A huge black screen put up in an attempt to stop tourists taking photos of Mount Fuji is having to be repaired after holes were found in it the day after it was erected.
It was put in place in Fujikawaguchiko, a popular spot to view and photograph the iconic mountain, last Tuesday. But officials soon found around 10 similar holes, all at eye level and apparently the right size to fit a camera lens through.
One especially popular viewing location is outside a Lawson convenience store, from where photos taken at a certain angle would make it look as if the landmark mountain is sitting atop the store roof.
Locals have complained about visitors blocking the narrow pavement and walking into the busy road or onto neighbouring properties to get their shots, officials said.
The town spent 1.3 million yen (£6,500) to install the 8.2ft high black mesh net, that stretches 66 feet, and additional fences along the pavement.
The screen has helped ease congestion in the area, officials said, with over-tourism becoming a growing issue at other popular destinations such as Kyoto and Kamakura.
Pressures brought by over-tourism are not restricted to Japan.
Venice recently announced limits on the numbers of people in tour groups, a ban on loudspeakers in some locations, has banned large cruise ships and introduced a tourist tax which was met with protests.
Protests have also been held in popular Spanish resorts with locals saying they are priced out by rising rents and can not find housing.
Majorca recently proposed the continuation of a strict cap on the number of cruise ships that can dock each day in the capital Palma.
In May 2022, the Spanish island restricted the number of cruise ship arrivals a day to just three ships. Of these, only one ship could hold a capacity of over 5,000 passengers.
