The annual festival has been cancelled by authorities after drawing up to 200,000 visitors a year, with locals reporting trespassing, littering and disruption to residents
Japan has been struggling with overtourism(Image: Jonathan W. Cohen via Getty Images)
A globally renowned festival has been axed amid overtourism and antisocial behaviour concerns. Japan has witnessed thousands of tourists flocking to the country in recent years, with many eager to see the iconic cherry blossom trees.
The traditionally expensive destination has experienced a tourism boom thanks to the weakened yen. However, Japan could reach record visitor numbers this year, prompting authorities to tackle excessive tourism levels.
Consequently, an annual event near Mount Fuji has been scrapped.
The celebrated cherry blossom festival at Arakurayama Sengen Park attracts up to 200,000 visitors annually. Running for approximately a decade, the event features stage performances and stalls while visitors admire the breathtaking scenery.
Officials in Fujiyoshida city confirmed the cancellation of the sakura festival this week. The observation deck at Arakurayama Sengen Park has emerged as a tourist magnet for spectacular views of Mount Fuji, reports the Express.
Tourists are still expected to flock to the viewing platform(Image: mantaphoto via Getty Images)
During spring, the legendary mountain is beautifully framed by cherry blossoms with the five-storey Chureito Pagoda positioned in the foreground. Yet, problems including traffic chaos, disturbance to local residents and rubbish have escalated.
“For Fujiyoshida City, Mount Fuji is not just a tourist attraction; it is our very way of life,” Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi told local media.
“However, I feel a strong sense of crisis about the reality that, behind the beautiful scenery, the quiet lives and dignity of our residents are being threatened.”
As reported by the Straits Times, there have been instances of trespassing, with tourists entering homes uninvited to use the loo and even defecating in private gardens.
Parents have raised safety concerns following reports of schoolchildren being pushed off pavements by throngs of tourists.
Despite the festival’s cancellation, a surge of tourists is still anticipated at the site during cherry blossom season. In preparation, authorities plan to install portable loos and deploy security guards.
The observation deck is expected to be extremely crowded, with wait times potentially reaching 3 hours for the perfect view. This isn’t Japan’s first attempt to tackle overtourism.
Last year, the neighbouring town of Fujikawaguchiko grew so exasperated with tourists that they erected a 20-metre-long and 2.5-metre-high fence to obscure a viral photo spot.
This move followed incidents of trespassing, littering and tourists disregarding traffic lights.
AloJapan.com