In an unprecedented move, officials in the central Japanese city of Fujiyoshida have cancelled the annual Arakurayama Sengen Park cherry blossom festival, a springtime event that for a decade drew thousands of visitors from across Japan and around the world to photograph the iconic view of Mount Fuji framed by blooming sakura trees. The decision, announced on Tuesday by city authorities, comes amid growing concerns about overtourism and the impact of large visitor numbers on local residents’ daily lives, with officials describing the situation as a “crisis.”
The festival, normally held each April and attracting around 200,000 people over its course, has become a victim of its own popularity. In recent years, Fujiyoshida’s narrow streets and limited public infrastructure have struggled to cope with large crowds — especially during peak bloom weeks when the weak yen and social media exposure have helped drive daily visitor numbers above 10,000. Officials say this surge has overwhelmed transport routes and local facilities, turning what was once a peaceful seasonal celebration into a source of constant disruption for residents.
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the overriding concern behind the cancellation was the mounting toll on the community’s quality of life. “Behind Mount Fuji’s beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of our citizens are threatened,” he said, expressing a strong sense of crisis about the ongoing situation. To protect the dignity and living environment of the local population, the city has decided to end the decade-old event.
The behaviours of some visitors in recent seasons have alarmed residents. City officials cited multiple instances of tourists trespassing on private property, opening doors to homes without permission to use restrooms, littering public spaces and — in some cases — defecating in private yards. Parents have also voiced concerns that overcrowded sidewalks during peak times force schoolchildren off their usual walking routes, raising safety issues that local families say are unacceptable.
Despite the festival’s cancellation, authorities acknowledge that Arakurayama Sengen Park will likely still draw large crowds during the cherry blossom season. The site’s vantage point — with the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji rising behind rows of pale pink blossoms and the historic five-story Chureito Pagoda — remains one of Japan’s most photographed scenic spots. Officials are preparing for continued visitor interest by increasing security measures, adding temporary parking areas, and installing portable toilets to try to manage the ongoing influx while reducing pressure on residents.
The cancellation reflects broader tensions in Japan’s tourism sector as the country experiences a surge in foreign and domestic travel. Last year, Japan saw about 42.7 million tourists, an all-time high that surpassed 2024’s record figure, intensifying overcrowding at popular destinations such as Kyoto and Mount Fuji. Local governments across the country have been grappling with how to balance the economic benefits of tourism with preserving community life and environmental sustainability.
Cherry blossom season — known as hanami — remains one of Japan’s most beloved cultural traditions, drawing visitors who come to celebrate the fleeting beauty of sakura blooms. But the suspension of Fujiyoshida’s festival underscores the growing challenge of managing tourism in an era of social-media-fuelled travel trends and heightened global interest in Japan’s natural and historic attractions.
