japanese cherry blossom festival: Japan’s cherry blossom festival cancelled: Is overtourism to blame? Here’s what happened
ALSO READ: Quote of the Day – Kendrick Lamar: ‘I learned when I looked in the mirror…’ – The best quotes from the most awarded rapper in Grammy history
Why was the Japan cherry blossom festival canceled?
The town of Fujiyoshida canceled its iconic cherry blossom festival after authorities declared a crisis caused by overtourism. The decision comes after years of mounting pressure caused by large crowds flocking to the area in the spring, according to a report by The New Daily.
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the large number of visitors was making daily life “unbearable” for residents. Chronic traffic congestion and widespread littering were among the most visible problems, but officials say behavior in residential areas is even more troubling.
Tourists were reportedly “opening the doors of private houses without permission to use the toilet”, trespassing on private property, littering and even “defecating in private gardens and causing trouble when residents point this out”.
Horiuchi said the mood of local people was “a strong sense of crisis.” “We have decided to raise the curtain on the 10-year-old festival to protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens,” he said when announcing its cancellation this week, according to a report by The New Daily.
ALSO READ: Bad Bunny’s Quote of the Day: ‘I don’t want to be fake. ‘I’m just being myself…’—The best quotes from the first Latin artist to win album of the year at the Grammys
What made Fujiyoshida such a tourist magnet?
Fujiyoshida is located at the foot of Mount Fuji and is especially popular during cherry blossom season. Visitors flock there to snap photos of the pale pink flowers framed against the conical peak of Japan’s tallest mountain.
The festival began in 2016, when authorities opened the gates of Arakurayama Sengen Park in an effort to attract tourists and revitalize the area. But over time, visitor numbers have far exceeded expectations, according to a report by The New Daily.
Officials estimate that as many as 10,000 people a day visit the town during peak bloom season.
Officials said the number of visitors “has increased significantly, exceeding the city’s capacity and leading to overtourism, which has had a serious impact on the living environment of local people.”
Is Japan’s tourism boom fueling overcrowding?
Fujiyoshida’s struggle reflects a broader trend across Japan. The country is experiencing a tourism boom, with overcrowding reported in major destinations such as Kyoto, according to a report by The New Daily.
Japan Times reported that 42.7 million tourists visited Japan in 2025, setting a new record and surpassing the total figure of approximately 37 million in 2024. Officials say the rise is due to a weak yen and “explosive popularity fueled by social media.”
Australian travel to Japan has also increased. More than a million Australians visited for the first time last year, a 15 per cent increase on 2024. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, Japan welcomed 121,300 Australian visitors in December alone.
FAQ
Why did Fujiyoshida cancel the cherry blossom festival?
Officials said overtourism and bad tourist behavior were harming residents’ quality of life.
How many visitors does Fujiyoshida receive during peak season?
Officials estimate about 10,000 visitors a day during cherry blossom season.
