"The Quiet Lives of Our Citizens Are Being Threatened”: Improper Tourist Behavior Cancels Iconic Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom Festival

After 10 Years: Fujiyoshida City in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture has decided not to hold its well-known Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival in spring 2026, marking a clear shift in how the city wants to manage tourism around one of Mount Fuji’s most photographed viewpoints.

City officials say the decision comes after years of growing strain on local residents. What originally started as a seasonal festival designed to promote the area and attract visitors has, over the past decade, grown far beyond what the city can comfortably handle. In recent cherry blossom seasons, daily visitor numbers have topped 10,000, fueled by a weak yen and the park’s explosive popularity on social media.

Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival .Photo: Sanga Park / Shutterstock

The impact on daily life has been significant, with locals facing constant traffic jams, trespassing onto private property issues, as well as disturbing cases of littering, and even entering homes without permission to use bathrooms. In some cases, sanitation issues escalated into confrontations between locals and residents. Parents have also raised serious concerns about safety, saying crowds spill onto school routes and force children off sidewalks.

Faced with mounting criticism from residents asking why the city continued to promote an event that disrupted their lives, Fujiyoshida officials concluded that protecting the community had to come first. As a result, the city will no longer use the name “Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival” in 2026. The event will not appear on tourism websites or promotional materials, and it will no longer be treated as an official festival.

That said, the city is realistic about the draw of cherry blossom season. Visitors are still expected, so safety measures will remain in place. From April 1 to April 17, 2026, authorities will deploy security staff, manage traffic, and set up temporary parking areas. Also, officials say they will install portable toilets. 

However, traffic restrictions are expected to continue through April 19. As such, city authorities have urged visitors to use public transportation, avoid residential areas, and respect local rules, including refraining from taking photos on private property.

Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi framed the move as more than a cancellation. “For Fujiyoshida City, Mount Fuji is not just a tourist attraction; it is our very way of life,” he said. “Behind this beautiful scenery, the quiet lives of our citizens are being threatened.” He added that ending the 10-year-old festival is a necessary step toward rebuilding the city as a sustainable, high-quality tourism destination.

City leaders say the long-term goal is to find a better balance, where tourism and everyday life can coexist.