Back in the spring, a branch of convenience store chain Lawson in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture became Japan’s most unexpected attraction for foreign tourists. The tourists were drawn to the unique view of Mount Fuji that appeared to be rising right out of Lawson’s roof from certain angles. However, their manners were not as pleasant as the scenery.
Many tourists left litter behind and engaged in jaywalking and blocking traffic as they hurriedly crossed the street to line up their desired photos. The most popular spot for taking pictures was across the street from Lawson, which caused further inconvenience as tourists blocked the sidewalk and access to a dental office.
Despite repeated requests to stop littering and causing disruptions, these pleas fell on deaf ears. As a result, city officials took drastic action by erecting a large black screen measuring 20 meters in length and 2.5 meters tall between the dental clinic and the street. This screen completely obstructed the view of Mount Fuji, discouraging tourists from attempting to take pictures from that location.
The screen was initially installed on May 21 but has now been taken down due to safety concerns related to an approaching typhoon last Friday. City officials decided it would be dangerous if strong winds caused the unsecured screen to whip around violently. However, they chose not to put it back up since there have been no issues with ill-mannered tourists since its removal.
A city spokesperson stated that as long as visitors continue displaying good manners, there are no plans to reinstall the screen permanently or indefinitely.
It is possible that Fujikawaguchiko did not experience an influx of poorly behaved tourists after removing the screen simply because people assumed it was still up and had little reason to visit an area with limited attractions for travelers. Alternatively, social media trends may have shifted focus elsewhere, resulting in smaller groups of visitors with fewer chances for disruptive behavior.
Regardless of why this change occurred, it is reassuring that residents can once again enjoy their view of Mount Fuji without obstruction – hopefully for good.