What was once a beloved springtime celebration in a picturesque Japanese city has become too much for locals to bear. Authorities in Fujiyoshida, a city nestled near the iconic Mount Fuji, have announced the cancellation of their annual cherry blossom festival, citing unbearable conditions caused by the massive surge in tourism. Residents have been dealing with constant traffic jams, growing piles of garbage, and increasingly invasive behavior from visitors. The decision marks a turning point in how Japanese communities are grappling with the dark side of being a globally popular destination.
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi was blunt in his assessment of the situation, stating that the picturesque landscape of Fujiyoshida had become a threat to the “peaceful lives of residents.” He did not mince words when explaining the rationale behind the decision. “We feel the situation is truly critical,” he said, adding that “to protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to put an end to this festival after ten years.” The mayor’s announcement was met with understanding from many locals who had grown exhausted by the annual chaos.
Among the most alarming complaints documented by city officials were reports of tourists “opening doors of private homes without permission to use the bathroom” and trespassing onto private property. Visitors were also accused of littering extensively and “relieving themselves in private gardens,” according to local authorities. When residents tried to confront visitors about the behavior, some tourists reportedly responded with hostility and noise. These incidents pushed city officials to take the dramatic step of scrapping the festival entirely.
The festival itself began in April 2016 at Arakurayama Sengen Park with the goal of attracting visitors and energizing the local atmosphere. The park offers sweeping panoramic views of the city alongside a scenic pagoda, making it an irresistible backdrop for photos. Its popularity exploded on social media over the years, drawing visitors from around the world who wanted that perfect shot. At the peak of cherry blossom season, the city was receiving as many as 10,000 visitors per day, a number that local infrastructure simply could not handle.
Authorities attributed the overwhelming visitor numbers to a combination of a “weak yen and explosive popularity driven by social media,” according to reporting by BBC. The affordability of Japan as a travel destination, paired with the viral spread of images from the park, created a perfect storm of overcrowding. Officials noted that visitor numbers had “dramatically increased, exceeding the city’s capacity and leading to overtourism that seriously affects residents’ daily lives.” Despite the festival’s cancellation, the city is still bracing for a large influx of tourists during April and May when the blossoms naturally bloom.
This is far from the first time Japanese authorities have been forced to take protective measures against disruptive tourist behavior. In 2024, the nearby town of Fujikawaguchiko erected a large black barrier to block one of the most photographed views of Mount Fuji, after residents complained about littering and illegal parking. That move drew international attention and sparked a broader conversation about how communities can protect themselves from the negative effects of mass tourism. Japan has increasingly found itself at the center of these debates as visitor numbers have soared in recent years.
The problem extends well beyond Japan’s borders. Italian authorities introduced an entry fee for visitors to the Trevi Fountain in Rome to manage the crowds that gather there daily. In Venice, day-trippers are required to pay an entry ticket of between roughly $5 and $10 on certain days between April and July. These measures reflect a growing global consensus that popular destinations must find new ways to balance accessibility with the wellbeing of the people who actually live there. Overtourism has become one of the defining challenges of the modern travel era.
Cherry blossom season, known in Japan as “hanami,” holds deep cultural significance for the Japanese people and has been celebrated for over a thousand years. The tradition involves gathering under blooming cherry trees, sharing food and drink, and appreciating the fleeting beauty of the flowers. Mount Fuji itself, located in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s most recognizable symbols. Fujiyoshida sits at the base of the mountain in Yamanashi Prefecture and has historically served as a gateway for pilgrims and hikers heading to the summit. The city’s famous Chureito Pagoda, set against the backdrop of the mountain and cherry blossoms, became one of the most shared images of Japan on social media platforms in the 2010s and 2020s, fueling the very tourism wave that now threatens community life.
The tension between welcoming tourists and preserving the quality of life for residents is a conversation that every popular destination will eventually have to face, and Fujiyoshida’s decision is a stark reminder of what can happen when that balance tips too far in one direction. Share your thoughts on overtourism and how cities should handle it in the comments.
