On November 29, Mayor Hideyuki Watanabe of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture (Japan), announced additional measures to prevent tourists from crossing the street to take "virtual photos" in front of the Lawson convenience store. Japan National Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that the local government will install a fence about 6 meters long and 80 centimeters high along the sidewalk opposite the convenience store to prevent people from taking photos.
The government said it wanted to encourage tourists to obey traffic rules instead of crossing the road without permission, endangering property and lives. Sources at the town office revealed that the Lawson store had agreed to let the government erect the barrier.
The crowded check-in situation causes many obstacles to people's lives.
According to SCMP, last month, the town of Fujikawaguchiko, located in Yamanashi Prefecture, famous for its breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, became crowded with tourists looking for photos with the famous mountain. In particular, a convenience store with the mountain as a backdrop accidentally became a "hot" photo spot. Because so many tourists came to take selfies in front of the store, the government erected a 2.4 meter high screen to block the view of this sacred mountain.
This is a hot spot that no one wants to miss.
“It's unfortunate but we have to do it because some tourists don't respect the rules,” a town official told AFP, adding that traffic signs and warnings from security guards had not helped improve the situation.
On the other hand, a tour operator offering day trips from Tokyo to Mount Fuji told AFP that it would take visitors to another Lawson store nearby, which offers a similar view, but with fewer residents living around.
Local authorities used black curtains to cover it up, but it had no lasting effect.
Previously, in May 2024, the Fujikawaguchiko town office had erected a tarpaulin barrier on the sidewalk opposite the convenience store to prevent tourists from stopping to take photos or crossing the street without permission. However, in mid-August, they had to remove the barrier due to Tropical Storm Ambi. After the barrier was removed, the situation of tourists coming to take photos reappeared. The town office said at the time that it would decide whether to put the barrier back or not depending on the level of tourist gatherings and uncivilized behavior.
Despite many measures to deal with this situation, it is still not feasible with the increasing number of tourists coming to Japan.
Japan is currently seeing record numbers of tourists. But like many other tourist hotspots around the world, such as Venice – which recently implemented a day-trip fee – the influx of international visitors has not been welcomed by many locals.
Residents living near other popular photo spots in the area, including the Fuji Dream Bridge, have frequently complained about the influx of tourists in recent weeks. Not only that, but even in Japan’s solemn ancient capital of Kyoto, local businesses have repeatedly criticized international tourists for harassing the city’s famous geisha. All of these highlighted issues have forced local authorities to take action, creating new restrictions and regulations for visitors.
