A Japanese convenience store in the northern foothills of Mount Fuji has turned into an unlikely tourist attraction in recent years thanks to a popular viewpoint of the iconic volcano.
On clear days, hoards of visitors have lined up in the parking lot of Fujikawaguchiko’s Lawson Convenience Store, eager to photograph the majesty of Mount Fuji in contrast with the store’s neon signage. The photo spot, known as “Mt. Fuji Lawson,” has gained widespread attention across social media.
But now, authorities are putting up an eight-foot-tall barrier to obstruct the Instagrammable view—a decision they say is the result of badly behaved tourists parking without permission, obstructing traffic, littering, and even climbing on the roof of the store.
“It’s regrettable we have to do this because of some tourists who can’t respect rules,” an official told the French international news agency Agence France-Presse, per a report from The Guardian.
The 8-foot-tall by 65-foot-wide mesh net is designed to block views of Mount Fuji’s peak, subsequently deterring snap-happy tourists. It comes after road signs and warnings from security guards failed to deter the unruly crowds.
This isn’t the first measure Japan has taken to tackle overcrowding at popular tourist hot spots. In April, Mount Fuji introduced a 2,000 Yen (about $13) fee for those climbing the mountain and capped the number of daily climbers to 4,000 people. And in Kyoto, officials recently implemented a ban on tourist photography in certain historic areas following reports of visitors harassing geisha.
Countries around the world are experimenting with new ways to combat the negative effects of overtourism. Last Easter, Portofino’s mayor, Matteo Viacava, introduced red zones in the famous Amalfi Coast town to limit the traffic jams that can cause issues during peak season–essentially banning unnecessary loitering and selfie-takers. Venice has introduced a tourist tax to fund the preservation of its historic sites, and Amsterdam is limiting overnight visits, the construction of new hotels, and Airbnb listings as locals struggle with rising costs.
A version of this article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
