Cherry blossom festival canceled in Japanese city due to badly behaved tourists

Japanese authorities in a town near Mount Fuji have cancelled this year’s cherry blossom festival, saying a surge in tourist numbers is unmanageable for locals, the BBC writes.

The influx of tourists to the town of Fujiyoshida has led to chronic traffic congestion and litter, while some residents say they’ve experienced tourists trespassing or defecating in private gardens.

The area is a popular destination during spring because Japan’s world-renowned cherry trees are in full bloom, and can be admired with Mount Fuji in the background.

But Fujiyoshida’s picturesque scenery threatens “the quiet lives of citizens,” the city’s mayor, Shigeru Horiuchi, explained, adding: “We have 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,” Horiuchi stated.

According to city authorities, up to 10,000 people visit the city each day during the festival.