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A small town inside Japan which received international attention for its controversy decides to block the view of Mount Fuji has quietly reversed his decision.
Fujikawaguchiko, at the foot of Mount Fujibecame popular because of a particular photo showing the mountain behind an outpost of the Lawson’s supermarket chain on the city’s main street.
When the photo spot became popular on Instagram and TikTok, the city was flooded with tourists from all over the world.
According to some residents of the city, the visitors left behind garbage and did not follow traffic rules, despite the presence of signs and guards.
In May, Fujikawaguchiko erected a large black net, effectively blocking the view of Mount Fuji. But on August 15, city officials quietly had it removed – possibly for good.
Initially, the plan was to temporarily take down the net due to the strong winds in the area. But now Fujikawaguchiko officials say there is no timeline for putting the barrier back up.
“Since we installed the screen in May, people no longer stay in the area for long periods of time. We feel it has been effective,” a city councilor told CNN.
The councilor added that guards are still patrolling the area and that the net could be re-established if the situation changes.
Before it was first installed, Lawson’s photo room was so busy that the store formally apologized for being too popular.
Meanwhile, a resident of the building next to Lawson’s told CNN that “a range of nuisance illegal activities were taking place, including littering, trespassing, smoking, eating in the parking lot or under the roofs of private homes, and entering the site. On the roof, it became not uncommon for people to shout insults at us or throw away their cigarettes while they were still lit when we asked them to move their car.”
Fujikawaguchiko, in Yamanashi Prefecture east of Tokyo, has a population of about 10,000 and marks the start of one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Fuji.
Last year, officials told CNN Travel that the hordes of tourists visiting the mountain were creating trash, overloading toilet facilities and hiking in inappropriate gear, resulting in accidents or injuries.
In response to the concerns, new measures were taken to protect the mountain, including a daily limit on the number of climbers and a small entrance fee to help with maintenance costs.
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