Travelers flock to a tiny store two hours outside Tokyo for views of Mount Fuji
A small Japanese town at the base of the mountain Fuji is erecting a giant screen to block a viral view of the summit from the “world's most beautiful convenience store” after it began attracting dangerously large crowds.
Hundreds of visitors flocked to Fujikawaguchiko after the journey. bloggers have begun posting videos and photos of the epic 3,776m Mount Fuji-san, located above popular local supermarket chain Lawsons.
The convenience store's low roof offers a rare, unobstructed view. Japan's most famous mountain and is just two and a half hours by train southwest of Tokyo.
One blogger described it as “the most beautiful convenience store overlooking Mount Fuji.”But the area near the store has since been taken over by tourists looking for likes, much to the dismay of local residents.< /p>
Visitors regularly lie on the road while friends take photos, while others stand in the road and block traffic or obstruct parking spaces.
A 26-year-old Moroccan tourist was hit by a car while crossing a nearby road on Thursday and is reported to be in a coma.
The local council has now ordered a screen 65 feet wide and more than 8 feet high to be installed in early May to discourage social media junkies.
New crosswalks and the addition of private security guards have not worked. , said a local official.
“Since the manners of visitors have not improved, we have no choice but to install a screen as a last resort,” he said.
Tourists love to pose in front of the store due to the view of the mountains, but the stage is blocked by a barrier. Photo: Philip Fong/AFP
Koichi Ide owns Ibishi Dental Clinic, located on the opposite side of the road from the store, and he had to put up a fence in front of his store to keep tourists away.
“At first there were only a few people there from other parts of Asia, and we are glad that we have people from all over Asia. people come here from all over the world, but things have gone too far,” he told TBS News.
“I pick out the trash every morning and evening, and the bags are filled with store wrappers and cigarette butts,” he said. “And I fear the situation will only get worse.
“With so many cars parked here without permission, our normal medical care is being disrupted,” Mr. Ide said.
Crowds tourists are also causing problems for other tourist destinations across the country: local authorities who operate one of the hiking trails to the top of Mount Fuji are introducing a 4,000 yen (£20.49) fee for anyone going to the summit from this summer. .
Kyoto residents are also angry about the number of visitors visiting the ancient capital and their impact on public transport and prices.
Many have complained about “geisha paparazzi”. blocking the path of local performers, tugging at their kimonos and touching the delicate jewelry in their hair.
In response, the local council of the historic Gion entertainment district recently banned tourists from entering the narrow alleys. where photogenic “geiko” and “maiko” run between their evening meetings.
Tourist numbers in Japan soared in the first quarter of the year, with a record three million tourists arriving from overseas in March. The figure surpassed the previous monthly record of 2.99 million in July 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic effectively halted foreign tourism.
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