A Japanese town is erecting a 20m-high x 2,5m-wide mesh screen at a Mount Fuji viewing point to stop tourists from taking photos.
Fujikawaguchiko lies at the foot of the Yoshida trail to Mount Fuji. The town has previously had traffic signs and security guards preventing tourists from stopping at a particular pavement, but as these efforts failed, the screen will be constructed as a last resort.
The viewpoint in question is behind a Lawson convenience store with neon lights, providing an interesting contrast for tourist selfies. Officials claim that tourists park in the area without permission and sometimes climb on the roof of a nearby dental clinic to get the perfect photograph.
“It’s regrettable that we have to do this, because of some tourists who can’t respect rules,” an official told the Daily Mail.
This is Japan’s latest attempt to combat overtourism at Mount Fuji. In January, the country introduced an entrance fee and capped visitor numbers to the Unesco World Heritage Site.
Construction on the fence begins this week.
