Swarmed with tourists, town blocks off popular Mount Fuji viewing spot

Best to close down Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree as well.

The poor security guard in the purple cap looks exhausted!

The mesh barrier is certainly not stopping tourists from mingling on the other side of the road in the Lawson parking lot — which actually seems more dangerous!

Just hire an actual guard to shoo off tourists. That barrier just makes the area more ugly.

Japan is a relatively big country. They will find other spots to photo bomb.

The poor security guard in the purple cap looks exhausted!

Yep, probably on 900 yen an hour, 12 hours per day.

It is does not make sense to me, everybody should win... if you just inform the tourist what to do and not do it should be ok.

Blocking the view is just an Admission of Failure.

Yep, probably on 900 yen an hour, 12 hours per day

@David B. That's not a nice thing to say. He may not get great salary as you do. I bet he's a more sincere guy at heart.

I assumed it was going to be on top of the Lawson building roof.

Litter problem? Install and maintain a TRASH BIN. Why is that so hard ot do?

Wait. That's it!? A black tarp on the other side of the road and not on top of Lawson? (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) ha!

I drove through past it a few hours ago and popped in for some karage kun. Place was crawling with bored film crews as the grey skies meant there was no story. Traffic was as appalling as usual for some distance in all directions. Cars were still not stopping to let pedestrians cross, often idling in traffic on the crossings.

God knows how it took them 2 weeks to source that mesh screen. In the meantime they put up a waist high barrier that went a long way to stopping people darting across the road. And I suspect the dentists may have sold up and cashed in. It seems to have undergone a 2nd floor reform. I might be wrong though.

If the town thinks this screen will help make that road any less unfit for purpose then they have already been proven wrong.

The concern is not that people are taking photos. It's that people are crossing the road like it's their backyard. One women was hit by a car as well.

@Michael Machida

Skytree and Tokyo Tower don't have the above issue. If you have been to these locations, you would know.

But I agree, people will find another spot so that's the solution then? Just cover Mt Fuji with a mesh barrier? Will making announcements during the bus ride or put up posters stating tourists to follow basic manners help? It's better than what they are doing now.

oops, they put it on the wrong side of the road.

Ah, ... guys?! That's not where they take the photos from!

Love the obligatory keibin-san ojisan standing guard.

Why not put that black mesh barrier on the roof of Lawson?

So many comments... so little common sense

The problem is not taking pictures, the problem is the people taking pictures think that they can stop the traffic and even that they won't be harmed if they got hit by a passing car.

The mesh is a quick and provisionl fix until a good idea and/or funds for an engineering solution can be build (that may take time though).

Putting the mesh in the other side of the road will block the access to Lawson.... duh!!

Putting the mesh over Lawson is a matter of the company and/or owner of the Lawson and not the town hall.

The trash problem is an additioinal problem and putting a trash bin is not the solution... duh!!

They should be grateful for all the tourists who are flocking there. Just take their money and shut up.

So painting a cross walk there is to difficult? Seems to have a cross walk in front of a convenient store in the country would make sense with our without a view of Fuji. The effort to not put effort is amazing.

They should be grateful for all the tourists who are flocking there. Just take their money and shut up.

Would you say the same thing if people go by the thousands and block the roads to take a picture, around your neighborhood?

Should Fujikawaguchicho should be making a similar consideration as a town in Switzerland....Lauterbrunnen  I think it was called.

A cross walk wont do much... for reference see Abbey Road

Next year's headline:

FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO files for bankruptcy as town's young people leave to find jobs elsewhere and tax revenue from the aging population drops!

Already the town was created by mergers in order to keep 2 schools open, few businesses are still operating and tourism is about the only things actually booming!

"But hey those darn foreigners are interrupting our retirement and who cares about jobs for the next generations!"

Sadly many older Japanese still live in the past.

They cannot understand that manufacturing jobs, jobs for life, etc..are no longer possible in today's economy.

Service industry is now a major factor in the economy but that means needing clients and the money is in tourism and the more profitable for the counter are foreign tourists!

It is ironic that both Shizuoka and Yamanashi spent hundreds of millions of yen on tourism promotional advertising in foreign countries to attract tourists.

And when it starts to bear fruit, the locals and xenophobics go and do everything they can to block it!

I can see it now : influencers will take and publish photos of the Lawson with black screen in background. They'll then declare it an "iconic" view, a "must-do" in Japan. Thousands of foreign tourists will flock there daily to pay homage and take photos to copy the influencers exactly.

You know it's going to happen.

There appear to be more international media crews than tourists.

Saw if form an airplane window. Good enough for me. I’ll take a steep gorge, mountain rivers and small valleys filled with green rice fields over these pop tourist spots. Folks are so monkeyish.

More effective if they put the tarp on top of the Lawson

And overnight, 50% of that convenience store's business, gone.

They are complaining about paying tourists now, who actually support the economy. Wonder what they say once the government follows US and EU policy and opens the door to unlimited migration.

These tourists are probably contributing very little to the local community.

These tourists are probably contributing very little to the local community.

Nonsense. They contribute very much. Their money supports the local economy from cleaners to contruction businesses and beyond. Kawaguchiko town just gave 30,000 yen to every adult in town, they are doing well from tourists.

"Swarmed with tourists"

Incongruous, sends out an intolerant inconsistent message the complete opposite of a open welcoming society.

A incompetent mis-managed PR disaster..

All that was required was straight forward on site crowd management, one to one uniformed policing and road safety.

ClippetyClop

These tourists are probably contributing very little to the local community.

Nonsense. They contribute very much. Their money supports the local economy from cleaners to contruction businesses and beyond. Kawaguchiko town just gave 30,000 yen to every adult in town, they are doing well from tourists.

How are these day trippers making any significant contribution to the local community? Care to brief me on that?

The challenge now for the influencing idiots will be :-

1 - climb the dilapidated screen

2 - take photo sitting on screen with conbini and Fuji in background

How are these day trippers making any significant contribution to the local community? Care to brief me on that?

Care to brief me on why you think they are 'day trippers'. Do you think most of them come here just to see Lawson and then go somewhere else?

wallace

Today 07:47 pm JST

How are these day trippers making any significant contribution to the local community? Care to brief me on that

Let's see, they need to eat!

That is one, they usually purchase a souvenir of where they have been especially regarding Fuji-san.

Many of these towns public transportation function at a loss so more people paying the better,

These tours especially have more than one stop and often have deals to stop the tour in local businesses to let the tourists do some local shopping.

And this has been a thing long before foreign tourists.

My mother in law goes regularly on these day trips for elderly Japanese, they always include stops at local stores especially traditional or regional specialties, they always include a lunch stop, and a souvenir shopping stop.

Doesn't matter if it is Ueno in Tokyo or Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi, the formula is pretty consistent!

I'm failing to see just how that is going to stop anyone though. I'm tall enough to just reach my camera over the top of that barrier and still get the shot I want.

ClippetyClop

How are these day trippers making any significant contribution to the local community? Care to brief me on that?

Care to brief me on why you think they are 'day trippers'. Do you think most of them come here just to see Lawson and then go somewhere else?

I asked the question first. I think many visit for the day individually or in tour groups. Are they staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, using onsens, buying gifts?

What are the tourist attractions of the town? Other than views of Fuji and the lakes.

Looking at the TV media reports today, there were more film crews than tourists.

Many tour companies offer one-day trips.

ClippetyClop

Today 07:41 pm JST

These tourists are probably contributing very little to the local community.

> Nonsense. They contribute very much. Their money supports the local economy from cleaners to contruction businesses and beyond. Kawaguchiko town just gave 30,000 yen to every adult in town, they are doing well from tourists.

The last time I went fishing in my favourite place in Kawaguchiko, I couldn't get into the parking!

The place was packed with tour buses!

I had to wait for some to leave before I could park my car!

You are 100% correct the place was packed, even trying to buy stuff at the convenience store was a long wait to pay and selection was nit great as the bus load of tourists bought up a lot.

Now I didn't need to hear anyone speak to know they were not Japanese because this was mid week and in the past the place would usually be empty.

It was a bit of a shock!

Luckily I reserved my boar weeks in advance because they were fully rented out!

In 30 year ls going to that same place, I have never seen them rented out in mid week when it wasn't during a holiday like golden week!

Antiquesaving

wallace

Today 07:47 pm JST

How are these day trippers making any significant contribution to the local community? Care to brief me on that

Let's see, they need to eat!

There are ways to eat than eating in expensive restaurants like buying in Lawson.

That is one, they usually purchase a souvenir of where they have been especially regarding Fuji-san.

How would you even know that?

Many of these towns public transportation function at a loss so more people paying the better,

You are making your assumptions. Many arrive on tour buses and car hire.

Do you have any actual figures you can post?

The photos don't do the article any justice or provide any perspective. It's highly misleading in content. I don't believe this is a new problem for this town, especially since the mountain has been there since the town was founded. In fact this all seems ridiculous and more like click bait.

Lols. With a capital J.

I asked the question first. I think many visit for the day individually or in tour groups.

And it was a fair question, as was mine. I can't answer yours until you answer mine.

Individual visitors far outweigh tour groups. That version of tourism is less popular than it was pre-covid, especially with Asian travellers (needs citiation!)

Are they staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, using onsens, buying gifts?

Yes. All of these businesses are doing very well but struggling to cope since March 2023. Many small businesses here have spring up to provide artisan gift options.

What are the tourist attractions of the town? Other than views of Fuji and the lakes.

There is a world class amusement park 5 minutes away. Most of the other attractions are based around the mountain and lake views. And there's my outfit too!

i’m going to go there with a step ladder and charge people ¥100 yen to stand on it to take a photo.

A raised selfie stick will still work for the shot

wallace

Today 08:03 pm JST

Many tour companies offer one-day trips

Yes and those day trips don't just make a single stop!

Have you ever been on one?

I have had the misfortune to go on one with my children's grandparents.

It is horrible! On the bus early, drive, stop at a pre determined place to buy junk and use the facilities.

Back on the bus in x time, drive again, then the next stop same thing, buy more junk, back on the bus drive to destination, visit the main destination, then to the predetermined place to have lunch, then after lunch X amount of time to Walk around on your own or with the guide but be sure to be back on time.

Leave at x time to head back, repeat the same thing as on the way but different places to stop and buy more junk!

That is the standard day trip.

The exceptions are day trips to Disneyland or universal studios, etc..in those cases it is bus amusement park destination and bus back after!

Good thing those guys are wearing helmets, that looks like dangerous work!

The whole fiasco is absolutely ridiculous

If going to Lawson is a big deal then that's not much of a life is it .

Truly pathetic

wallace

Today 08:07 pm JST

You are making your assumptions. Many arrive on tour buses and car hire.

Car hire?

Are you saying they use a hire to get there from places like Tokyo?

That would be one very expensive trip!

If not then it would be a local hire, which means contributing to the local economy.

And seeing the photos, few of these people look like they got a rental car judging by the pictures on the news of Asians with suitcases.

And seeing the latest portion are mainland Chinese these days (according to the Japanese government) and China is not a signatory to the 1949 international driver's license convention, Chinese cannot drive in Japan so few if any are driving!

I'm thinking about resenting out one of the dozens of boarded up storefronts on that street to open a business renting 6-foot stepladders for people to stand on.

I believe this is just a TikTok trend of capturing Fujii and Lawson together in a photo or video. Often, Fujii is not even visible. I think this trend will fade away, especially with the construction of the screen and all the hassle of visiting the location.

ClippetyClop

There is a world class amusement park 5 minutes away. Most of the other attractions are based around the mountain and lake views. And there's my outfit too!

So you might be biased. How much increase in tourist numbers because of this TikTok fad?

Well perhaps these people will decide to no longer go and they will stay in Tokyo and visit one of the antique shows on this weekend!

I know for a fact myself and the other dealers (all Japanese except me) will be happy to serve them and let them spend their money with us!

And for the curious.

Japanese tourists spend around ¥1,000 for some souvenir, western maybe around the same, but the Chinese will haggle but will blow ¥ 10,000 to ¥30,000 each without batting an eyelash!

Last months show, several vendors hired Chinese sales people, that is how much tourism brings in!

If they don't want the money other places will gladly take it, just don't come begging for handouts when the town has no more money!

ClippetyClop

Nonsense. They contribute very much. Their money supports the local economy from cleaners to contruction businesses and beyond. Kawaguchiko town just gave 30,000 yen to every adult in town, they are doing well from tourists.

There are about 22,000 adults in town. That would equal ¥660000000

So you might be biased.

Biased in what sense, in favour of what? I'm not with you fella.

How much increase in tourist numbers because of this TikTok fad?

Can't be sure exactly, but I'm sure it has brought in quite a lot of people. Foreign tourism here was already exploding before this fad kicked off, and if / when it does fade it won't change much.

FUJI-KAWAGUCHIKO, Yamanashi Prefecture—Two municipalities at the foot of Mount Fuji plan to introduce an accommodation tax as early as 2026 to improve the local tourism industry and fight overtourism.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15268986#:~:text=Fuji%2DKawaguchiko's%20roughly%20700%20lodging,and%20the%20local%20tourism%20association.

There are about 22,000 adults in town. That would equal ¥660000000

They must be flush. Last year was only ￥20,000.

"An increasing number of tourists have already been seen heading to a different Lawson store only about 1 kilometer west that offers a similar view of Japan’s tallest peak."

Swarmed because it's constantly in the news.

I understood the locals, the tourists could be annoying. But really Japan? That was your solution, no built a lookout, you can set stores down and built a roof garden, charge for the photo and maybe set a bar or cafe to watch Fuji San and the Lawson.

Daniel, Just how is installing rubbish bins/trash cans/gomibako somehow not a reasonable answer to the littering problem???

Works throughout the world. Would work here in Japan, too.

For all the people who think these people are spending money in Yamanashi, think again. Most come for Mt Fuji and go back to stay in Tokyo. Yamanashi has very few places where people actually spend money besides restaurants, souvenirs or cafes. So no they are not biting the hand that feeds them.

The tourists are smoking in the nearby clinic parking lot and locals have to keep telling them to not do that just to be cursed. If this was your neighborhood, would you allow it?

Do some basic research and keep emphatically before spouting nonsense.

Install a bin for ciggie butts as well as the needed litter bins. What is so hard about that? I wish smokers would take their c-butts home instead of littering, too, but that is too much to ask of many smokers, sadly enough.

How many additional tourists does this Lawson location attract?

When tourists disrespect a country, a place, then tourists deserved it.

Afterall, tourists are expected to follow country's rule and order. Otherwise, these tourists are not deserved to be there.

The poor security guard in the purple cap looks exhausted!

Yep, probably on 900 yen an hour, 12 hours per day.

Hey! This gig can be lucrative.