Executive Summary
The 2026 Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival in Fujiyoshida City has been officially canceled. Despite this being the festival’s 10th anniversary, city officials made the difficult decision due to severe overtourism. Local residents have cited dangerous behavior, trespassing on private property, and overcrowding as the primary causes. Although the festival is canceled, the city will still deploy security and temporary facilities to manage the inevitable influx of visitors.
FUJIYOSHIDA – Ideally, this spring would have marked the 10th anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival at Arakurayama Sengen Park, a world-renowned spot offering the “quintessential Japanese view” of Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms, and a five-story pagoda (Chureito Pagoda). Instead, the 2026 festival has been called off.
The cancellation comes as a direct response to escalating “nuisance tourism” (kankō kōgai).
Residents Under Siege
Local frustrations have reached a boiling point. Residents living near the park described the situation to reporters, detailing how the surge in visitors has disrupted their daily lives.
“They come right into our garden yards to take pictures,” one resident explained. “The local community is suffering greatly. From that perspective, I believe the cancellation was inevitable.”
On the Ground: Dangerous Stunts for the Perfect Shot
During peak season, wait times for observation deck can reach three hours, creating a crush of people.
The reporters witnessed multiple acts of dangerous behavior:
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Fence Climbing: Tourists were seen repeatedly hopping over safety barriers.
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Slope Trespassing: A group of about 10 people climbed onto the mountain slope—off-limits for safety reasons—to take a group photo.
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Risky Posing: One man was filmed sitting on top of a railing to pose for a picture.
When confronted by reporters, tourists who had crossed the barriers claimed ignorance. “I didn’t know it was prohibited to cross the fence,” said one tourist. “The scenery is so beautiful; they really should install more photo spots.”
City Response: “A Strong Sense of Crisis”
The decision to cancel the festival, which attracts 200,000 visitors annually, was not made lightly. Fujiyoshida City cited not just safety concerns, but egregious violations of privacy, such as tourists blocking residential driveways and littering.
Reporting on the 5th, cameras captured a group of tourists loitering on private residential property, completely blocking a homeowner’s front entrance while chatting, oblivious to the intrusion.
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi issued a stern statement regarding the cancellation:
“I feel a strong sense of crisis regarding the reality that the quiet lives of our citizens are being threatened behind the scenes of this beautiful scenery.”
What Travelers Need to Know for Spring 2026
Although the event is officially “canceled,” the cherry blossoms will still bloom, and crowds are still expected. The city is shifting from “hosting” to “policing.”
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Security: Increased presence of security guards to prevent trespassing.
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Facilities: Temporary toilets will still be installed to mitigate sanitation issues.
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Access: Expect strict enforcement of rules around the observation deck.
