Japan cherry blossom festival: A small Japanese town famed for its picture-perfect cherry blossom views has taken the rare step of cancelling its annual festival. Officials in Fujiyoshida, near Mount Fuji, say an overwhelming surge of badly behaved tourists has pushed the town to breaking point. What was once a celebration has now become a source of daily stress for residents.
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The town of Fujiyoshida has cancelled its iconic cherry blossom festival after authorities declared a crisis driven by overtourism. The decision follows years of mounting pressure caused by large crowds descending on the area during spring, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the sheer volume of visitors had made daily life “unbearable” for residents. Chronic traffic congestion and widespread littering were among the most visible problems, but officials say behaviour in residential areas was even more troubling.
Tourists were reportedly “opening private home doors without permission to use the restroom”, trespassing on private property, littering, and even “defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out”.
Horiuchi said the mood among locals was “a strong sense of crisis.”
“To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival,” he said while announcing the cancellation this week, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
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Fujiyoshida sits near the base of Mount Fuji and is especially popular during cherry blossom season. Visitors flock there to capture photographs of pale pink blossoms framed against the conical peak of Japan’s tallest mountain.
The festival itself began in 2016, when authorities opened the gates of Arakurayama Sengen Park to attract tourists and revitalise the area. Over time, however, visitor numbers surged far beyond expectations, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
Officials estimate that as many as 10,000 people a day visit the town during peak blossom season.
Authorities said visitor numbers had “increased dramatically, exceeding the city’s capacity and resulting in overtourism, which is having a serious impact on the living environment of local residents."
Fujiyoshida’s struggle reflects a wider trend across Japan. The country is experiencing a tourism boom, with overcrowding reported in major destinations such as Kyoto, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
The Japan Times reported that 42.7 million tourists visited Japan in 2025, setting a new record and surpassing 2024’s total of nearly 37 million. Officials say the surge has been driven by a weak yen and “explosive popularity fuelled by social media”.
Australian travel to Japan has also surged. Last year, more than one million Australians visited for the first time ever, a 15 per cent rise on 2024. Japan welcomed 121,300 Australian visitors in December alone, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.
FAQs
Why did Fujiyoshida cancel its cherry blossom festival?
Authorities said overtourism and poor tourist behaviour were harming residents’ quality of life.
How many visitors does Fujiyoshida receive during peak season?
Officials estimate around 10,000 visitors a day during cherry blossom season.
ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Kendrick Lamar: 'I learned, when I look in the mirror…'—Top quotes by the most awarded rapper in Grammy history
Why was the Japan cherry blossom festival cancelled?
The town of Fujiyoshida has cancelled its iconic cherry blossom festival after authorities declared a crisis driven by overtourism. The decision follows years of mounting pressure caused by large crowds descending on the area during spring, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the sheer volume of visitors had made daily life “unbearable” for residents. Chronic traffic congestion and widespread littering were among the most visible problems, but officials say behaviour in residential areas was even more troubling.
Tourists were reportedly “opening private home doors without permission to use the restroom”, trespassing on private property, littering, and even “defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out”.
Horiuchi said the mood among locals was “a strong sense of crisis.”
“To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival,” he said while announcing the cancellation this week, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Bad Bunny: 'I don't want to be fake. I'm just being me…'—Top quotes by the first Latin artist to win album of the year at the Grammy
What made Fujiyoshida such a tourist magnet?
Fujiyoshida sits near the base of Mount Fuji and is especially popular during cherry blossom season. Visitors flock there to capture photographs of pale pink blossoms framed against the conical peak of Japan’s tallest mountain.
The festival itself began in 2016, when authorities opened the gates of Arakurayama Sengen Park to attract tourists and revitalise the area. Over time, however, visitor numbers surged far beyond expectations, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
Officials estimate that as many as 10,000 people a day visit the town during peak blossom season.
Authorities said visitor numbers had “increased dramatically, exceeding the city’s capacity and resulting in overtourism, which is having a serious impact on the living environment of local residents."
Is Japan’s tourism boom fuelling overcrowding?
Fujiyoshida’s struggle reflects a wider trend across Japan. The country is experiencing a tourism boom, with overcrowding reported in major destinations such as Kyoto, as quoted in a report by The New Daily.
The Japan Times reported that 42.7 million tourists visited Japan in 2025, setting a new record and surpassing 2024’s total of nearly 37 million. Officials say the surge has been driven by a weak yen and “explosive popularity fuelled by social media”.
Australian travel to Japan has also surged. Last year, more than one million Australians visited for the first time ever, a 15 per cent rise on 2024. Japan welcomed 121,300 Australian visitors in December alone, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.
FAQs
Why did Fujiyoshida cancel its cherry blossom festival?
Authorities said overtourism and poor tourist behaviour were harming residents’ quality of life.
How many visitors does Fujiyoshida receive during peak season?
Officials estimate around 10,000 visitors a day during cherry blossom season.
