Mount Fuji Blockage Initiative by Japanese Town Underway to Reduce Influx of 'Misbehaving' Tourists

Mount Fuji has been the most famous tourist attraction site in Japan for decades, towering at 12,388 feet (3,776 meters) above sea level. Being the East Asian nation's tallest mountain, Mt. Fuji is not only a picturesque scenery but also an active volcano. It is located in central Japan and about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, making it accessible for sight-seeing for both locals and foreigners.

However, the popularity of Mount Fuji seems to have a cost, in terms of local community disruptions caused by tourism. This development is based on a surge of visitors flocking to the site in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in 2024, Japanese media reported complaints by locals who work and reside against some "bad-mannered" tourists who arrive to see Mt. Fuji.

Dubbed "Mount Fuji overtourism," the problem caused by vacationers in the area has forced Japanese residents and authorities in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, to take action. Reports as of May 2024 show the townspeople launched an initiative to block the view of the mountain by erecting a barrier at a popular photo site in the town: in front of a convenience store.

Mount Fuji Blockage

The Mount Fuji blockage initiative in Fujikawaguchiko gained momentum following a series of complaints filed by Japanese residents in April 2024 that Mt. Fuji tourists are causing problems in the town. In particular, there is an influx of "misbehaving" tourists for quite some time now in front of the town's Lawson convenience store, where behind it offers a perfect view of the active volcano.

Due to the disruption, including overcrowding, littering, and illegal parking, caused by overtourism, the Japanese town blocked the view of Mt. Fuji to reduce the influx of tourists in the area, according to recent reports. In addition, visitors are also seen crossing a busy road in the area, leaving waste on the street, and ignoring traffic lights.

While some of the town business establishments, including restaurants, partly rely on foreign holidaymakers, the Mt. Fuji tourism eventually caused harm. The site became popular in 2022 after a photo of the mountain taken in the area went viral on social media, according to local sources. Since then, the area experienced an increase in tourists since Japan lifted COVID-19 restrictions.

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Mount Fuji Tourism

In addition to the blockage in Fujikawaguchiko, Japanese residents in a different locality are also complaining about the Mount Fuji overtourism, wherein this time it is happening over a scenic bridge in Fuji City, called Fuji Dream Bridge. Reports over the weekend state that Fuji City residents are concerned about tourists flocking to the bridge to glimpse a view of the famed mountain.

Yet, just like at the convenience store site in Fujikawaguchiko, the Fuji Dream Bridge has become a social media hotspot in recent months. According to Miyu Toyama, a local official at the city's Exchange Tourism Division, the overtourism at the Fuji bridge started in December 2023 when a foreign social media influencer placed images of Mount Fuji taken on the bridge were uploaded on Instagram.