Japan Town To Block Mount Fuji View With Giant Barriers To Stop Unruly Visitors
Standing at 3,776 meters, Mt. Fuji is the tallest peak in Japan, the result of volcanic activity that began approximately 100,000 years ago.
The Japanese town of Fujikawaguchiko is constructing a barrier to block the view of the country's most famous landmark, Mount Fuji. This step comes in response to a rise in complaints from residents about unruly tourist behaviour.
Locals are reported to have said they are fed up with visitors, mostly foreigners, littering, trespassing and breaking traffic rules to click photos of Mount Fuji. The targeted location for the barrier is a popular photo spot featuring Mount Fuji framed behind a Lawson convenience store.
According to a report in AFP, exasperated local officials are putting up a screen measuring 8 feet by 65 feet to block the sight of Japan's highest mountain.
Workers in hard hats recently completed the installation of metal poles in Fujikawaguchiko. These poles will soon support a barrier designed to obscure the iconic view of Mount Fuji. While the barrier's construction was initially delayed due to material delivery problems, this gap gave tourists some more days to click photos of Mount Fuji.
A town official told the news agency that they had previously made efforts like signage and security warnings. However, they were proven ineffective. The barrier aims to not only deter disruptive photography but also protect a nearby dental clinic from wrong parking and trespassing tourists.
Japan has seen an increase in foreign tourists, with monthly visitors surpassing three million for the first time in March and April.
