Japan cherry blossom festival cancelled: Japanese city Fujiyoshida cancels famous event over badly behaved tourists - which cities is it going ahead?
Authorities in the Japanese city of Fujiyoshida have decided to cancel a long-running spring cherry blossom festival.
The city government in Yamanashi prefecture said on 3 February that it would not stage the annual Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival this year. The festival, which has been organised for about a decade, typically draws around 200,000 visitors who come to photograph Mount Fuji framed by blooming cherry blossoms and a five-storey pagoda.
Authorities said the number of tourists had surged in recent years, fuelled by a weaker yen and the viral popularity of scenic locations on social media. Now, nearly 10,000 people pass through the area every day during peak blossom season.
The small community says it can no longer comfortably manage the amount of tourists. Japan welcomed a record number of foreign tourists last year, with arrivals surpassing 40 million for the first time.
Fujiyoshida city representatives pointed to a growing list of resident complaints for the cancellation, describing nuisance behaviour that was affecting daily life. Authorities cited sanitation issues among the most serious problems, including cases of visitors entering private homes to use toilets, relieving themselves in residential yards, and causing confrontations when challenged, according to Kyodo News.
Safety worries have also emerged, particularly from families living nearby. According to the city, parents have reported children being pushed aside on school routes as large crowds gather along narrow pavements to reach popular photo spots.
Fujiyoshida mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the decision reflected growing anxiety among residents about balancing tourism with community life. In April 2016, authorities announced they would be opening the gates of Arakurayama Sengen Park to host tourists during the sakura (cherry blossom) season.
The park offers a panoramic view of the city from its pagoda, with several picture-worthy and "Instagrammable" spots. Fujiyoshida authorities began hosting the annual event at Arakurayama Sengen Park with the hope to enhance the area's appeal and increase the numbers of visitors by creating "a lively atmosphere in the area".
Japan’s famous cherry blossom festival season begins around the end of March and lasts approximately two weeks. However, cherry trees can bloom until May the further north you travel.
Despite the festival being cancelled in the city of Fujiyoshida, there are other great spots across Japan to see the cherry blossoms which are still going ahead. These are listed below.
- Mount Yoshino, Nara Prefecture
- Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo
- Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture
- Philosopher's Path, Kyoto
- Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa
- Miharu Takizakura
- Hirosaki Castle, Hirosaki
- Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima
- Takato Castle Ruins, Nagano