Cherry blossom festival cancelled due to rowdy tourists

International

A JAPANESE city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival after authorities said badly behaved tourists were disrupting the lives of local residents.

According to a report by BBC, officials in Fujiyoshida noted that the surge in visitors during the spring sakura season had led to severe traffic congestion, littering and repeated cases of trespassing. Some residents also reported tourists entering private property without permission and defecating in gardens.

The city is a popular destination during cherry blossom season, offering views of Mount Fuji framed by flowering trees.

However, Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the scale of tourism now threatens residents’ daily lives.

“The quiet living environment of our citizens is being disrupted,” the mayor said, adding that the city had a “strong sense of crisis”.

The cherry blossom festival, held annually for the past 10 years at Arakurayama Sengen Park, was launched in 2016 to promote tourism and boost the local economy.

The park is known for its pagoda and panoramic views, making it a popular spot for photographs shared on social media.

City authorities said visitor numbers had increased dramatically in recent years, with as many as 10,000 people arriving each day during peak blossom season.

Officials attributed the rise to the weak yen and the

growing influence of social media.

In a statement, the city said tourists had been opening private home doors to use toilets without permission, trespassing, littering and causing disturbances when confronted by residents.

Although the festival has been cancelled, the city said it is preparing for large numbers of visitors during April and May.(Georgia Olivar, USJ-R Comm Intern)