2024/4/26 17:37 (updated at 4/27 08:16)
A Lawson convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan often attracts large numbers of tourists to take photos. (Central News Agency)
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 26th) Due to strong dissatisfaction with the bad behavior of a large number of foreign tourists, Fujikawaguchiko Town, 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 pity that we have to do this because some tourists are not following the rules,” such as littering and ignoring traffic rules, the official told AFP.
This is Japan’s latest direct action against “overtourism” after residents of Kyoto’s geisha district banned tourists from entering private alleys this year.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has hit a new record. In March this year, the number of tourists in a single month exceeded 3 million for the first time.
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 right behind a Lawson convenience store.
An official from Fujikawaguchiko Town, who did not want to be named, said that due to the visual contrast between Mount Fuji and convenience stores, many people mentioned on social media that the place is full of Japanese flavor, making it a popular photo location.
He said that a large number of tourists crowded on 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 a last resort: erecting a huge barrier.
The move is also intended to protect a nearby dental clinic from tourists.
Officials said tourists sometimes parked next to the clinic without permission, and some even climbed onto the roof of the clinic to take stunning photos.
Officials said the town of Fujikawaguchiko doesn’t want things to turn out like this, but currently plans to maintain the barrier until the situation improves.
Since countries have gradually lifted COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) border control measures, the number of tourists to Japan has begun 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 harass the costumed geisha.
Starting this summer, climbers climbing Mount Fuji from the most popular route will have to pay a fee of 2,000 yen (approximately 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 massive increases in visitors, such as Venice, Italy, which yesterday began charging entry fees for day-trippers to tackle overtourism. (Translator: Zeng Yixuan/Verification: He Hongru) 1130426
Central News Agency “First-hand News” app
The text, pictures and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
