely online.

Local officials and residents say that while the city welcomes visitors, they must prevent tourists from constantly crossing the streets, ignoring red lights, littering, parking illegally and smoking outside designated areas.

“It became not uncommon for people to yell at us when we asked them to move their car, and for them to throw their lit cigarettes (on the ground),” a dental office across the street from the Lawson store said in a statement. .

By the middle of this month, the city plans to complete the barrier, which will be 2.5 meters high and stretch more than 20 meters long to block views of the mountain, hoping it will discourage tourists from getting around to hang. .

The city’s move has generated national and international headlines as Japan experiences increasing problems with overtourism, especially in popular locations such as Kyoto’s narrow private alleys, and even trails on Mount Fuji itself, where tourists like to photograph and post themselves on social media.

Fujikawaguchiko City Hall has been inundated with calls from Japanese, many of them non-locals, who have criticized the move to block the view.

“It’s not that we don’t want people to see Mount Fuji. The problem is that there are so many people who cannot follow the basic rules,” a city official told AFP.

– ‘Basic manners’ –

Having a net barrier is a shame but perhaps necessary, say local residents.

“We welcome foreigners for the revitalization of the community, but there are so many violations of basic manners, such as crossing the road, dumping garbage and trespassing on people’s property,” a 60-year-old resident told AFP.

“After all, they are here for Mount Fuji, so having that barrier is very unfortunate,” said the woman, who identified herself as Watanabe.

“Maybe there were other ways to deal with it, but right now I feel like there’s nothing that can be done,” she said.

Some tourists showed their understanding and expressed hope that the city would create a designated photo spot.

But others speculated that the barrier would only make matters worse.

“Stop people? I don’t think so, because if there’s a will, there’s a way. People will just be to the left or right of it,” said 29-year-old Australian tourist Trinity Robinson.

“There will certainly be a way to still get the chance. It will actually only be more dangerous.”

As a possible solution, a 37-year-old local man, who gave his name as Ama, urged visitors to see other scenic locations in the area.

“Mount Fuji from here (near the Lawson store) is fantastic. But there are so many other places around here where you can visit beautiful views,” he said.