Beautiful bridge in Shizuoka Prefecture aligns with the outline of Mount Fuji
Last month, the town of Fujikawaguchiko erected a large black mesh barrier to block views of the iconic Mount Fuji from a popular photo spot. Now another Japanese town is taking similar measures to stop tourists causing trouble while trying to get the perfect photo of the mountain. Independent According to reports, the city of Fuji, where the bridge is located, plans to erect a 1.8-metre-tall chain-link fence around it to keep out nuisance tourists.
Located on National Route 139 in Shizuoka Prefecture, this beautiful bridge is aligned with the outline of Mount Fuji and has been a social media hotspot in recent months. To locals, it’s just an ordinary bridge, but tourists are mesmerized by the sight of Mount Fuji towering above the road and the steps leading down to the walkway.
by The Japan TimesResidents have complained in 2018 about foreign tourists stepping onto the Mount Fuji Dream Bridge road to take photos of the spectacular views of Japan’s highest peak. Haruhito Yoshizaki, a tourism official for Fuji city, said people are ignoring traffic lights, crossing the road and taking photos in the open space between the two lanes, spinning around to take videos or just hanging out.
City officials estimate that visitor numbers have increased to an average of more than 100 people on the bridge on weekends.
Despite signs directing people to stay off the paved road, many tourists stray onto it. The influx of tourists on the bridge has caused unrest in the local community, with complaints of illegal parking, litter, noise and even tourists defecating in public.
“It started when a foreign influencer posted a photo on Instagram in December last year. The photo quickly spread, and now most of the people visiting the bridge are foreigners, not Japanese,” said Toyama Miyu of the city’s tourism exchange department. South China Morning Post.
The town of Fujikawaguchiko, which installed a chain link barrier outside a convenience store last month, complained that while the town welcomes tourists, they are annoyed by people who frequently cross the road, run red lights, park illegally and smoke outside designated areas. But just a week after the black chain link barrier was installed, tourists wanting to see the stratovolcano began digging holes in it. The town plans to rebuild the barrier with a more durable material.
Japan is seeing record numbers of international tourists, with monthly visitor numbers exceeding three million for the first time in March and exceeding the three million mark again in April.
