Fujiyoshida Cancels Its Cherry Blossom Festival, But the Crowds Are Still Coming
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Fearing unbearable crowds, Japan's city of Fujiyoshida has scrapped its annual cherry blossom festival to combat overtourism.
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A Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, Killed by Crowds
Cherry blossom season is usually the happiest kind of chaos in Japan, but in the Yamanashi Prefecture city of Fujiyoshida, officials have decided they’ve hit their limit: the city will not hold its annual Sakura Festival this year at Arakurayama Sengen Park, home to that picture-perfect view of Mt. Fuji and the five-story pagoda. With so many overseas tourists flocking to the same few destinations in Japan, the overtourism has pushed the people of Fujiyoshida over the edge.
Of course, officials are quick to point out that the park itself isn’t closing, which means that sightseers can still visit and enjoy the blossoms this year. What’s changing is the framing of the event. Now that crowds have become a regular problem for the neighborhood surrounding the park, Fujiyoshida will be playing down their sakura season festivities, and shutting down the official “Cherry Blossom Festival.”
Why Is Everyone Obsessed with Fujiyoshida’s Park?
One of Japan’s most famous views, and a favorite shot on social media—if you’ve seen this postcard-ready Fujiyoshida spot online, you already know why it’s a magnet for travelers, who come from near and far throughout the year. To catch a glimpse, travelers flock to Arakurayama Sengen Park, an area halfway up Mt. Arakura (approximately 1,180 meters) established in 1959.
A visit requires a little bit of stamina, but after a brisk climb up steep stone steps, visitors reach the iconic memorial pagoda and a viewing deck where Mt. Fuji appears perfectly staged behind it. It’s massively popular all year-round, but in spring, roughly 650 Somei Yoshino cherry trees add the final flourish. Nothing says “I’M IN JAPAN!” like a picture with Mt. Fuji, classic Japanese architecture, and cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind.
Why and How Things Are Changing in Fujiyoshida
According to the city, the park drew 1.58 million visitors in 2025, including 210,583 people during the festival period of just 18 days (April 1~18). In the years following the festival’s official establishment in 2016, the city used the event as a way to manage the surge in domestic and international tourism, already noticeable a decade ago. After the pandemic, however, the number of overseas visitors has climbed sharply, and locals say that brings collateral damage.
Residents have reported chronic traffic jams in narrow residential streets, tourists entering private property, and even people relieving themselves in gardens. Litter like cigarette butts and chewing gum has also become a recurring complaint.
To combat the issues, the city’s first round of measures included increased security, traffic controls, and even a call for media outlets to limit coverage in 2025—an unusual move, especially for rural Japan. But the power of social media and internet coverage is nothing to scoff at. Average daily visitors have stayed above 10,000 a day for three straight years. City officials say that after watching last year’s festival unfold, they concluded an organized event was no longer feasible.
Instead, it looks like that former festival budget is going towards a less glamorous cause, as Fujiyoshida plans to strengthen safety measures during peak bloom. In addition, traffic restrictions will start earlier (matching school commute times), and cheaper parking at more distant temporary lots will be used to spread out the flow of visitors arriving by car.
City leaders have stressed that this isn’t a message for travelers (domestic and international) to stay away, but a request that visitors arrive in a way that keeps the local neighborhood safe (and surviving). Whether the message will be received that way is still unclear, and either way, experts warn that canceling the festival may not do much to reduce the photo-driven crowds anyway. The next step may involve paid entry or reservations to cap numbers—travelers hoping to add Fujiyoshida’s famous spot to their sakura-season travel itinerary in the coming years will want to keep an eye out for updates!
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don’t forget to follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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