Overtourism hits Japan’s cherry blossom festival. Should you rethink your spring trip?

All thanks to overtourism, a Japanese cherry blossom festival near Mount Fuji has been cancelled.

Officials in Fujiyoshida, a city in Japan, announced that they will no longer host the Arakurayama Sengen Park cherry blossom festival this year. The festival has been held for the past 10 years and attracts around 200,000 tourists annually.

Fujiyoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said, “Behind Mount Fuji’s beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are being threatened. We have a strong sense of crisis.”

“To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring this 10-year-old festival to an end,” he added.

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Reports suggest the decision was driven by a range of tourist-related problems, including visitors entering private homes without permission to use toilets, trespassing, littering, and defecating in residents’ yards. Local parents have also raised concerns that overcrowded sidewalks are forcing schoolchildren to alter their usual routes, according to media reports.

City officials said the area attracts more than 10,000 visitors a day during cherry blossom season. They attribute the surge to factors such as the weak yen and the rapid rise in popularity fuelled by social media. Japan welcomed a record number of foreign tourists last year, with arrivals surpassing 40 million for the first time.

The cherry blossom season, known as hanami, or the tradition of flower viewing, is a major tourist draw. Visitors from around the world, including India, flock to parks, temples, and scenic locations to witness the fleeting beauty of the pink blooms.

Should you be worried?

If you’re planning a trip to Japan to see cherry blossoms, there’s no need to worry. This festival’s cancellation won’t affect your plans.

Japan’s cherry blossom season will continue as usual across the country. Popular spots such as Ueno Park, Meguro River, and Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo, as well as Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path and temples, will continue to host festivals and light-up events.

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