'It has been effective': Screen blocking Mount Fuji taken down but tourists warned to behave

28.08.2024 - 23:36 / euronews.com / Ruth Wright

A town in Japan got so fed up with tourists earlier this year that they built a huge fence blocking the view of the attraction they are coming for - the famous Mount Fuji.

The 20-metre long and 2.5-metre high fence covered with a black mesh which prevented tourists from taking selfies with the landmark has now been removed.

This was initially done as a precaution when a typhoon was forecast last week, but authorities now say it will remain down for the time being.

They warn, however, that it could be reinstalled if tourists return in large numbers.

"We wanted to see what would happen," an official told AFP news agency.

"There are still some people who come to the place, but we no longer find many people suddenly rushing out into the traffic to cross the road. We feel like it has been effective," he added.

The town of Fujikawaguchiko is known to offer some of the best views of the Japanese mountain. But locals had had enough of tourists blocking pavements and stopping traffic to get the perfect shot.

A particularly popular photo location was outside a Lawson convenience store, from where a photograph taken at a particular angle would make it seem as if Mt. Fuji was sitting atop the shop's roof. The tourists, mostly foreigners, even dubbed the spot “Mt. Fuji Lawson.”

"Kawaguchiko is a town built on tourism, and I welcome many visitors, and the town welcomes them too, but there are many things about their manners that are worrying,” says Michie Motomochi, owner of a cafe serving Japanese sweets near the photo spot.

Motomochi mentioned littering, crossing the road with busy traffic, ignoring traffic lights and trespassing into private properties.

The town spent 1.3 million yen (€7,700) to install the black mesh net, and additional fences along the sidewalk.

But in the beginning, it didn't seem like tourists had much respect for the measure.

Small holes appeared in the screen, which tourists exploited to snap the iconic view. Within just a week of the fence being built, officials had found around 10 holes, all at eye level, and all apparently just the right size to fit a camera lens through.

Since then, however, the screen has helped ease congestion in the area, according to officials.

Tourist crowds have caused other problems on the mountain too.

The Yamanashi prefecture, also home to the Yoshida Trail - the most popular of the four routes to summit the 3,776-metre high mountain - introduced a booking system ahead of this year's Fuji climbing season to ease overcrowding, littering and safety risks.

Under the new plan, only up to 4,000 climbers are allowed to enter the trail per day for a hiking fee of 2,000 yen (about €18), with an option of donating an additional 1,000 yen (about €9) for conservation during the