CNN
—
The Japanese city of Fujikawaguchiko has erected a large black web to dam views of Mount Fuji, a response to the city’s enormous recognition on Instagram and different social media platforms.
“It’s regrettable that we needed to take such measures,” a local official told CNN final month, when the city’s council determined to dam the preferred Fuji views with a 66-foot-long (20-meter) black display, which was erected on Might 21.
The small city in Yamanashi prefecture has develop into the middle of a global controversy in latest weeks. A particular viewpoint in Fujikawaguchiko, which is on the foot of Mount Fuji and close to the start line for one of many most-used trails up the mountain, grew to become so in style with guests that it was inflicting issues for locals.
The scenario has gotten so dangerous that even companies with no connection to tourism have weighed in. The Ibishi Dental Clinic, situated within the constructing subsequent door to the picture spot, is one in all them. In accordance with the clinic, their workers and sufferers have needed to cope with harassment by vacationers.
“There was a collection of nuisance unlawful actions akin to leaving rubbish, trespassing on the premises, smoking, consuming within the car parking zone or underneath the roofs of personal houses, and trespassing on the rooftop, which regularly resulted in a name to the police,” stated an announcement issued by the clinic. “It grew to become not unusual for folks to shout insults at us or to throw away their cigarettes whereas they had been nonetheless lit once we requested them to maneuver their automobiles.”
The assertion added that the picture spot “attracts a continuing stream of foreigners from early morning to late at night time, and even native residents are unable to speak with them once they warning them in Japanese.”
The Ibishi Dental Clinic confirms that it was one of many companies that requested Fujikawaguchiko officers to cope with the issue.
Since Japan reopened to overseas vacationers after the pandemic, “revenge travelers” have swarmed the nation and its hottest sights. Greater than three million folks monthly visited in March and April 2024, and the record-shattering pattern appears on observe to proceed as North American and European vacationers plan their summer time holidays.
Whereas overtourism is a matter around the globe, from Paris to Hawaii, Fujikawaguchiko’s story is notable for a number of causes. On this case, it’s not a selected attraction bringing hordes of tourists – it’s a viewpoint the place folks wish to take photos of Mount Fuji. The vantage level is in entrance of a comfort retailer, with folks standing within the street to get the most effective shot.
Most guests don’t spend the night time in Fujikawaguchiko, preferring to come back in for a day journey however keep in busier Tokyo – simply 62 miles (100 kilometers) away – at night time.
Because of this there’s no cash coming in – from entry tickets, museum passes, or lodge charges – to stability out the injury attributable to 1000’s of tourists or the erosion, trash and site visitors points they bring about with them. Consequently, the city of simply 10,000 folks has struggled to manage.
“I’ve seen folks stroll into roads, folks utilizing digital [scooters] with out following site visitors guidelines and moving into accidents. There have been many accidents involving overseas vacationers just lately,” Haruhito Tsuchiya, a 49-year-old native who works within the tourism business, instructed Reuters.
Lawson’s, the comfort retailer in entrance of Fuji that’s typically featured in social-media photos of the mountain, has additionally stated it will take measures to stem the stream of badly-behaved vacationers.
“We provide our honest apologies to native residents, prospects of those shops, and others for inciting inconvenience and concern because of the popularization of the Lawson Kawaguchiko Station Department,” the corporate stated in a Might 5 assertion.
Lawson’s added that it might rent non-public safety guards for the Kawaguchiko retailer and put up indicators in a number of languages asking vacationers to not litter or block roads.