A town at the foot of Mt. Fuji is going a step further in its effort to keep bothersome tourists in line. The town of Fujikawaguchiko has been plagued by visitors who flock to a spot where Japan’s highest peak appears to be perched on the roof of a convenience store.
Town officials revealed on Thursday they’re going to extend guardrails along the road that runs past the store.
The spot has become a favorite with tourists, mostly from abroad. They come to take scenic photos, but some make a nuisance of themselves by jaywalking across the busy road and disrupting traffic.
In May, the town responded to the influx of tourists by setting up a large curtain to block the view of the mountain.
Town officials removed the curtain in mid-August, saying the tourist problem had been solved.
But the removal has led to a return of tourists.
An NHK crew that visited the spot on Oct. 2 saw many tourists cross the road where there was no traffic light. Some visitors parked their cars in a parking lot without permission.
A town official says fewer tourists now are behaving badly. The official also says the town will keep taking steps to urge tourists to follow the rules so it does not have to put the curtain back up.