Cherry blossom festival cancelled in Japanese city due to overtourism

Officials in a town near Mount Fuji in Japan have decided to cancel this year’s cherry blossom festival, citing that the recent spike in visitors has become difficult for locals to handle.

The town of Fujiyoshida has been struggling with persistent traffic jams and litter caused by the surge of tourists, and some residents report that visitors have trespassed on private property or even relieved themselves in gardens, reports the BBC.

Fujiyoshida is a popular spring destination because its famous cherry trees bloom spectacularly, offering views with Mount Fuji in the background.

But Fujiyoshida's beautiful scenery threatens "the quiet lives of citizens," the city's mayor was quoted as saying, adding: "We have a strong sense of crisis."

"To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival," Fujiyoshida mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said when making the announcement last week.

In April 2016, officials announced that Arakurayama Sengen Park would open its gates to visitors during cherry blossom season.

The park, with its pagoda, provides sweeping views of the city and features numerous scenic spots popular for photos and social media sharing.

Fujiyoshida authorities started hosting the annual event at the park to boost the area’s appeal and attract more visitors, aiming to create a lively atmosphere in the town.

However, officials now say that visitor numbers in recent years have soared beyond the city’s capacity, causing overtourism and seriously affecting the daily lives of local residents.

At the peak of the season, up to 10,000 people visit the town each day, according to Fujiyoshida authorities.

This increase is being blamed on “factors such as the weak yen and explosive popularity fueled by social media.”

The town also notes that tourists were "opening private home doors without permission to use the restroom," trespassing, littering and "defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out".

Even though the festival is cancelled, the city is still getting ready for a higher influx of visitors in April and May.

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