Japanese Town Puts Up Net to Stop Fuji Photos
Finding the perfect picture on holiday is more important than ever for many travelers, who want to take great photos for social media.
But when everyone wants to get the same picture, things can get a little difficult — and very busy.
Just ask the people of Fujikawaguchiko, in Japan.
There's a place in their town where tourists really want to take their pictures, and the residents have had enough.
The town, which is about 100 kilometers west of Tokyo by road, is close to Mount Fuji.
The mountain can be seen clearly from the town, but the photo that people want has a Lawson store in the foreground, with the mountain behind.
It's the juxtaposition that people like, with the popular Japanese convenience store and the beautiful Japanese mountain in the same picture.
But as more and more tourists have come to take their photos, the area has gotten busier. Visitors have been leaving more garbage, and some have been parking in private car parking spaces.
So town officials have put up a net to block the popular view. Made from mesh, it's 2.5 meters high and 20 meters wide.
The net is seen as a last resort after tourists ignored signs and warnings from security guards.
Millions of tourists from around the world have already visited Japan this year — and while the government wants more tourism, not everyone is happy.
The country has been making changes to manage the increase in tourists. For example, this summer, visitors to Mount Fuji will have to pay 2,000 yen — about $13 — to hike up the most popular route.
