The town of Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi prefecture is reinforcing the new barrier at its overrun Lawson convenience store after visitors were caught making holes in it. Meanwhile, Fuji City in the neighbouring Shizuoka prefecture has planted its own fence to deter disruptive tourists. The city, as its name might suggest, is chock-full of vantage points where Japan’s tallest peak can be seen in the far distance, but there's one spot in particular that has captured the attention of snap-happy visitors, provoking ire among local residents.
Known in English as the ‘Mt Fuji Great Dream Bridge’, Fujisan Yumeno Ohashi is an overpass that stretches across Fuji City's Urui River. Most importantly, it faces the snow-capped volcano. As the overpass is connected to the national highway system, it’s buzzing with motorists coming in and out of the city.
There is, however, an adjacent walkway that runs alongside the road so that pedestrians can cross the river. Keen photographers have been taking advantage of this pedestrian path since the bridge’s opening in 2016. Lately, though, unruly behaviour reached new lows with people parking on private roads, illegally crossing the motorway to stand on the central reservation, and causing a nuisance in nearby residences.
Though the city has designated photo spots and tourist facilities by the bridge, disruptive visitors who ignore traffic laws in favour of an Insta-worthy photo shoot have prompted the town to construct a makeshift barricade stretching 400-metres to block off the concrete strip in the middle of the motorway.
The makeshift fence appears to be a temporary measure, as the pre-existing concrete half-wall dividing the pedestrian path and the motorway hasn’t stopped people from hopping over to the road. In July, however, officials will install a permanent fence measuring 1.8 metres tall, which will likely put a stop to the dangerous action.
At least, let’s hope it does, before the government decides to go and build a colossal barrier around Mt Fuji itself.
Recommended: Here are the best (and proper) vantage points to photograph Mt Fuji. Otherwise, stay at these hotels in Kawaguchiko and get a Mt Fuji view all to yourself.
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