A Japanese town will erect a large mesh barrier to stop negligent foreign tourists from taking photos of Mount Fuji
Shutterstock/Luciano Mortula
- Tourists flock to Fujikawaguchiko, a town in Japan, to take pictures of Mount Fuji.
- An official said foreign tourists crowd the area, leave trash, and ignore traffic laws.
- In response, the town will erect a mesh barrier blocking the scenic view to dissuade tourists.
A Japanese resort town will erect an eight-foot-tall barrier to dissuade poorly behaved foreign tourists from photographing Mount Fuji at a popular photo spot.
An official from Fujikawaguchiko discussed the preventive measure in a statement to Agence France-Presse, a French international news agency, on Friday.
"It's regrettable we have to do this, because of some tourists who can't respect rules," the official said.
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According to AFP, local construction of the mesh barrier, which will stretch about 65 feet, will begin as soon as next week.
Fujikawaguchiko has several areas where tourists can snap a photo of Mount Fuji, the tallest peak in Japan, but the outlet many are flocking to a specific photo-op spot near a Lawson convenience store. Lawson is unique to Japan, making photos of the store and Mount Fuji appealing to foreign tourists.
"A reputation has spread on social media that this spot is very Japanese, making it a popular photo location," the official said.
The official told AFP that foreign tourists had caused disruptions amid their quest for the perfect photo, including overcrowding the area, leaving behind trash, and ignoring traffic regulations.
They added that the mesh barrier is the final resort after foreign tourists ignored traffic signs and warnings from security.
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The barrier will also help local businesses, the official said, pointing toward a nearby dental clinic where some tourists have parked without permission. Others were spotted climbing onto the dental office's roof to take photos of Mount Fuji, the official said.
The official told AFP that locals hope to remove the barrier once tourists' behaviors have changed.
Representatives for Fujikawaguchiko Tourism Federation did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Fujikawaguchiko's latest move against foreign tourists comes after a similar situation in Kyoto.
An executive district council member for Gion, considered Japan's geisha district, told AFP this month that tourists are banned from entering certain private streets. The official said tourists had been misbehaving.
"We don't want to do this, but we're desperate," the official told AFP.
The country has experienced a tourism boom that's brought 25 million tourists to Japan in 2023, according to Bloomberg.
The outlet that Japan's government hopes to reach 60 million visitors by 2030.