A Japanese town is blocking Mt Fuji view from 'badly-behaved' tourists

A small Japanese town has started building a barrier to block the view of Mount Fuji, the country's most iconic sight, in response to complaints about bad behaviour from tourists. Fujikawaguchiko town is erecting panels of mesh netting at a popular photo spot where tourists gather to capture images of the majestic mountain behind a Lawson convenience store.

The location has gained notoriety among tourists, with photographs taken from a narrow stretch of pavement across a busy road from the Lawson store frequently shared on social media. However, the constant influx of visitors has caused issues such as crossing streets unsafely, ignoring red lights, littering, trespassing, illegally parking, and smoking in non-designated areas.

Local officials and residents expressed concern about these behaviours, despite the town's welcoming attitude towards visitors. A nearby dentist's office reported that tourists sometimes react aggressively when asked to move their cars, with some throwing lit cigarettes on the ground.


To address these problems, the town has decided to construct a barrier that will be 2.5 metres (8 feet) high and stretch more than 20 metres long. The barrier aims to discourage tourists from loitering at this specific location, with completion expected by the middle of the month.

This action has generated significant attention in Japan and internationally, as Japan faces increasing challenges with overtourism at popular sites like the narrow alleys of Kyoto and trails on Mount Fuji. The barrier has sparked criticism, leading to a flood of calls to the Fujikawaguchiko town hall from people opposing the move, many of whom are non-local residents.

"It's not that we don't want people to see Mount Fuji," a town official told AFP. "The issue is that there are so many people who are not able to observe basic rules."

Area residents and some tourists expressed mixed feelings about the barrier, acknowledging the need for safety and order, while lamenting the loss of a prime view of Mount Fuji. Watanabe, a 60-year-old local resident, remarked, "We welcome foreigners for the revitalization of the community, but there are so many violations of basic manners." She added, "Having that barrier is very unfortunate, but it might be necessary."

While some tourists understand the reason behind the barrier, others believe it might not effectively deter visitors. Trinity Robinson, a 29-year-old Australian tourist, said, "Stop people? I don't think so because when there is a will, there is a way. People will just be on the left or right side of it." Robinson suggested that the barrier might make the area even more dangerous as tourists seek ways to get the perfect shot.

As a potential solution, locals recommend that visitors explore other scenic locations in the area. Ama, a 37-year-old local, said, "Mount Fuji from here (near the Lawson shop) is fantastic. But there are so many other places around here where you can visit and see beautiful views."

The town's effort to curb bad tourist behaviour with the barrier illustrates the ongoing challenges that popular tourist destinations face as they navigate the delicate balance between welcoming visitors and maintaining public safety and order.