For months, the Japanese resort town of Fujikawaguchiko has been swarmed with tourists eager to take in the views of Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain. The visitors have also taken a particular interest in one specific parking lot, which offers a picturesque view of the famous volcano in the background of a convenience store.
As the spot surged in popularity after earning a reputation on social media for being “very Japanese,” a local official told , large crowds have caused havoc, sometimes parking their cars without permission, leaving litter behind, and even climbing onto the roof of a nearby dental clinic in hopes of a better vantage point for the perfect shot.
Now, residents of Fujikawaguchiko are taking matters into their own hands, armed with plans to install a big barrier to block the view of the mountain. As early as next week, construction will begin for a mesh net measuring 2.5 meters (8 feet) high and 20 meters (22 yards) long.
“It’s regrettable we have to do this, because of some tourists who can’t respect rules,” the official said, adding that the screen will stay in place until the situation eases.
The announcement comes as Japan, which was already before the pandemic, is increasingly desperate to rein in rowdy visitors amid record tourism numbers. In March, monthly visitors the three million mark for the first time, while tourist expenditure in the first quarter of 2024 also set a new record at 1.75 trillion yen (over $11 billion).
Last month, Kyoto authorities visitors from walking around the famed narrow alleyways of its geisha district in Gion, after tourists were reported photographing and touching the kimonos of traditional entertainers despite signs warning them to refrain from doing so.
And earlier this year, Yamanashi, the prefecture where many hikers begin their ascent of Mount Fuji that they would start charging ¥2,000 ($13) entry fee for those climbing the mountain—an attempt to curb congestion on the trails.