The town of Fujikawaguchiko in Japan has grown weary of disruptive tourists. Known for its stunning views of Mount Fuji, the town is taking action by constructing a large black screen along a sidewalk to obscure the mountain's view, citing the behavior of some foreign visitors as the catalyst.
Michie Motomochi, proprietor of a local café, has voiced concerns about the conduct of tourists, including littering, jaywalking, disregarding traffic regulations, and trespassing on private property. Despite these challenges, she noted that 80% of her clientele are foreign visitors, a figure that surged following Japan's reopening after the pandemic hiatus.
The area experienced a surge in popularity around two years ago when a photo went viral on social media, depicting Mount Fuji in the background as though it were perched atop a nearby convenience store. This led to an influx of tourists, resulting in congestion and complaints from residents.
Several measures have been implemented to manage the crowds, such as multilingual signs and the hiring of a security guard, but these have not effectively addressed the issues. The increase in tourism, partly driven by a weaker yen, has also been observed in other parts of Japan, prompting similar complaints from residents.
Despite these efforts, locals remain uncertain about the future. Some, like Motomochi and rice shop owner Yoshihiko Ogawa, are perplexed as to how such measures will effectively control the flow of tourists.
This situation underscores the challenges faced by popular tourist destinations worldwide, where the delicate balance between tourism and local life can become strained.