A popular Japanese cherry blossom festival with views of Mount Fuji is cancelled as residents cite overtourism, traffic, and littering from a record influx of visitors.
FUJIYOSHIDA: A major cherry blossom festival offering iconic views of Japan’s Mount Fuji has been cancelled indefinitely due to severe overtourism.
The city of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi prefecture announced the decision on Tuesday, citing threats to residents’ “quiet lives” from chronic overcrowding.
The weeks-long event, which typically attracts around 200,000 visitors, will not proceed this year. Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi stated the city has a “strong sense of crisis” over the deteriorating local environment.
“Behind (Mount Fuji’s) beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened,” Horiuchi said in a statement. “To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival.”
Resident complaints have surged alongside record tourist numbers, fuelled by a weak yen making Japan a more affordable destination. Japan welcomed 42.7 million tourists in 2025, surpassing 2024’s previous high of nearly 37 million.
Local officials reported traffic jams, littering of cigarette butts, and incidents of trespassing and defecation in private gardens. The problems mirror issues in other Japanese hotspots like Kyoto, where tourists have harassed geisha performers.
The city acknowledges that cancelling the festival may not fully solve the problem. The park venue, featuring a five-story pagoda with cherry blossoms framing Mount Fuji, will likely still see a visitor spike as spring approaches.
Mount Fuji remains a perennial tourist draw. Nearby towns have previously implemented drastic measures to manage crowds, including erecting view-blocking barriers, introducing hiking entry fees, and capping daily climber numbers.
