A community close to Mount Fuji has called off its cherry blossom festival, saying too many visitors have disrupted daily life for residents. BBC
A small Japanese town near Mount Fuji has cancelled its popular cherry blossom festival this year, saying the surge of visitors has become too much for residents to handle. Officials in Fujiyoshida said daily life now suffers because of traffic jams, litter, and repeated incidents of poor behaviour by tourists.
The town draws huge crowds every spring, when cherry trees bloom with the famous mountain rising in the background. But local leaders say the event now threatens community peace.
Mayor cites growing crisis
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the decision came after years of mounting pressure. “We have a strong sense of crisis,” he said, explaining that the scenery now puts “the quiet lives of citizens” at risk.
“To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival,” Horiuchi added while announcing the decision on Tuesday.
How the festival began
The city launched the annual event in April 2016 after opening Arakurayama Sengen Park during cherry blossom season. The park’s pagoda offers a sweeping view of the town and Mount Fuji, making it a favourite spot for photographs.
Officials hoped the festival would add energy to the area and attract visitors. At first, the plan worked as intended. Over time, however, visitor numbers grew far beyond expectations.
Visitors overwhelm the town
Authorities now estimate that up to 10,000 people arrive each day during peak blossom season. The city says the jump links to the weak yen and heavy promotion on social media.
Residents have complained about visitors trespassing, leaving rubbish, and even entering private homes to use washrooms. Officials reported cases where tourists “defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out.”
The city said the strain now exceeds what the town can manage.
Tourism continues despite cancellation
Even without the festival, Fujiyoshida expects large crowds in April and May. Officials plan to increase measures to manage visitors and reduce disruption, though they did not share details.
This move follows earlier efforts in nearby Fujikawaguchiko, where officials installed a large black barrier in 2024 to block a famous photo spot after residents complained about litter and illegal parking.
A wider global problem
Japan is not alone in facing tourism pressure. In Italy, officials recently introduced a small fee to control crowds at the Trevi Fountain. The city of Venice now charges day visitors on busy dates to limit overcrowding.
For Fujiyoshida, leaders say protecting residents must come first, even if it means ending a beloved spring tradition.
