No more hassle at convenience stores, tourists flock to the stairs to take pictures of Mount Fuji

Image of Mount Fuji, symbol of Japan - Photo: Klook

Traffic jams, garbage everywhere, tourists dressed indecently… are unsightly things we may encounter when visiting Mount Fuji.

According to SCMP , last month, the town of Fujikawaguchiko, located in Yamanashi Prefecture, famous for its breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, became crowded with tourists looking for photos with the famous mountain.

In particular, a convenience store with a mountain backdrop has accidentally become a "hot" photo-taking "holy land".

Because so many tourists came to take selfies in front of the shop, the authorities erected a 2.4 meter high screen to block the view of this sacred mountain.

Lawson convenience store becomes a "hot" photo spot because of Mount Fuji in the background - Photo: SCMP

Authorities erected a 2.4-meter-high barrier on May 21 to prevent tourists from taking photos in front of a Lawson convenience store with Mount Fuji in the background - Getty screenshot

After this spot, tourists continue to flock to Fuji Dream Bridge on Route 139 in Shizuoka Prefecture to take photos. This is a pedestrian bridge with stairs with Mount Fuji in the background.

Since many people's photos of this place were posted on Instagram, Fuji Dream Bridge has become a famous check-in spot.

"It all started in December 2023, when a foreign KOL posted a picture on Instagram. The picture quickly spread. Currently, most of the people visiting the bridge are foreigners, not Japanese," said Miyu Toyama, an official at the Tourism Exchange Department.

According to Shizuoka government estimates, the number of visitors to Fuji Dream Bridge has increased to more than 100 people per day.

Image of Fuji Dream Bridge with the famous Mount Fuji - Photo: Klook

The official added: "Tourists come here regardless of rain or fog. This means they stay here longer to wait for the weather to clear. As a result, many people will come to the bridge to take photos at the same time. This is becoming a difficult problem."

Residents constantly complain to local authorities about illegal parking, littering, excessive noise and even public defecation.

The gate of a house was damaged twice in car crashes. Fortunately, they have not received any reports of injuries from traffic accidents.

The overcrowding of tourists has caused many consequences such as erosion and pollution, to the point that locals have called Mount Fuji "trash mountain".

“While we are grateful for the large number of tourists attracted by the local charm, we are facing serious challenges in achieving a healthy balance between tourists and local residents,” added Miyu Toyama.

Tourists flocking to Mount Fuji have brought about many frightening consequences for the localities surrounding this famous landmark - Photo: CNN

These concerns also coincide with the announcement by the Japan National Tourism Organization that the number of foreign visitors to the country in April set a record of 3.04 million, up 4% compared to the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

The figure was up 56 percent from a year earlier and marked the second consecutive month that the number of foreign visitors to Japan topped 3 million. The agency said the majority of visitors came from South Korea, the United States, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

However, in response to concerns from Japanese citizens and authorities, Ashley Harvey - a tourism marketing analyst - has expressed his opposition.

According to Harvey, the overtourism situation is inevitable and will lead to other consequences. Even if local authorities find a solution to this situation, travel KOLs will find other places to check-in.

In Harvey's view, local authorities could impose quotas on certain peak times and must-see sites to curb overtourism, while also offering flexible prices to visitors, generating revenue for local communities.

The public and private sectors can join forces to achieve the goal of developing tourism into an important local economic pillar.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/het-phien-cua-hang-tien-loi-du-khach-keo-den-cau-thang-chup-nui-phu-si-20240521151707032.htm