Japan cancels Mount Fuji cherry blossom festival after tourist behaviour concerns

A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.

Officials in Fujiyoshida, west of Tokyo, confirmed the Arakurayama Sengen Park cherry blossom festival will not go ahead this spring, bringing to an end a decade-old event that had become one of the area’s biggest tourist draws.

 Arakurayama Sengen Park is one of Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots, known worldwide for its postcard view of Mount Fuji framed by cherry blossoms and the Chureito Pagoda.

City leaders said the decision followed repeated complaints about overcrowding, litter, traffic congestion and incidents of trespassing in residential neighbourhoods during the peak blossom season.

Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the scale of tourism had reached a tipping point.

“Behind the scenery people come to admire, there is a reality where the quiet lives and dignity of residents are under threat,” he said, adding that the city felt “a strong sense of crisis”.

Local authorities said visitors had entered private homes to use toilets without permission, left rubbish in streets and gardens, and caused disturbances when confronted by residents.

Parents have also raised safety concerns after children were pushed aside on narrow pavements as crowds surged along school routes.

During peak weeks, the city estimates more than 10,000 visitors arrive each day, driven by a weak yen and the viral popularity of Mount Fuji images on social media.

Despite cancelling the festival, officials expect large numbers of visitors to continue arriving this spring, as the park itself will remain open and offers one of Japan’s most photographed views of cherry blossoms with Mount Fuji in the background.

To manage the expected influx, the city plans to step up security patrols, expand temporary parking and install additional portable toilets.

The decision reflects wider efforts across Japan to rein in overtourism. In recent years, authorities in nearby towns have blocked popular photo spots and introduced crowd-control measures after residents complained of littering, illegal parking and unsafe behaviour by visitors.

Japan has seen a sharp rebound in tourism, with record numbers of international visitors returning as favourable exchange rates and social media exposure fuel demand for iconic sites such as Mount Fuji and Kyoto.

Officials in Fujiyoshida said the cancellation was not aimed at discouraging tourism altogether, but at restoring balance between visitors and the people who live in the shadow of Japan’s most famous mountain.

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