Yet another incident of tourists flocking to a popular Mt. Fuji photo
spot has forced authorities to block the view and install barriers.
Fuji City in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture is taking steps to curb
problematic tourist behaviour around its "Fuji Dream Bridge" that offers
a direct view of the iconic Mount Fuji. The bridge's alignment creates
an optical illusion that the steps appear to lead right up to the famous
mountain peak.
Despite signs warning against dangerous actions, an influx of
tourists have been jaywalking across the road to reach a vacant area
between two lanes of traffic in order to take pictures. This has caused
issues like illegal parking, littering, noise, and public defecation.
Some have even stood in traffic to get their shot.
"It all began in December last year when a foreign influencer put
images on Instagram," said Miyu Toyama from the city's Exchange Tourism
Division. "The image soon spread and now, almost all the people who
visit the bridge are foreigners, not Japanese."
To combat the disruptions, officials have installed a temporary
400-meter fence barricade along the road, with plans for a permanent
1.8-meter barrier in July.
"It's becoming a problem," Toyama stated, "with people arriving when
it is raining or if Mount Fuji is covered in clouds, which causes
problems because they stay longer, hoping that it will clear and that
means lots of people can be there at the same time."
The situation mirrors issues recently faced in the nearby town of Fujikawaguchiko, which installed a black mesh screen last month to block Mount Fuji views after tourists littered, jaywalked, trespassed, and ignored traffic signals while photography hunting.