On Tuesday a Japanese town was set to mount a large mesh barrier across the road from an Instagram-famous view of Mount Fuji in an attempt to deter badly behaved tourists.
Last month the plan made headlines when it was announced by officials that they are fed up with what locals said were unending streams of mostly foreign visitors littering, trespassing and breaking traffic rules.
Since then, poles have been put up in preparation for a screen measuring 2.5 by 20 metres (eight by 65 feet) to block the sight of Japan’s highest mountain emerging from behind a Lawson convenience store.
On the morning of Tuesday, workers in hard hats were putting the finishing touches to the metal poles in preparation for attaching the barrier at the photo spot in Fujikawaguchiko town.
Pictures of this visual juxtaposition taken from a narrow stretch of pavement across a busy road from the Lawson, a Japanese chain, have been widely shared online.
But construction of the barrier itself was delayed due to the problems getting the right materials delivered, giving tourists a few more days to chase the perfect shot.
Local officials and residents have said the town welcomes visitors, but complain that those who cross the street non-stop, ignore red lights, park illegally and smoke outside of designated areas have proved a nuisance.
‘It’s regrettable we have to do this, because of some tourists who can’t respect rules’, said a town official in April. It added, Traffic signs and warnings from security guards had failed to improve the situation.
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