A construction worker puts up the black screen opposite the "Mount Fuji Lawson" in Fujikawaguchiko Town. (©Sankei by Takashi Hirao)
Fujikawaguchiko Town in Yamanashi Prefecture installed a large black screen to block the view of Mount Fuji on May 21. The screen was erected at a popular photo spot where the famous mountain appears to sit atop the roof of a Lawson convenience store. It aims to address repeated incidents of misbehavior among inbound tourists.
No Longer Instaworthy
The screen was installed on the sidewalk across from the convenience store near Kawaguchiko Station. At 8 am on May 21, construction workers began attaching the 2.5-meter-high, 20-meter-wide screen to wires strung between poles. Its construction was completed shortly after 11 am.
Tourists were seen taking photos of Mount Fuji right up until construction began. A group of tourists from Brazil commented, "We heard they were putting up the screen due to various issues. We're glad we got to take a photo of the 'Mount Fuji Lawson' before the construction started." The mountain is still faintly visible through the screen, but it no longer makes for a good photo.
A 'Painful Decision'
"Mount Fuji Lawson" became a popular spot for inbound tourists about two years ago after photos of it spread on social media. The most popular angle was from the sidewalk in front of a dental clinic across the street. However, the area has since faced numerous issues related to overtourism, including smoking, littering, unauthorized parking, and trespassing. Dangerous behavior like jaywalking also became common.
Fujikawaguchiko Town had tried various measures, including putting up signs in four languages and employing security personnel, but the misbehavior continued. As a last resort, the town installed the screen, which an urban planning department official described as a "painful decision."
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Takashi Hirao, The Sankei Shimbun
