Japanese artist Hokusai is best known for producing a series of woodblock prints entitled Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, and centuries later, the majestic mountain still captures the imagination. However, that is now translating into record numbers of tourists eager to commemorate their visit with carefully curated photos.
Having an unobstructed view of Mount Fuji is something to be appreciated, so much so that a real estate developer approved it this week Demolishing an almost completed residential building In western Tokyo because it blocked the view of the mountain from residents. Developer Sekisui House said it decided to remove the 10-storey building due to “insufficient attention to the impact on the landscape”.
The mountain’s popularity is also causing problems in other parts of Japan, where huge barriers have been installed to block views at popular photography spots by authorities angry at crowds of badly behaving foreign tourists.
What is Mount Fuji and where is it located?
The 3,776-metre-tall mountain – an active volcano that last erupted in 1707 – is the most famous mountain in Japan, and perhaps the world. This is due to its pathological cone contours, which extend between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, and its unique place in the Japanese psyche. It is a place of religious pilgrimage, a harbinger of good fortune, and an inspiration to countless artists and writers. It is no coincidence that the mountain, which can be seen from Tokyo on clear days, made a cameo appearance at the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Why has it become a must-visit destination for visitors?
Its popularity is the inevitable result of the rise in tourism to Japan since the country lifted travel restrictions following the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to the weak yen and Japan’s reputation for safety, hospitality and delicious food, more than 3 million people visited in March and April, and the annual number is expected to break the previous record of 31.9 million set in 2019. Skipping Mount Fuji on a visit Going to Japan would be like… Miss the opportunity to visit the pyramids on a trip to Egypt. While the mountain is visible from bullet trains long enough to take photos, many tourists are eager to get up close to it for the perfect holiday souvenir.
Why do cities block popular views of Fuji?
The UNESCO World Heritage site has become a target for visitors hoping to snap the perfect Japanese photo for their social media accounts. That’s why a mesh screen was put up this month in the town of Fujikawaguchiko to deter hordes of visitors planning to snap a photo of the mountain rising in the distance, with another Japanese icon – Lawson’s convenience store – in the foreground. But the measure, introduced after complaints of visitors littering, trespassing and breaking traffic rules, has had mixed results. Within days, holes large enough to accommodate a smartphone’s camera lens began to appear in the retina screen. There are plans to erect a new barrier made of more solid materials. Authorities in a nearby town say they will erect a tall metal fence by the end of the month after smartphone-wielding visitors strayed from a busy road to take photos from the Mount Fuji Dream Bridge.
What have the authorities done about overcrowding on the mountain itself?
People hoping to climb to the top of Fuji, or at least one of its higher stages, will have to book in advance and pay a fee of 2,000 yen (£10). The measure, which applies to the popular Yoshida route up the mountain, will come into effect at the start of the annual climbing season in July. Authorities hope the fee will ease concerns about overcrowding and littering, and discourage “bullet ascents,” where climbers, often inexperienced and ill-suited, begin their ascent at night until they reach the summit in time to watch the sunrise, then descend. Without having to. Take proper rest. The number of people entering the road will be capped at 4,000 per day to ease congestion, and climbing will not be allowed between 4pm and 3am.
