On Thursday, the authorities in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan, pledged to replace a damaged net recently installed to obscure the view of Mount Fuji in an effort to limit the massive influx of tourists flocking to the site for photos of the iconic volcano, according to local media reports. The net was set up last week at a popular social media spot in Fujikawaguchiko after the excessive behavior of some visitors caused significant annoyance among residents and officials.
Approximately ten small holes were created in the black net, which is 2.5 meters high and 20 meters wide, and was installed in front of a famous Japanese store with a panoramic view of Mount Fuji. A new net made of more durable material will be installed "as soon as possible" before the summer season, as promised by Fujikawaguchiko Mayor Hideyuki Watanabe, in statements reported by the Asahi Shimbun daily.
Japan is experiencing record numbers of tourists, with the monthly visitor count in March exceeding three million for the first time. However, like many other tourist destinations, the overwhelming influx of visitors has led to problems that necessitate measures to curb it, similar to the city of Venice, Italy, which has imposed a 5-euro entry fee for day visitors. In the former imperial capital of Kyoto (west), some alleys in the geisha district have been closed to the public since last month.
