Cross It Off Your Bucket List: Mount Fuji Town Makes Drastic Move as Residents Say Their Lives Are Under Threat

Japanese Small City Overwhelmed as Tourists Outnumber Residents Four to One

A small city near Mount Fuji in Japan is struggling with a surge in tourists. Even the annual cherry blossom festival has been canceled this year.

According to NHK and other Japanese media on the 6th (local time), Fujiyoshida, a small city in Yamanashi Prefecture in southwestern Tokyo, recently concluded that "overtourism" has pushed resident discomfort to the breaking point. This city of 44,000 people is known for its spectacular views of Mount Fuji. Fujiyoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said on the 3rd, "Behind the beautiful scenery, the quiet lives of citizens are being threatened," adding, "I feel a grave sense of crisis."

Fujiyoshida City, a small city near Mount Fuji. Japan Now Instagram

Fujiyoshida City has held a cherry blossom festival every April in and around Arakurayama Sengen Park. In spring, domestic and international tourists flocked there to see the fully bloomed cherry trees set against Mount Fuji. During last year's 18-day festival period alone, more than 200,000 people visited, causing crowds more than four times the city’s population to converge all at once.

However, the city has decided not to hold the festival this year. Mayor Horiuchi stated, "The sharp increase in visitors beyond the local capacity has caused serious damage to residents' living environment," describing it as "an unavoidable choice to protect the dignity and daily lives of citizens." City authorities explained that some tourists entered private homes without permission under the pretext of using the bathroom, and repeatedly committed illegal acts such as trespassing on private property and dumping garbage. There were even cases of people defecating on private land or causing disturbances when residents complained. Although the festival has been canceled, the city plans to draw up measures to cope with the expected increase in visitors during the peak season from April to May.

Conflicts caused by the surge in tourists are not unique to this area. Last year, Fujikawaguchiko, another small city near Mount Fuji, installed a black barrier wall around a convenience store known as a popular photo spot. The location gained a reputation as a place where Mount Fuji can be captured in a single frame, attracting international tourists, which in turn led to complaints about a sharp increase in trash and safety concerns.