TOKYO — A Japanese town that erected a giant black screen last week to prevent tourists from taking photos of Mount Fuji and overcrowding is working to repair it after holes were discovered in the screen, officials said Tuesday.
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Fujikawaguchiko, a popular spot for viewing and photographing the iconic Mount Fuji, installed the screen last Tuesday, but the next day, officials discovered holes in it. By Tuesday morning, officials had found about 10 similar holes at eye level, all just large enough for a camera lens to fit through.
A particularly popular viewing spot is outside a Lawson store, where if you take a photo from a certain angle, it looks as if Mount Fuji is resting on the store’s roof.
Officials said local residents have complained about tourists blocking narrow sidewalks and entering busy roads and nearby properties to get vaccinated.
Workers install a fence to screen Mount Fuji at Lake Kawaguchiko on May 21. Nogi Kazuhiro/AFP – Getty Images
The town spent 1.3 million yen ($8,285) to install 66-foot-long, 8.2-foot-tall black mesh netting and additional fencing along the sidewalk.
Officials said the screens have helped decongest the area.
Overtourism is also a major issue in other popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto and Kamakura.
