Notice of Business Suspension at Famous Mount Fuji Hot Spring Due to Equipment Failure
Operations Resumed After One Hour,
But Suspension News Spread Wider
Hot Spring Operators Plead,
"Please Help Share the Reopening News" Before Situat
Hottarakashi Onsen in Japan, famous for enjoying hot springs while viewing Mount Fuji. Hot Spring Website
A hot spring in Japan, famous for allowing visitors to enjoy the view of Mount Fuji while bathing, experienced an unexpected business suspension incident. The hot spring briefly announced a temporary closure and then resumed operations, but only the closure news spread widely on social networking services (SNS). Eventually, the hot spring operators ended up pleading with internet users to help spread the news that they had reopened.
On September 2, Fuji TV in Japan reported on the story of Hottarakashi Onsen, located in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The incident began on August 31, when an unexpected problem occurred. At 8:21 a.m. that day, the hot spring's SNS account posted a notice stating, "Due to equipment failure, the hot spring and its facilities are unable to operate." The pump used for showers and other amenities had broken down, making it impossible to continue operations.
Because this happened on the last Sunday of summer vacation, the "business suspension" news had a much greater impact than usual. When the closure notice was posted on SNS, it was quickly reposted hundreds of times-about 400 reposts within just one hour. Normally, only about 10 reposts would be expected, but on this day, the news exploded, surpassing 400 reposts in just one hour. One hour after the initial notice, around 9:30 a.m., the hot spring operators announced, "Restoration is complete. We plan to resume operations around 1 p.m." Then, around 11 a.m., they posted another notice stating, "We have resumed operations," indicating that everything was back to normal.
Hottarakashi Onsen in Japan, famous for enjoying hot springs while viewing Mount Fuji. Hot Spring Website
However, the problem did not end there. Because the business suspension post spread at such a rapid pace, even after the reopening post was uploaded, the "business suspension" post continued to circulate widely. In fact, the "business suspension" post reached 400 reposts, while the "business resumption" post only received 40 reposts-a tenfold difference.
The hot spring operators told Fuji TV, "Customers who only saw the business suspension post might think, 'Oh, the hot spring is closed. I guess we shouldn't go,' and we were worried that this could lead to a decrease in customers later." As a result, shortly after noon that day, the operators made this appeal: "Everyone, please, it would be very helpful if you could spread the business resumption post. The reach of the business suspension post is so great that it is not being offset at all." After this "unusual request," the situation gradually calmed down. A hot spring representative told Fuji TV, "We truly want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone."
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