Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom Event Cancelled Amid Overtourism

Japan has taken a rare but telling step by cancelling the famed cherry blossom festival near Mount Fuji, citing escalating overtourism and its disruptive impact on local life. The festival, usually held in Fujiyoshida city during the peak sakura season, has long been a magnet for domestic and international visitors eager to capture the postcard-perfect view of cherry blossoms framed against Japan’s most iconic mountain. For 2026, however, the celebration will not go ahead, marking a significant shift in how authorities are responding to the pressures of mass tourism.

The decision comes at a time when Japan is experiencing record-breaking visitor numbers, driven in part by relaxed travel restrictions and a weaker yen that has made the country more affordable for overseas travellers. While tourism has provided a strong economic boost, residents living near Mount Fuji have increasingly voiced frustration over congestion, noise, littering, and invasive behaviour spilling into residential areas. Local officials have acknowledged that the scale of disruption has reached a point where the cultural and social costs now outweigh the benefits of hosting the event.

A Festival That Became a Global Phenomenon

The cherry blossom festival at Arakurayama Sengen Park was once a relatively modest local affair, rooted in seasonal tradition and community pride. Over the years, striking images shared across social media transformed it into an international sensation. At its peak, the festival attracted up to 200,000 visitors each spring, overwhelming infrastructure designed for a far smaller population. Streets became gridlocked, public facilities were stretched beyond capacity, and residents found their everyday routines increasingly disrupted during what should have been a celebratory time.

Local authorities have described recent seasons as unmanageable, with reports of tourists entering private properties, ignoring signage, and failing to observe basic civic etiquette. These concerns ultimately prompted city officials to conclude that cancelling the festival was the only viable way to restore balance and protect community wellbeing.

What This Means for Future Travel to Japan

The cancellation reflects a wider shift in Japan’s tourism strategy, one that places greater emphasis on sustainability, crowd control, and respect for local communities. Rather than discouraging travel outright, authorities are signalling the need for more responsible and evenly distributed tourism. Travellers can still visit Mount Fuji during cherry blossom season, but without the structure of an official festival, and with the expectation that additional crowd-management measures may be introduced.

For visitors planning spring travel, this change encourages exploration beyond heavily promoted hotspots. Regions such as northern Honshu, rural Kansai, and parts of Hokkaido continue to offer spectacular cherry blossom displays with far fewer crowds, providing a more authentic and relaxed experience.

A Turning Point for Overtourism Management

Japan’s move to cancel such a high-profile event underscores a growing global reckoning with overtourism. As destinations grapple with preserving cultural identity and quality of life, decisions like this may become more common. For travellers, it serves as a reminder that meaningful travel experiences are increasingly tied to awareness, flexibility, and respect for the places being visited.