TOKYO: A cherry blossom festival boasting a highly Instagrammable view of Japan's Mount Fuji has been cancelled after residents complained of overtourism fuelled by the weak yen.
The city of Fujiyoshida, in central Japan's Yamanashi region, said Tuesday (Feb 3) that the weeks-long event attracting around 200,000 people will be called off this year because "the quiet lives of local residents are threatened".
About 42.7 million tourists flocked to Japan in 2025, an all-time high, topping 2024's record of nearly 37 million as the weak yen boosted the appeal of the "bucket list" destination.
But complaints of overcrowding have grown in hotspots like Kyoto, where disrespectful tourists have been accused of harassing kimono-clad geisha performers in their frenzy for photos.
In Fujiyoshida, the influx of foreign tourists has seen traffic chronically jammed and cigarette butts tossed, with trespassing and even defecation in private gardens reported by its citizens, the city said.
"Behind (Mount Fuji's) beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened. We have a strong sense of crisis," Shigeru Horiuchi, Fujiyoshida mayor, said in a statement.
"To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival."
The city, however, admits that even if the festival itself is cancelled, its venue -- a park overlooking Mount Fuji, cherry blossom trees and a five-story pagoda -- may still see a spike in visitors as spring nears.
Mount Fuji is a perennial tourist attraction.
To manage the influx of visitors, nearby towns have in the past erected a view-blocking barrier to dissuade photo-hungry tourists, introduced an entry fee for hikers and capped their daily numbers. - AFP
