A JAPANESE city’s famous cherry blossom festival has been cancelled for the first time in the latest crackdown on tourists.
Holidaymakers flock to the Arakurayama Sengen Park Sakura festival in Fujiyoshida, west of Tokyo, each year.
Its stunning views of snow-capped Mount Fuji and and iconic pink cherry blossoms in bloom draw selfie-obsessed influencers from across the world looking for the perfect snap.
But after a decade, the festival has been axed over fears the quiet city is being overrun by tourists.
Fujiyoshida mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the move was intended to “protect the living conditions and dignity of all of our city’s residents”.
“For the city of Fujiyoshida, Mount Fuji is not just a mere tourism resource, but a part of our lifestyle,” he added, according to news outlet Japan Today.
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The festival was first launched 10 years ago in a bid to draw tourists to the city.
But, Horiuchi said the “peaceful lifestyle” of residents is now “threatened”, in what has become a “crisis situation”.
Residents have complained about tourists breaking into private property and urinating or defecating in residents gardens.
Traffic blocks up roads and cigarette butts litter the streets.
Tourism has soared in Japan, with more than 39million visitors in 2025 up from almost 37million in 2024.
Officials actually boasted the record numbers, but the influx has not been universally welcomed.
Shrines, restaurants and temples have all resorted to banning visits from foreigners in recent years.
Locals in Fujikawaguchiko, in the northern foothills of Mount Fuji, became enraged after being swamped with tourists, littering, trespassing and breaking traffic rules.
Taking matters into their own hands, they blocked the iconic view of the natural wonder with an 8ft fence.
Undoubtedly Japan’s most famous sight, the active volcano can be seen for miles around and attracts hundreds of tourists each day looking to grab the perfect photo.
But many visitors to Fujikawaguchiko park illegally and ignore a smoking ban to cram a pavement in front of a convenience store.
In an effort to ease congestion in 2024, entries were be capped at 4,000 and hikers charged 2,000 yen (£10) each to climb the mountains most popular route.
And in Kyoto, one of the most popular cities in Japan, tourist tax has been hiked to 900 per cent.
The move was announced in October last year and is set to come into force this Spring, in a desperate bid to deter foreign holidaymakers.
In 2024 the city was flooded with 56.06million visitors – including a record number of 10.88million foreign tourists.
The tax will be paid per night by guests staying in inns, hotels and lodgings in the city.
There are exemptions to the tax which includes those visiting as part of school trips, participants in events at certified childcare centres and nurseries, such as chaperones.
The government expects to make an estimated income of 12.6bn yen per year from the increased taxes.
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