Japanese residents complain about Mount Fuji overtourism again – this time over a scenic bridge

Fuji City residents complain that tourists are flocking to the Fuji Dream Bridge to catch a view of the famous mountain and leaving a mess behind

Fujikawaguchiko residents have previously moaned about tourists gathering in front of a convenience store to snap photos of Mount Fuji

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Tourists pose in front of a convenient store at Fujikawaguchiko town, Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture, with a backdrop of Mount Fuji. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

Published: 12:00pm, 18 May 2024

Mount Fuji, Japan’s most famous landmark, is yet again at the centre of another overtourism gripe by residents.

Last month, complaints by residents of Fujikawaguchiko about unruly tourists flocking to the town to take photos of the mountain in front of a convenience store led to the erection of a view-blocking barrier by local authorities.

And now it is the turn of the residents of Fuji City to complain – this time over a scenic bridge.

The Fuji Dream Bridge, on Route 139 in Shizuoka prefecture, aligns directly with the outline of Mount Fuji. From some angles, the steps up to the bridge appear to lead towards the mountain peak. While residents have used the bridge for decades without much fuss, it has become a social media hotspot in recent months.

“It all began in December last year when a foreign influencer put images on Instagram,” said Miyu Toyama, an official of the Exchange Tourism Division of the city government. “The image soon spread and now, almost all the people who visit the bridge are foreigners, not Japanese.”

The number of visitors to the bridge has risen to over 100 on an average weekend day, according to city officials’ estimates.