The city in Yamanashi Prefecture announced on Feb. 3 that it would not proceed with the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival, which it has held annually for the past decade, Kyodo News Agency reported.

The event typically attracts around 200,000 visitors each year, drawn by panoramic views of Mount Fuji.

However, a surge in foreign visitors driven by the weak yen has put the city under growing strain.

At the peak of the cherry blossom season, more than 10,000 tourists a day flock to the area, placing heavy pressure on local infrastructure, The Independent newspaper reported.

City officials said incidents of inappropriate behaviour have become increasingly common and now threaten residents’ quality of life.

Among the concerns cited were sanitation issues, including visitors entering private homes to use restrooms, relieving themselves in private yards, and causing disturbances when confronted by residents.

Although the festival will not be held as an official event and its name will be removed from the city’s tourism website, Fujiyoshida expects visitor numbers to rise during the cherry blossom season in April.

In response, the city plans to strengthen security, set up temporary parking areas and install portable toilets to ease congestion and reduce the burden on residents.

Japan also saw a tourism boom in 2025, recording 42.7 million international arrivals and surpassing the previous record of nearly 37 million set in 2024.