On Tuesday morning, workers in hard hats were putting the finishing touches on metal poles.
Tokyo:
A Japanese city was prepared on Tuesday to set up a large mesh barrier across the road from a famous Instagram view of Mount Fuji in a bid to deter misbehaving tourists.
The plan made headlines last month when it was announced by authorities fed up with what local residents said were endless streams of mostly foreign visitors littering, trespassing and violating traffic rules.
Since then, posts have been erected in preparation for a screen measuring 2.5 by 20 meters (eight by 65 feet) to block the view of Japan’s highest mountain emerging from behind a Lawson convenience store.
On Tuesday morning, workers in hard hats were putting the finishing touches on metal poles in preparation for attaching the barrier at the photo location in the city of Fujikawaguchiko, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
Photos of this visual juxtaposition taken from a narrow stretch of sidewalk on a busy road from Lawson, a ubiquitous Japanese chain, were widely shared online.
But construction of the barrier itself was initially delayed due to problems delivering the right materials, giving tourists a few more days to chase the perfect photo.
Local officials and residents said the city welcomes visitors, but complain that those who cross the street without stopping, ignore red lights, park illegally and smoke outside designated areas have proven to be a nuisance.
“It is regrettable that we have to do this, because of some tourists who cannot respect the rules,” a municipal official told AFP in April, saying that traffic signs and warnings from security guards had failed to improve the situation.
The measure also aims to protect a nearby dental clinic, where tourists sometimes park without permission and are even seen climbing on the roof to take photos.
– Online reservations –
Record numbers of foreign tourists are arriving in Japan, where monthly visitors surpassed three million for the first time in March and again in April.
But, as in other tourist hotspots such as Venice – which recently launched a test of entry fees for day visitors – the influx has not been welcomed by everyone.
In Japan’s ancient capital, Kyoto, locals have complained about tourists harassing the city’s famous geisha.
And hikers using the most popular route to climb Mount Fuji this summer will be charged 2,000 yen ($13) each, with tickets capped at 4,000 to ease congestion.
A new online reservation system for the mountain’s Yoshida trail opened on Monday to guarantee hikers entry through a new gate, although 1,000 slots per day will be maintained for registrations on the day of the visit.
Mount Fuji is covered in snow most of the year, but during the hiking season from July to September, more than 220,000 visitors climb its steep, rocky slopes.
Many climb at night to see the sunrise and some try to reach the 3,776-meter (12,388-foot) summit without breaks and become sick or injured as a result.
Regional authorities have raised environmental and safety concerns related to overcrowding at the active volcano, a symbol of Japan and a once-peaceful pilgrimage site.
Residents near other popular photo spots in the region, including the so-called Fuji Dream Bridge, have also complained about overtourism in recent weeks.
A tour operator offering day trips from Tokyo to the Mount Fuji area told AFP it is taking visitors to another nearby Lawson store, where a similar view can be seen but there are fewer residents nearby.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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