Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom Festival Cancelled Amid Tourist Surge

For years, the city of Fujiyoshida, nestled at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture, has played host to a springtime spectacle that draws crowds from around the globe. The Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival, famous for its postcard-perfect views of Mount Fuji framed by delicate pink cherry blossoms and a striking five-story pagoda, has become a bucket-list event for travelers and photographers alike. But this year, the festival’s familiar celebration of nature’s beauty is making headlines for a very different reason.

On February 3, 2026, city officials announced the cancellation of the beloved festival, citing an unprecedented surge in tourism and a growing crisis for local residents. According to Kyodo News and The Independent, the decision comes after a decade of mounting challenges linked to overtourism, disruptive visitor behavior, and the city’s struggle to balance hospitality with community well-being. The festival, which began in 2016, has typically attracted around 200,000 visitors over its duration, with daily tallies reaching up to 10,000 people during the peak hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season.

Fujiyoshida’s mayor, Shigeru Horiuchi, did not mince words when describing the situation. “I feel a deep sense of crisis as I witness the reality that, behind this beautiful scenery, the quiet lives of our citizens are being threatened,” he said, as reported by The New Daily and Tokyo Weekender. “To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival.”

The catalyst for this drastic step? A perfect storm of factors, including a record-breaking influx of foreign tourists to Japan. In 2025 alone, the country welcomed 42.7 million visitors—an all-time high, according to The Japan Times—surpassing the previous year’s record of nearly 37 million. The weak yen has made Japan an even more attractive destination for international travelers, while the viral popularity of scenic spots on social media has only amplified the rush to iconic locations like Fujiyoshida.

But as the crowds have swelled, so too have the headaches for locals. Residents have reported a litany of problems, from chronic traffic congestion and cigarette littering to more egregious breaches of privacy and public decency. According to city statements and coverage by AFP and The Independent, some tourists have entered private homes without permission to use restrooms, relieved themselves in residential yards, and even caused confrontations when challenged by homeowners. “Behind [Mount Fuji’s] beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened. We have a strong sense of crisis,” Mayor Horiuchi reiterated in his announcement, as quoted by AFP.

The situation has become particularly tense for families living near the park. Parents have voiced concerns about children being pushed aside on narrow school routes, as throngs of visitors jostle for the best vantage points. The city has also cited safety worries and sanitation issues among the most pressing problems, with some complaints detailing cases of trespassing and defecation in private gardens. As one city representative put it, the volume of visitors had “increased dramatically, exceeding the city’s capacity and resulting in overtourism, which is having a serious impact on the living environment of local residents,” according to The New Daily and Tokyo Weekender.

Fujiyoshida is not alone in grappling with the downsides of Japan’s tourism boom. Other popular destinations, such as Kyoto, have reported similar strains, with residents lamenting worsening traffic, longer queues, and a loss of tranquility in once-peaceful neighborhoods. In Kyoto, for example, the influx of tourists has led to reports of visitors harassing traditionally dressed geisha performers in their pursuit of the perfect photo, as noted by AFP.

Efforts to manage the surge have varied. In some areas near Mount Fuji, officials have previously erected view-blocking barriers to deter “photo-hungry” tourists, introduced entry fees for hikers, and capped daily visitor numbers. Yet, the sheer scale of the problem in Fujiyoshida has proven difficult to contain. Even with the festival’s cancellation, authorities admit they expect large crowds to descend on the park when the cherry blossoms bloom in April. The site’s allure—a sweeping view of Mount Fuji, cherry trees, and the iconic pagoda—remains as strong as ever, and the city is bracing for another busy season.

To mitigate the anticipated impact, officials are preparing a suite of measures. Plans are underway to bolster security, set up temporary car parks, and install portable toilet facilities in hopes of easing the pressure on neighborhoods. However, as city representatives acknowledged to The Independent, the festival will not take place as an official event and will not be promoted under its usual name on tourism platforms. Still, the underlying issue of managing visitor numbers and behavior remains unresolved.

The festival’s cancellation has sparked debate in Japan and abroad about the delicate balance between welcoming tourists and preserving the quality of life for local residents. On the one hand, tourism has brought undeniable economic benefits and international recognition to places like Fujiyoshida. On the other, the unchecked influx of visitors has exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure, social norms, and community cohesion.

For many locals, the frustration is not directed at visitors themselves, but at the cumulative effect of their numbers and actions. As one resident described to The New Daily, the increase in tourists is “due to factors such as the weak yen and explosive popularity fuelled by social media.” The city’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other destinations seeking to capitalize on the global travel boom without adequately planning for its consequences.

As the cherry blossom season approaches, Fujiyoshida’s story is a reminder that the world’s most beautiful places are also home to real people with their own routines, traditions, and aspirations. The hope among officials and residents alike is that future visitors will appreciate not only the scenery but also the need for respect and consideration. For now, the city is taking a pause—one that echoes far beyond the petals of spring.