Mount Fuji, a 3,776 meter high volcano, is revered as sacred by the Japanese people. (File)
Fuji Kawaguchiko:
Officials in a Japanese town installed a 2.5-meter (8.2-foot)-high fence to block views of Mt. Fuji and prevent photo spots that attract too many tourists, which is a nuisance to local residents. are doing.
Tourists flock to the town of Fujikawaguchiko, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of Tokyo, to photograph the combination of Japan’s two symbols: the majestic slopes of Mount Fuji and convenience stores. on social media.
Crowds have led to complaints of litter, danger to road traffic and illegal parking. The 20-meter-wide black fence covering the mountain is scheduled to be completed by the middle of this month.
The barrier is the latest sign that Japan is struggling to accommodate an unprecedented surge in visitors as the country’s currency tumbles to a 34-year low.
The weak yen has made Japan an attractive bargain for tourists, which is good news for the economy, but at the cost of conflict with local residents and concerns about “overtourism” in big cities and popular areas. There is.
At the scene Thursday, people could be seen running out onto the road, jaywalking or climbing poles in search of a better view. At one point, a convenience store clerk rushed out of the store and yelled at the tourists to chase them away.
Local resident Haruto Tsuchiya (49) said, “I’ve seen accidents caused by people not following traffic rules and using electric scooters.Recently, I’ve seen accidents involving foreign tourists. There are many,” he says.
Mount Fuji, a 3,776 meter high volcano considered sacred by the Japanese, has long been a popular destination for domestic and international tourists. But local residents and authorities blamed a spike in pollution, accidents and environmental damage during last summer’s busy climbing season.
To address this, prefectural authorities this year announced a series of climbing restrictions around Mount Fuji and a new 2,000 yen ($12.83) climbing fee. Hotels and resorts across the country are also struggling to keep up with demand as many workers leave their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
