A small town in Japan that gained international attention for its controversial decision to block views of Mount Fuji has quietly reversed its decision.
Fujikawaguchikoat the foot of Mount Fuji, became popular because of a specific photo opportunity where the mountain could be seen behind a branch of the supermarket chain Lawson’s on the city’s main street.
When the photo spot became popular on Instagram and TikTok, the city was flooded with tourists from all over the world. According to some residents, the visitors left trash behind and did not follow traffic rules, despite the presence of signs and security guards.
In May, Fujikawaguchiko erected a large black net, effectively blocking the view of Mount Fuji. On August 15, however, city officials quietly removed it – possibly for good.
Initially, the plan was to temporarily take down the net due to high winds in the area. But now Fujikawaguchiko officials say there is no timeline for putting the barrier back up.
“Since we installed the screen in May, we haven’t had people staying in the area for long periods of time. We feel it’s been effective,” a city council member told CNN.
The councillor added that security guards are still patrolling the area and the net can be re-hung if the situation changes.
Before it was installed, Lawson’s photo area was so crowded that the store a formal apology was offered because they would be too popular.
Meanwhile, a resident of the building next to Lawson’s told CNN that “a range of disruptive illegal activities were taking place, including littering, trespassing, smoking, eating in the parking lot or under the roofs of private homes, and trespassing on the roof. It became common for people to insult us or throw away their cigarettes while they were still lit when we asked them to move their cars.”
Fujikawaguchiko, in Yamanashi Prefecture east of Tokyo, has a population of about 10,000 and marks the start of one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Fuji.
Last year, officials told CNN Travel that the hordes of tourists visiting the mountain were throwing trash on the ground, overloading toilets and walking in inappropriate clothing, leading to accidents and injuries.
In response to concerns, new measures were introduced to protect the mountain, including a daily limit on the number of climbers and a small entrance fee to cover maintenance costs.
CNN’s Nodoka Katsura contributed reporting.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com
