Fujikawaguchiko hides Mount Fuji from rude tourists!

A town in Japan called Fujikawaguchiko is famous for its beautiful view of Mount Fuji, a giant mountain that looks like a pointy hat. Lots of tourists visit to see this amazing sight, but some make a mess there. Because of this, the town is building a giant screen to block the view of Mount Fuji! They hope this will stop rude tourists from visiting.

Fujikawaguchiko, a charming town in Japan known for its stunning views of Mount Fuji, is making headlines for an unusual reason. The town is building a big black screen along a sidewalk to block the view of the famous mountain. Why? Because some tourists have been causing trouble.

Residents have been upset with the behavior of some visitors. They’ve been littering, crossing busy roads without care, ignoring traffic rules, and even trespassing onto private properties. Despite these issues, many businesses, like Michie Motomochi’s cafe, rely heavily on tourists for business.

The trouble started about two years ago when a photo taken from a certain angle, making Mount Fuji look like it’s sitting atop a nearby convenience store, went viral on social media. Since then, tourists, especially from other countries, have been flocking to the area, causing congestion and inconvenience for locals.

The town has tried different solutions. Like putting up signs in multiple languages and even hiring security guards, but nothing worked. So now, they’re resorting to building a large black screen to block the view of Mount Fuji from that particular spot.

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While some tourists, like Anthony from France, think it’s an overreaction. Others, like Helen from the U.K., understand the local concern. The influx of tourists in Japan has increased since the pandemic restrictions were lifted. While it’s good for the economy, it’s causing headaches for locals in popular tourist spots.

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Last year, Japan had more than 25 million visitors, and the number this year is expected to surpass the 2019 record of almost 32 million, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. While booming tourism has helped the economy, it has brought complaints from residents in popular tourist destinations, such as Kyoto and Kamakura. In Kyoto, a famous geisha district recently decided to close some private property alleys.

Business owners like Motomochi and Yoshihiko Ogawa are uncertain if the black screen will solve the problem, but they hope something can be done to ease the overcrowding and inconvenience caused by tourism in their town.