Why a town in Japan is blocking the view of Mount Fuji

For centuries, Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji has served as a symbol of natural beauty, appealing visitors with its snow-capped splendour. However, in recent years, the mountain has faced a new challenge: an unprecedented surge in tourism.

The picturesque town of Fujikawaguchiko, located in the shadow of Mount Fuji, has become a battleground between safeguarding local tranquility and accommodating throngs of eager visitors. Littering, illegal parking, and disregard for local regulations have all degraded this once peaceful location. Now, the town is putting up a big fence to stop them from taking photos there.

Here’s a closer look.

Viral view vanishes

Japan’s majestic Mt Fuji was some 700,000 years in the making, but on one sultry May morning, it was gone. At least on one side of a busy road, views of the 3,776-metre (12,388 foot) symbol of Japan and the Lawson convenience store beneath it have vanished, as officials finished a 20-metre by 2.5-metre barrier to obstruct a photo spot that had become viral among tourists.

For locals, the mass of visitors and their refusal to obey rules on littering and parking had become a nuisance and traffic hazard.

“I’m really happy that foreigners are coming to our town,” said Kikue Katsumata, 73, a lifelong resident of Fujikawaguchiko. “But when it comes to taking pictures from the Lawson, the road is a bit narrow and it can be dangerous when people dash across without using a crosswalk.”

“I hope that the net will prevent dangerous activities,” resident Michie Motomochi, 41, who runs a traditional Japanese sweet shop, told AFP.

‘Will miss the iconic shot’

Christina Roys, a 36-year-old tourist from New Zealand, expressed her disappointment over the new fence blocking the iconic view of Mt Fuji but understood the safety concerns.

“I think it disappointing that they are putting it up,” he said.

“It’s obviously an iconic shot.”

“But it’s completely understandable.” We were here last night, managing to get the last shot before they built the wall, and there were so many people,” she said.

“It’s quite dangerous because of the traffic coming through. There are other spots where you can get the shot of the mountain.”

Cyril Malchand, a 45-year old visitor from France, found out about the fence online and made a special trip to be among the last to take in the view. He said he empathised with the locals.

“When I see that there could be problems with people crossing the road without watching cars, I don’t find it that bad that they’re setting up that fence,” he said.

Tourist boom brings record spending

March and April set all-time records for visitor arrivals, driven by pent-up demand after the pandemic and as the yen’s slide to a 34-year low made Japan an irresistible bargain. That’s been good news for the economy, with travellers spending a record 1.75 trillion yen ($11.2 billion) in the first three months of 2024, according to the tourist agency.

According to an AP report, during the July-September hiking season, more than 220,000 people trek up its steep, rocky slopes. Many people climb through the night to see the sunrise, and some attempt to reach the 3,776-metre (12,388-foot) summit without rest, becoming ill or injured as a result.

Residents near other popular photo locations in the area, including the so-called Fuji Dream Bridge, have reportedly complained about overtourism in recent weeks.

There have also been concerns about safety and environmental concerns about overcrowding on the active volcano, a symbol of Japan and once-peaceful pilgrimage site.

Fees to combat overtourism

Authorities are employing a number of restrictions in light of the current situation. According to an AP report, those who want to climb one of the most popular trails on Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji must book a slot and pay a fee. The new rules for the climbing season, which runs from 1 July to 10 September, apply to those hiking the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi side of the 3,776-metre-high (nearly 12,300-foot) mountain, which was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013.

Only 4,000 climbers will be allowed to enter the trail each day for a hiking fee of 2,000 yen (approximately $18). Yamanashi prefecture said in a statement sent to the Foreign Press Centre of Japan on Monday that 3,000 of those slots will be available for online booking and the remaining 1,000 can be booked in person on the day of the climb.

Hikers can also donate an additional 1,000 yen (approximately $9 or Rs 749) for conservation.

Climbers can reserve their spots on the Mount Fuji Climbing website, which is operated jointly by the Environment Ministry and the mountain’s two home prefectures, Yamanashi and Shizuoka.

Climbers must now choose between a day hike and an overnight stay at one of several trailside huts. On the day of their climb, they are given a QR code to scan at the fifth station. Those who have not booked an overnight hut will be sent back down and will not be permitted to climb between 4 pm and 3 am, primarily to prevent “bullet climbing,” or rushing to the summit without adequate rest, which authorities believe endangers lives.

Shizuoka Prefecture, southwest of Mount Fuji, where climbers can also access the mountain, has sought a voluntary 1,000-yen ($6.40 or Rs 533) fee per climber since 2014 and is looking into other ways to balance tourism and environmental protection.

The total number of Mount Fuji climbers during the 2023 season was 2,21,322, according to the Environment Ministry, That is close to pre-pandemic levels, and officials anticipate more visitors this year.

Overtourism has also become a growing problem in other popular tourist destinations, such as Kyoto and Kamakura, as foreign visitors have flocked to Japan in droves since the coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted, thanks in part to the weaker yen.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, Japan received more than 25 million visitors last year, and the figure for 2024 is expected to exceed nearly 32 million, a record set in 2019.

The drastic decision to block the view of Mt Fuji symbolises tensions across the country as Japan reckons with the consequences of its tourism boom. The western metropolis of Osaka and the hot spring resort town Hakone are among municipalities considering new tourism taxes to deal with deluge of visitors.

With inputs from agencies