06/02/2026
The city of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture officially announced on February 3, 2026, the cancellation of its annual Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival.
City officials and Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi cited a "sense of crisis" regarding the impact of extreme overtourism on local residents.
Residents reported tourists trespassing into private homes, littering, and even defecating in private gardens.
Parents expressed fear for children on school routes being crowded off sidewalks by the 10,000+ daily visitors.
Massive traffic congestion and 3-hour wait times for the iconic pagoda photo spot became unmanageable for the small city.
While the official festival and its promotion have been removed from tourism sites, the city will still deploy security guards and portable toilets to manage the crowds that are still expected to arrive independently in April.