An official in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, in Japan’s Yamanashi province, said on April 26 that the installation of mesh barriers will begin as early as next week. This net is expected to be 2.5 m high and 20 m long. The installation location is in front of a famous Lawson store with a view of Mount Fuji in the background.
“It’s a pity that we have to do this because some tourists do not respect the regulations,” such as littering and ignoring traffic laws, AFP quoted the official as saying.
The famous Lawson store has a view of Mount Fuji in the background in the town of Fujikawaguchiko
This is the latest action by authorities in Japan to deal with the overcrowding of tourists, after the Kyoto government announced it would ban tourists from entering alleys famous for “geisha” activities in the city. this ancient capital.
The average monthly number of international visitors to Japan hit a record in March, exceeding 3 million for the first time.
Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, can be seen from many spots in the resort town of Fujikawaguchiko. But the Lawson store mentioned above is a widely shared photo location in travel groups, partly because Lawson is a convenience store brand that appears everywhere in Japan. Many people think that a photo taken here would be “very Japanese”, according to the local official mentioned above.
The official said most non-Japanese tourists crowded the sidewalk next to the Lawson store.
After traffic signs and repeated warnings from security personnel were ignored, the town of Fujikawaguchiko decided to use mesh barriers as a last resort.
The measure is also intended to protect a nearby dental clinic because tourists sometimes park there without permission and even climb onto the clinic’s roof to get the perfect photo, the official said.
According to him, the town of Fujikawaguchiko really doesn’t want to have to do that and the current plan is to maintain the shield until the situation improves.
