Fujikawaguchiko Town Officially Covers Famous Mt. Fuji View

(SPOT.ph) It's on every traveler's bucket list: a snap of that IG-worthy, frameable shot of Japan's Mt. Fuji. While there are many vantage points to take that picture, one of the most famous is the one in Fujikawaguchiko, where Mt. Fuji can be seen looming behind a Lawson convenience store. Imagine: the Lawson konbini, a key figure in Japanese contemporary culture, photographed against Japan's tallest and most beautiful mountain—does it get more Nippon-coded than that?

But sad news for travelers dreaming to take a similar shot: The local government of Fujikawaguchiko, the town that is home to the famous Lawson branch, has officially blocked the view and said "No more!" to tourists taking photos in the area. Check out how this move could affect your travel plans.

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Here's what you need to know about Fujikawaguchiko's new safety measure:

Starting May 21, tourists will have to find another spot to take that IG-worthy shot of Mt. Fuji as the town of Fujikawaguchiko has completed the installation of a large black plastic sheet covering the view. 

According to the town's statement, the construction work completed May 21 "is a necessary measure to protect the safety of tourists and the lives of local residents," so the place can continue to "welcome many tourists" and be "a safe and secure tourist destination free of accidents and troubles." The message to the public further said: "We ask for your understanding and cooperation."

The black covering is approximately 20 meters long and 2.5 meters high. It is placed between the road in front of Lawson’s Kawaguchiko Ekimae store and the opposing sidewalk. 

Why did they block the view of Mt. Fuji in Kawaguchiko?

It was around late 2022 that the Lawson store in Kawaguchiko, nicknamed by the internet as "Lawson Mt. Fuji," became popular with tourists after a foreign influencer posted photos of the view online. Since then, the area has been crowded with visitors hoping to snap the same picture.

"Since the beginning of this year, the number of people taking photos, mainly foreign tourists, has increased rapidly, and this has developed into a major regional issue.  At the site, many people gather in limited photo spots, resulting in crowded narrow sidewalks and people frequently protruding into the road to take photos or crossing between cars at places other than crosswalks, creating an extremely dangerous situation," the local government of Fujikawaguchiko explained in a statement. 

While the situation described above in itself already sounds like a major disturbance, things have actually escalated, prompting local government and residents to take extraordinary measures. Tourists trespassing on surrounding private property, littering, and parking in unauthorized spaces have been reported, and these have been happening more frequently as Japan grapples with cases of overtourism. 

"In order to ensure the safety of both tourists and drivers and the peaceful life of residents, we have regretfully decided to carry out this construction work after making some difficult choices," said the local government. 

As reported by the Japan Times, a record number of overseas tourists have been coming to Japan. Monthly visitors exceeded 3 million for the first time in March and then again in April. And just as in other tourist towns, this development is not necessarily welcomed by residents. 

For more information, visit Fujikawaguchiko's website.

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