Japanese town erects net to cover Mount Fuji to dissuade tourists taking pictures because they don’t have rules
(AFP, Tokyo, 26th) Due to strong dissatisfaction with the bad behavior of a large number of foreign tourists, Fujikawaguchiko Town in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan will set up a huge black barrier at a popular local check-in point to prevent tourists from taking photos of Mount Fuji.
Fujikawaguchiko town officials said today that the installation of the 2.5 meter high and 20 meter long net will begin as soon as next week.
“It’s a shame we have to do this because some tourists don’t follow the rules,” such as littering and ignoring traffic rules, the official told AFP.
It is Japan’s latest direct action against “over-tourism” after residents of Kyoto’s geisha district banned tourists from entering private lanes this year.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan reached a new record, with the number of tourists in one month exceeding 3 million for the first time in March this year.
In the tourist resort town of Fujikawaguchiko, there are many angles to photograph Mount Fuji, the highest peak in Japan.
But one location is particularly popular because the majestic Mount Fuji appears behind the Lawson convenience store.
An official from Fujikawaguchiko Town, who did not want to be named, said that because of the visual contrast between Mount Fuji and convenience stores, many people have mentioned on social media that the place is full of Japanese flavor, making it a popular photo location.
He said a large number of tourists crowded the sidewalk next to the convenience store, and most of them were not Japanese tourists.
With tourists ignoring traffic signals and repeated warnings from security personnel, the town of Fujikawaguchiko decided to resort to the last resort: erecting a massive barrier.
The move is also intended to protect a nearby dental clinic from tourists.
Officials said tourists sometimes park next to the clinic without permission, and some even climb onto the roof of the clinic to take stunning photos.
Officials said the town of Fujikawaguchiko doesn’t want things like this to turn out, but right now it plans to maintain the blockade until the situation improves.
As countries have gradually lifted the border control measures of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the number of tourists to Japan has started to surge, and the Japanese government has also worked hard to attract tourists. But not everyone is happy to see this development. For example, people in Kyoto complain that photo-loving tourists disturb the geisha in costume.
Starting this summer, climbers climbing Mount Fuji from the most popular route will have to pay a fee of 2,000 yen (about NT$420) per person, and the number of climbers will also be limited to prevent excessive crowds .
Other popular destinations around the world are also struggling to cope with a huge increase in visitors, such as Venice, Italy, which yesterday began raising entry fees on day visitors to tackle over-tourism.
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