Note; Mt Fuji came out an hour later. The vibe changed! It was definitely more dangerous with people dashing across the street. I think you don’t get that vibe when it’s cloudy, only when you get “the view” - the Lawson staff has to come out multiple times to tell tourists to stop climbing on the Lawson sign! The trash and vandalism is real, the dentist who works across the street had many great things to say about visitors coming but the trash, noise and vandalism is increasing. He’s most worried about someone getting hit by a car and the stress on locals who have near misses, often.
As always thank you John for all you do for Japan tourism. You give us all sides of the story and let us understand a bit more clearly the situation. When I went to Japan, I had told my mom WE have to follow the rules and customs Japanese had for many years. One time we were close around Mt. Fuji and we stopped around a Matsuri that was ongoing. We crossed the road as we should but then going back my mom saw other tourist just crossing the street where they were not supposed to cross and follow them, I told her no, we have to cross where the policeman was, she kept going and instantly I followed her because of her safety (yeah, that was bad of me) the officer scold us and I just kept saying sorry with my head doing a bow, he saw our tourist tag and he changed his tone and he said: go go go in English. I later scold my mom and told her that Japan follows rules by the T, so that’s why the police officer scold us but let us go because we are “tourist”. She said: but everyone else was doing the same and I told her: we not in Mexico or USA, we need to respect the rules in Japan. Lesson learned 😊, I will go to Japan next time alone or with someone who understands Japanese culture the same way I do. I love Japan and its culture, I respect Japan the same way I would like someone would respect my country too.
Honestly it is pissing me off that people keep saying Japanese rules are different, they are not. It is the mentality of people that is different. Rules are mostly the same everywhere, in Japan just the common person won't break the rules (as much) for their silly on the moment, 20 seconds faster convenience. Or even worse, because they think it is funny and they can get away with petty crime. Shame is what people miss in their life. From their family, friends and everyone else. People gotta shame each other more for the small bads we do every day. You catch someone you care about doing something wrong, be good to then and society - tell them to stop, before it becomes even worse.
@@AhidoMikaro true what you say, all over the world the same rules apply for been polite, not causing disturbance in restaurants, parks, streets, etc, but the thing is that even when most of us try to follow the normal politely correctness about how to cross a street, some other people don’t care and they think they can get away not following up a simple rule of how to cross a street, if they get hit it’s the drivers fault and it’s not entirely the drivers fault. I walk and I drive and I know I have to pay attention when crossing a road and where I can cross it. Mexico doesn’t have that much strict rules about pedestrians, and now with a lot of violence these days, you can’t say anything back because you don’t really know who are you speaking with, it could be a cartel gang or someone who just took an offense on you. Plus the streets in some parts of Mexico are horrible for driving and even walking so you tend to cross where you shouldn’t because the infrastructure is in bad condition. I’m not saying we get to have a pass just because of that, no, what’s wrong is wrong and government should take more care in the infrastructure and its citizens (like in Japan and other parts of world that they do care about their citizens) but they are busy with political agendas and getting their pockets full of our tax money. People should be more ashamed like you said to do all this things just for a Instagram moment, like: don’t be a bother to the locals, we have morals and you don’t need to understand the language so can see you are blocking the traffic and you are putting yourself at risk just crossing the road to save 20-30 sec more to reach your destination. Social media has made a big influence in our daily life’s like John said and also we want everything fast and get there as fast as we can. Like, seriously take your time, enjoy the view, say hi to locals and respect all people and places no matter what part of the world are you. If you are late, you are late, don’t rush!
I was there april 15th. lots of really irresponsible tourists. crossing during red light. local police already yelling but they dont listen. sad reality. we should be more responsible as visitors of a place. if somebody were to do irresponsible things in our countries we would be pissed as well. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
It was so awful to see, I met the dentist who lives across the street, such a nice guy. Loves tourists but it’s too much now. Lawson Staff came out to yell at tourists. That was awful to see 😢
as been mentioned before Japan really needs to be more like Singapore, dont bother cautioning nuisance gaijin tourists - need strict fines and arrests.
I was here last March. I joined a day tour that included this Lawson and I just felt uncomfortable seeing how narrow the road is with all the tourists and tour buses blocking the road. And I couldn't even see Mt Fuji on that day! I can understand why the local government decided to take action.
Thank you for addressing overtourism. I feel any popular places have way too much tourists, whether in Japan or other countries. Weakened yen is also putting Japan on map for travel. Visitors need to respect the locals and businesses, photos are great but when it causes disruption and safety concerns for others, we need to be more mindful.
@@user-qh7mv8np2s overtourism is a problem everywhere with or without bad tourists. It puts a strain on the towns that can only take so much and start being a burden on people's lives instead of a business opportunity. As someone that lives in a city that lives for tourism, in the last years it has become too much
We kind of have a similar problem here in Hawaii on the North shore of Oahu. People want to see the sea turtles on the shore line, which creates traffic jams and dangerous crossings for pedestrians!
I visited Japan from April 1 thru April 11. Watching Only in Japan videos gave me so many great tips and ideas. My trip was incredibly enjoyable! Thank you so much for providing excellent information. Made my trip very memorable. Love this community!
Thank you for this video. It really puts into context the situation because a lot of media just glossed over the issues and it was making the Japanese look anti-tourist, but clearly this was not the case at all and there are significant safety concerns.
There are so many photo opportunities for Mt Fuji in the area, why Lawson? Go to Oishi Park or Arakurayama Park. You also get a great view from Gotemba Outlet. They don’t need to hassle the locals like this at all!
Totally agree. It’s a trend. That’s way. It’ll cycle through, I think this will decrease traffic and maybe save a life. It’s just a matter of time before someone gets hit at this spot. It’s scary to see the frenzy here.
I think they should be fined ¥20,000 for disrupting traffic if they have already been warned. This fine should be noted on their passport, which could deny them entry into Japan if it remains unpaid or if they have an overwhelming amount of outstanding fines. Whenever I went to Japan I tried my best to be as respectful and polite as possible. Being considerate isn't difficult.
Aloha John. Missed this but caught the replay. I'm not a fan of tourists who lack both respect and common courtesy for the places that they visit. Living on Oahu it's fairly common to see visitors being disrespectful to not only our land/environment but also to the local community. But sorry to say that the locals in Hawaii have very limited tolerance for visitors who treat the island with disrespect and I'm highly confident a Hawaii resident would happily remind the visitor that they are just "visiting. Lol. Mahal for the livestream my friend!
I bet the Hawaiian visitors are the ones who are the best behaved having this problem - little things. Hurt me to see it happen like people standing on the Lawson sign and staff having to tell them to get down.
Oof, your comment hurt my heart. The people of Hawaii go through so much with disrespectful tourists. You definitely understand what the locals in these areas of Japan are going through. It makes me extra sad because Hawaiian people are so kind and warm and lovely, and Japanese people are lovely and polite. It’s sad that people aren’t more appreciative and reciprocal about that. It just takes a little self awareness and asking yourself “how would I want tourists to treat me and my home?”
@LiterallyJustAnActualPotato This is why I strongly feel visitors need to spend a little time to learn and understand the culture of the places they plan to visit. Not just go and visit because they want to go for a vacation. Japan has many "do not do" things such as talk on your cell phone while on the train. Or eating food while walking on the street. Things that visitors do all the time because they don't take the time to understand why that is. I went to Japan in 2018 and watched many videos on RUclips about the Japanese lifestyle and culture before I went there simply to understand how the residents live their lives including watching John here who share very insightful and detailed information about Japanese lifestyle, its history and culture. The same goes for Hawaii. Although Hawaii is a beautiful place to visit, the locals are warm and inviting and will share their Aloha with everyone including visitors but we too have many "do and do not" things within the island. Doesn't take much time to learn about and honestly, I think it would really enhance a person's travel experience knowing what makes a good "visitor" when you're traveling far away from home. Shame that is not the case for many.
Very true. I was in Kyoto kiyomizu in December last. It was so crowded that I got lost. And almost had anxiety attack when I couldn’t find my son and his wife in the crowd. Having just lost my husband just a year ago didn’t help. Luckily I was air tagged by son and he found me just in time before I broke down. Was back just in Tokyo for the Sakura season wasn’t so bad. In fact I personally find it as much comfortable than in Kyoto.
These sorts of tourists are like locusts. Once this view is blocked, they will move on to the next Instagrammable site and never give this location another thought. And they will behave exactly the same way at that new location. Japan and Kawaguchiko does not need them. Thanks for covering the issue.
Thanks for making this video! I don’t quite understand all the Japanese news yet so it helps when you cover this stuff! Love how the mountain appeared for ya!! 😂
My suggestion is the city council constructs and maintains an elevated photo-platform. It could be on the rooftop of the building itself, and charge 1000 yen per minute. Win-win for the tourists and the city. 😊
I don’t think the dental clinic wants that. He just wants to fix people’s teeth. Not deal with crowds. He has that right. He actually likes the tourists, but the problems that come are too much from the few who are awful.
Hey John, this was a very informative video, thanks! I read in the news about the 2.5m high screen coming up soon, but couldn't imagine where they would be placing it. Now with your video, I know where it will be. I will be visiting Japan mid May, so here's hoping for clear skies when I visit this area. 😊 Arigato!
From living in Japan, I can understand the feeling of some tourist coming in and not knowing to nicely do things and responsibly enjoying Japan. I stayed away from most foreign tourist areas except when I went to Roppongi for the clubs sometimes lol.
Well I guess I'm glad I visited that exact spot in February during my first trip! Paired with slippery conditions and snow on the streets in winter, you definitely need spatial awareness to avoid injury.
something like this was also done in Hallstatt in Austria...... the town council decided to erect a fence to block the view of the famous tower where so many tourists take a selfie
Oh man, I stayed in an inn on this street exactly a year ago, but I remember way more lurkers at the station than at the Lawson's. Course this was early April then, not Golden Week. I'm sad about the overtourism; I have fond memories of this place. And yeah, traffic is no joke (try navigating it with a bicycle). Best memory was waking up in Kawaguchiko Station Inn and seeing Mt. Fuji right outside my window.
Thank you for the information. Over tourism has two sides. Is it a kind of stimulant to the economy to become better or a nightmare for the locals for the tourists’ “rowdy” behavior?
I visited that area a few weeks ago and got a lot of beautiful shots of Mt. Fuji. I don't consider having a Lawson's store in the foreground a beautiful picture. Weird.
Why don't they find, and fund, a spot just for the Mt. Fuji photo shot, like they did with the Las Vegas sign. I see many tour buses passing by in this video. Is this Lawsons part of the bus tours attractions?
There are many spots for taking photography of Fuji but it depends entirely on the time/weather that day. People just flock to the viral social media spots (like this one) thinking they'll get a similar pic without looking at the forecast. And no--while Kawaguchiko is definitely a tourist destination--this Lawson's itself is not a traditional tourist attraction until recently which is the cause of the problem.
A simple solution. Looks the underlying, and very valid, concern are the near collisions between the cars being driven by the locals and the tourists trying to get "the shot" by stepping out into the street at this specific location. My proposed answer - why not have Lawsons provide an alternative (and arguably better) viewing vantage point by erecting a set of stairs leading up to the flat roof of their building so the invaders can get their shots from there? Some of the best shots I got of Mount Fuji were from being allowed roof top access at a ryokan I stayed at in Kawaguchiko.
Thank you John for this video! And yes, Japanese don't go to other countries and cause issues to the point where the government has to get involved to block, put up gates etc etc? This is crazy! I'm soooo sad for the locals who just want to go to the convenience store for a snack or drink and then to have to face all these people from everywhere 😮 😢 I too will not be a part of this problem or any problems in Japan! Gambare Nippon!!! 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
The train you saw is the JR Fuji Excursion (富士回遊, Fuji Kaiyū) limited express. It might be one of reason why more tourists come to kawaguchiko in recent years.
Much appreciate the reality of the story. There are always two sides of a story. It's only matter of time for another picture at a different location and tourist flock to it. Thanks John. By the way, did Leo like Beastro?
At first, shy and scared but after an hour, he loved him! Beastro is really kid friendly, just shows it in his beasty way 😂 he misses him, we’ll go back soon.
i went passed on a bus about 2 weeks ago and got the picture of lawson with mt fuji clearly in the background, maybe one of the last few pics to be taken of this ever!
The morning news had a short story on this and I immediately thought about the live stream you did last year I believe and you had two buddies of yours taking photos on that street. One of them almost got hit ! You stressed the dangers of people stopping there for photos.
I think once the tarp/wall is up, the tourists will just stand in the street to get the picture. The tarp/wall won't stop the picture taking, but that's my opinion. Will be interested in an update after the installation is completed.
Thanks I visited that spot a few weeks ago and the crowd was not paying attention to the ‘cross guard’. However frankly speaking I felt the bicycle riders on the crowded pedestrian sidewalks in Tokyo and Fukuoka were much more dangerous and inconvenient than the Lawson parking lot.
I went there during my trip. Also went to other smaller cities. I can say the roads in these smaller cities are so narrow. Sometimes there is no sidewalk at all. It's definitely not a place for tourists to come to a full stop and take photos
Im in japan now and when we were at one of the temples there were clear signs not to film or take photos where people go to do their prayer and the amount of people with cameras out filming and taking photos getting in the way of people actually praying and filming them right up close to them embaressed me as a visitor to this country. I actually scolded a few people by me and pointed to the signs.
Mahalo for driving out there early and giving us an up close perspective. I feel really bad for the locals. What a nuisance and safety problem. They should consider citing people for jay walking and obtain passport info so the fine can be collected before leaving the country. Banned from entering the country as a tourist if not paid.
I understand your frustration John but, where can tourists go to take pictures safely? I don’t know where we could go. Love to know where to go safely around Japan? Thank You so much John for the updates of Japan. Love watching and supporting your channel and your Country. 👋🥰 hello from Colorado USA 🇺🇸
It is Fuji, you can see it from many places, including popular temples, whole lakes and whatnot. Just being on most streets around gives you a view. Not that it is your right to have a photo with a damn mountain.
Thank god I visited Fujikawaguchiko back in March 2020 right at the eve of the pandemic. almost no tourists. I experienced eating delicious curry at the station, bike riding around the lake, chureito pagoda views of mt fuji and the panoramic view you can get of mt fuji when you take the lift trolley up, wind cave and ice cave and more! Unobstructed views of mt fuji with no clouds during the sunset was my best japan experience so far out of the several trips I took there. Unfortunately theres wayyyy too many tourists now. I fear I would never have the same magical experience now as I did then. I dont think anybody visiting right now would. you would probably have hundreds of poeple at chureito pagoda every single day and tons of noise. Unavoidable unless you visit at the crack of dawn maybe....
went to fujikawaguchiko like over a month ago as part of a tour and dropped us off the famous 'lawson' although this is not the lawson store they dropped us off ... funny thing is the views were still awesome. Wonder if there is an alternative initiative among tour operators to distribute it across the different lawsons around mt fuji haha
Hi John thanks for the update. Create a new trend of where to go! Maybe a deck, patio at a park for people to go to that is near by. Again its pop culture and unfortunately somepeople are not raised properly and have a lack of care for society and others. Lets hope humanity can improve! 17 days til I leave for Japan
I've been to Fujinomiya in Shizuoka. I say that there are a lot of places there with perfect view of Mt. Fuji. And I mean A LOT, even in the place where I was staying in. You just have to look for them. I don't remember the names, but I can describe the 3 best locations to take a picture with Mt. Fuji that I've been. One is in this public park with a gymnasium that everyone can use. There's nothing that obstructs the view of the mountain there. Next is this tourist attraction that looks like some kind of ancient village from few centuries ago. It's between these two large rock formations... or was it beside one... but the view of the mountain there is also not obstructed by anything. Lastly, Lake Tanuki. Just sit in a bench and watch Mt. Fuji in full view or go camping, your choice. In these three locations, you won't be a public nuisance because you won't bother anyone while taking a shot. Of course, hope that it's not cloudy.
I was just there 10 days ago and it was absolutely insane! I don’t blame them one bit. Was staying in Fujiyoshida and walked over to Honcho Street at 6 AM to get my shot. Walked past later that morning and was worse than Lawson’s. People jumping in the road, almost getting hit by cars, totally ignoring the traffic cop. Just waiting for them to do something there next.
If those people really are going to Photoshop Mt Fuji into the picture, they might as well not have gone at all. Just take a photo of themselves somewhere else and then insert them on top of an old picture with the view in.
My tour bus took us here. I couldn't understand the hype. However this was the only place Mt. Fuji was visible at, as it was raining the entire day. I walked to the road adjacent to lawsons and got a great picture there without the lawsons in the picture.
Tour bus? That’s awful - I guess it’s something many want. I don’t get it, many buses went by but none actually stopped. I’ll be back when they finish the “wall”
What a great opportunity for the Lawson Company! Have a viewing platform at the corner of the store with a token-operated gate. Tokens are free inside the store (but most customers will feel obligated to make a small purchase). Limit platform viewing to one minute. Win-win! Tourists happy. Lawson's happy.
Yet the normal people who live in this area are still having to deal with unwanted masses. Good on the city for more or less telling them to go away and prioritizing the quality of life of its people instead of profit.
its interesting to me, ive stayed there a couple days 6 years ago, and in general, i thought cars were driving pretty dangerous and fast in that town, on other roads. i actually remember noticing that back then.
Lawson NEEDs to build a new spot with a better view and bigger neon sign. Away from that busy local area but will have lots of parking and capitalize on the view with a fake Lawson store front. The inside can be all vending machines that sell posters, tshirts, mugs and other products that advertise that THIS new view is the best!
@@onlyinjapanGO I smell a new business boom in setting up conbini is far flung photo ops that cater only to tourists to bring in inaka township revenue
What is a black tarp? Is that where they stand to take photos or to keep them away? Not sure I was following you. And isn’t there any other place to get a good photo of mount fugi?
We were lucky last year its not that crowded in fact when I was taking a photo with my friend and it was just two of us and single girl who was taking picture at that spot. I even had a video walking around with no one around.
This is absolutely crazy. What an uncomfortable invasion for the locals. I’d be so upset if crowds of tourists were just congregating by our small local gas station so it was difficult to get in and out of it, and wandering around in the street affecting traffic and causing accidents 😩 zero self awareness.
John in Ipoh Malaysia the younger generation will take photos of themselves anywhere..I have seen them taking photos at old under construction buildings, empty walkways, guys taking flowers of themselves with flowers at roadside.. just for no reason photos of themselves at any location
I've got an idea. Make an periscope that goes under the road, up the wall and perfectly frames Lawson with Mt. Fuji sitting on its roof. It'll save the tourists from faffing around trying to position themselves and render the need to cross the road redundant. It could also be coin operated, a bit like those telescopes you have at other tourist hot spots 🙂
Installing an observation deck seemed like a good idea, but it would have caused other problems, so it probably didn't come to fruition. The construction of an observation deck is an official facility of the city, and the number of tourists will further increase. Some of them may come by car and illegally park nearby or throw away trash. It may be noisy with tourists all day long to take pictures of the sunset, sunrise, and night climbers. Problems may arise due to long lines forming for photo shoots. The city abstained from assuming those undetermined responsibilities.
Shouldn't we also discuss who these offenders are, and what nationality? A lot of disciplined tourists are suffering because of them. Those people should be ashamed or at least be mindful and considerate of others. Respect the rules and the culture. How hard that could be?
Once the clouds parted and Fujisan showed itself - it got crazy! Behavior changed. People started to cross the road and I saw what the issue was! It’ll be an interesting edited video on @onlyinjapan this month.
The Dentist comes across in the articles as 'Chief Stirrer'. Are they owners of that building? When will they charge tickets to access their rooftop once the barrier is up? Notice there's no interest in pedestrianising the street!
I talked to him. He’s so nice! I think that’s BS, he cleans up daily the trash all around his place. He’s worried about the scaffolding and the tourists bumping into it, maybe causing an accident. If you stay there and observe the behavior, 5% of a lot of people is a lot of people! When Fuji showed itself from the clouds, it was like a pack of dogs! Awful to see.
Oh the Mayhem! One would think the company would appreciate the crowd around its business, a couple honks to get people out of the way. Thats too much though so the barrier must rise. City gives up on whatever revenue thats been bringing, suppose for peace of mind.
To be honest; For me personally, it's not so much about people loitering around taking snaps. It's more the fact that jaywalking and general inattentiveness makes that place incredibly hazardous. You just happened to catch the tourists on their well-behaved day today 😂 I live around the corner and drive/ride through this road daily, and I've lost count of the amount of time I nearly ran over jaywalkers or more terrifyingly - runaway baby strollers (the parents were too busy taking selfies, they hadn't realized their baby was freerolling right onto the moving traffic). Just today, a pedestrian in front of my car got the right idea of using the zebra cross ... just that she crossed the road whilst the traffic light was green for vehicles ~ 🤪
First went to Japan in 2016 and then in 2018. It was already quite popular but one could travel and walk around easily without many tourists... Now.... I'm afraid of going back with my children and see it overcrowded with unrespectful tourists everywhere
Wrong, its not just on the idiot crossing, it’s on the driver and they’ll live with hitting that person for the rest of their life. The guilt even though not their fault is a crime beyond just crossing illegally. Not to mention if they hurt someone in the car! The damage to the town from the press because they didn’t do more to keep dumb tourists safer. It’s a sword that cuts so many ways 😢
Развлечения
Note; Mt Fuji came out an hour later. The vibe changed! It was definitely more dangerous with people dashing across the street. I think you don’t get that vibe when it’s cloudy, only when you get “the view” - the Lawson staff has to come out multiple times to tell tourists to stop climbing on the Lawson sign! The trash and vandalism is real, the dentist who works across the street had many great things to say about visitors coming but the trash, noise and vandalism is increasing. He’s most worried about someone getting hit by a car and the stress on locals who have near misses, often.
As always thank you John for all you do for Japan tourism. You give us all sides of the story and let us understand a bit more clearly the situation.
When I went to Japan, I had told my mom WE have to follow the rules and customs Japanese had for many years. One time we were close around Mt. Fuji and we stopped around a Matsuri that was ongoing. We crossed the road as we should but then going back my mom saw other tourist just crossing the street where they were not supposed to cross and follow them, I told her no, we have to cross where the policeman was, she kept going and instantly I followed her because of her safety (yeah, that was bad of me) the officer scold us and I just kept saying sorry with my head doing a bow, he saw our tourist tag and he changed his tone and he said: go go go in English.
I later scold my mom and told her that Japan follows rules by the T, so that’s why the police officer scold us but let us go because we are “tourist”. She said: but everyone else was doing the same and I told her: we not in Mexico or USA, we need to respect the rules in Japan.
Lesson learned 😊, I will go to Japan next time alone or with someone who understands Japanese culture the same way I do. I love Japan and its culture, I respect Japan the same way I would like someone would respect my country too.
Preach the truth 🎉
Honestly it is pissing me off that people keep saying Japanese rules are different, they are not. It is the mentality of people that is different. Rules are mostly the same everywhere, in Japan just the common person won't break the rules (as much) for their silly on the moment, 20 seconds faster convenience. Or even worse, because they think it is funny and they can get away with petty crime. Shame is what people miss in their life. From their family, friends and everyone else. People gotta shame each other more for the small bads we do every day. You catch someone you care about doing something wrong, be good to then and society - tell them to stop, before it becomes even worse.
@@AhidoMikaro THIS.
@@AhidoMikaro true what you say, all over the world the same rules apply for been polite, not causing disturbance in restaurants, parks, streets, etc, but the thing is that even when most of us try to follow the normal politely correctness about how to cross a street, some other people don’t care and they think they can get away not following up a simple rule of how to cross a street, if they get hit it’s the drivers fault and it’s not entirely the drivers fault. I walk and I drive and I know I have to pay attention when crossing a road and where I can cross it. Mexico doesn’t have that much strict rules about pedestrians, and now with a lot of violence these days, you can’t say anything back because you don’t really know who are you speaking with, it could be a cartel gang or someone who just took an offense on you. Plus the streets in some parts of Mexico are horrible for driving and even walking so you tend to cross where you shouldn’t because the infrastructure is in bad condition.
I’m not saying we get to have a pass just because of that, no, what’s wrong is wrong and government should take more care in the infrastructure and its citizens (like in Japan and other parts of world that they do care about their citizens) but they are busy with political agendas and getting their pockets full of our tax money.
People should be more ashamed like you said to do all this things just for a Instagram moment, like: don’t be a bother to the locals, we have morals and you don’t need to understand the language so can see you are blocking the traffic and you are putting yourself at risk just crossing the road to save 20-30 sec more to reach your destination.
Social media has made a big influence in our daily life’s like John said and also we want everything fast and get there as fast as we can. Like, seriously take your time, enjoy the view, say hi to locals and respect all people and places no matter what part of the world are you. If you are late, you are late, don’t rush!
I was there april 15th. lots of really irresponsible tourists. crossing during red light. local police already yelling but they dont listen. sad reality. we should be more responsible as visitors of a place. if somebody were to do irresponsible things in our countries we would be pissed as well. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
It was so awful to see, I met the dentist who lives across the street, such a nice guy. Loves tourists but it’s too much now. Lawson Staff came out to yell at tourists. That was awful to see 😢
as been mentioned before Japan really needs to be more like Singapore, dont bother cautioning nuisance gaijin tourists - need strict fines and arrests.
I was here last March. I joined a day tour that included this Lawson and I just felt uncomfortable seeing how narrow the road is with all the tourists and tour buses blocking the road. And I couldn't even see Mt Fuji on that day! I can understand why the local government decided to take action.
Why would the tour add this? It started as a fake attraction Oct 2022. I hope they stop.
@@onlyinjapanGO effect of social media. People want this spot to make IG reels 😂
Thank you for addressing overtourism. I feel any popular places have way too much tourists, whether in Japan or other countries. Weakened yen is also putting Japan on map for travel.
Visitors need to respect the locals and businesses, photos are great but when it causes disruption and safety concerns for others, we need to be more mindful.
This is not overtourism. This is Breach of etiquette.
Overtourism is not the problem.
The problem is the etiquette of people from China and South East Asia.
@@user-qh7mv8np2s overtourism is a problem everywhere with or without bad tourists. It puts a strain on the towns that can only take so much and start being a burden on people's lives instead of a business opportunity. As someone that lives in a city that lives for tourism, in the last years it has become too much
We kind of have a similar problem here in Hawaii on the North shore of Oahu. People want to see the sea turtles on the shore line, which creates traffic jams and dangerous crossings for pedestrians!
I visited Japan from April 1 thru April 11. Watching Only in Japan videos gave me so many great tips and ideas. My trip was incredibly enjoyable! Thank you so much for providing excellent information. Made my trip very memorable. Love this community!
You’re very welcome and I appreciate the warm feedback ^_^
Thank you for this video. It really puts into context the situation because a lot of media just glossed over the issues and it was making the Japanese look anti-tourist, but clearly this was not the case at all and there are significant safety concerns.
There are so many photo opportunities for Mt Fuji in the area, why Lawson? Go to Oishi Park or Arakurayama Park. You also get a great view from Gotemba Outlet. They don’t need to hassle the locals like this at all!
Totally agree. It’s a trend. That’s way. It’ll cycle through, I think this will decrease traffic and maybe save a life. It’s just a matter of time before someone gets hit at this spot. It’s scary to see the frenzy here.
They imitate how influencers take pictures
My chinese wife : "Most are chinese tourists who are obsessed with ticking off tourist photos and locations"
yep. in akabanebashi, they are seemingly permanently stationed at the station exit with a view of tokyo tower..
sheer disrespect the way they do it
It not just chinese tourists. People from other parts of asia, europe, australia come too
@ciello___8307 hence why i said "most", not *all*
I think they should be fined ¥20,000 for disrupting traffic if they have already been warned. This fine should be noted on their passport, which could deny them entry into Japan if it remains unpaid or if they have an overwhelming amount of outstanding fines. Whenever I went to Japan I tried my best to be as respectful and polite as possible. Being considerate isn't difficult.
Yes, it’s a good amount. The cross walk is just 10 seconds away!!
yes totally agreed , Fine and teh fine stamped on passport. If they dont pay no, entry into Japan next time.
This is a great idea, I totally agree!
Way too much. The residents need to investigate who is sending tourists this way rather than blaming individuals.
Aloha John. Missed this but caught the replay. I'm not a fan of tourists who lack both respect and common courtesy for the places that they visit. Living on Oahu it's fairly common to see visitors being disrespectful to not only our land/environment but also to the local community. But sorry to say that the locals in Hawaii have very limited tolerance for visitors who treat the island with disrespect and I'm highly confident a Hawaii resident would happily remind the visitor that they are just "visiting. Lol. Mahal for the livestream my friend!
I bet the Hawaiian visitors are the ones who are the best behaved having this problem - little things. Hurt me to see it happen like people standing on the Lawson sign and staff having to tell them to get down.
Oof, your comment hurt my heart. The people of Hawaii go through so much with disrespectful tourists. You definitely understand what the locals in these areas of Japan are going through. It makes me extra sad because Hawaiian people are so kind and warm and lovely, and Japanese people are lovely and polite. It’s sad that people aren’t more appreciative and reciprocal about that. It just takes a little self awareness and asking yourself “how would I want tourists to treat me and my home?”
@LiterallyJustAnActualPotato This is why I strongly feel visitors need to spend a little time to learn and understand the culture of the places they plan to visit. Not just go and visit because they want to go for a vacation. Japan has many "do not do" things such as talk on your cell phone while on the train. Or eating food while walking on the street. Things that visitors do all the time because they don't take the time to understand why that is. I went to Japan in 2018 and watched many videos on RUclips about the Japanese lifestyle and culture before I went there simply to understand how the residents live their lives including watching John here who share very insightful and detailed information about Japanese lifestyle, its history and culture. The same goes for Hawaii. Although Hawaii is a beautiful place to visit, the locals are warm and inviting and will share their Aloha with everyone including visitors but we too have many "do and do not" things within the island. Doesn't take much time to learn about and honestly, I think it would really enhance a person's travel experience knowing what makes a good "visitor" when you're traveling far away from home. Shame that is not the case for many.
Thanks for bringing us live to this spot John! So helpful to actually see the current situation over there.
When Fuji came out, I returned. It was worse! I’ll show it in the main channel episode.
It’s totally correct what the authorities are doing and you’re showing it as it is John, good job as usual.
Loved the stream! I love when they’re longer 😊 you seem very energized lately! Thank you John!
I got to drive through the countryside to see Mt Fuji ^_^ it was a good day except the convenience store loitering.
Passed through around a month ago.Was just crazy.People all over the road,near misses from passing cars.
I feel for the locals,whole thing is nuts!!
Very true. I was in Kyoto kiyomizu in December last. It was so crowded that I got lost. And almost had anxiety attack when I couldn’t find my son and his wife in the crowd. Having just lost my husband just a year ago didn’t help. Luckily I was air tagged by son and he found me just in time before I broke down. Was back just in Tokyo for the Sakura season wasn’t so bad. In fact I personally find it as much comfortable than in Kyoto.
These sorts of tourists are like locusts. Once this view is blocked, they will move on to the next Instagrammable site and never give this location another thought. And they will behave exactly the same way at that new location. Japan and Kawaguchiko does not need them. Thanks for covering the issue.
Great investigative reporting. Thank you for all you do.
Okay. If I was going to Japan as a tourist and wanted a "kodak moment" picture of Mt. Fuji, i certainly wouldn't want to have a Lawson store in it 🤷🙄🤦
Completely agreed.
unless they pay you good money for a little, obscure, discreet product placement.
I know right! Not my first choice either!! 😂
Exactly. I was there a few weeks ago and there are a lot of better places to take a nice Mt. Fuji photo.
I would actually like it very much. I just like modern Japanese stuff a lot.
Thanks for making this video! I don’t quite understand all the Japanese news yet so it helps when you cover this stuff! Love how the mountain appeared for ya!! 😂
And there it was!! More beautiful without the Lawson! 😂
My suggestion is the city council constructs and maintains an elevated photo-platform. It could be on the rooftop of the building itself, and charge 1000 yen per minute. Win-win for the tourists and the city. 😊
But that won't stop people from trying to get this shot. I would construct an ad behind the Lawsons. Charge for it advertising on it.
I read somewhere that some determined tourists climbing onto the roof of the dentist for "the shot" was at the extreme end of the problem.
I don’t think the dental clinic wants that. He just wants to fix people’s teeth. Not deal with crowds. He has that right. He actually likes the tourists, but the problems that come are too much from the few who are awful.
Thank you for showing Mt Fuji and showing all streets of Tokyo. 🇸🇬❤️💪🏻👍
Curious, what are you using to shoot this live stream? The zoom is crazy good and clear.
Hey John, this was a very informative video, thanks! I read in the news about the 2.5m high screen coming up soon, but couldn't imagine where they would be placing it. Now with your video, I know where it will be. I will be visiting Japan mid May, so here's hoping for clear skies when I visit this area. 😊 Arigato!
That’s right. 2.5m by 20m wide. I think it’ll work actually.
Thanks for this great video , I was curious how bad the Overtourism is at this area
From living in Japan, I can understand the feeling of some tourist coming in and not knowing to nicely do things and responsibly enjoying Japan. I stayed away from most foreign tourist areas except when I went to Roppongi for the clubs sometimes lol.
The last time I saw a crowd outside Lawson's like that was at Universal studios walk after closing time at USJ.
Well I guess I'm glad I visited that exact spot in February during my first trip! Paired with slippery conditions and snow on the streets in winter, you definitely need spatial awareness to avoid injury.
something like this was also done in Hallstatt in Austria...... the town council decided to erect a fence to block the view of the famous tower where so many tourists take a selfie
Oh man, I stayed in an inn on this street exactly a year ago, but I remember way more lurkers at the station than at the Lawson's. Course this was early April then, not Golden Week. I'm sad about the overtourism; I have fond memories of this place. And yeah, traffic is no joke (try navigating it with a bicycle). Best memory was waking up in Kawaguchiko Station Inn and seeing Mt. Fuji right outside my window.
Crazy thing is there is wayy better places to view fuji in the area
Thank you for this live stream. Love your channel ❤❤. At 15:15 "I don't get it". I think it's so funny 😂😂. Have A Wonderful Golden Week 😊😊.
This is why we can't have nice things.
I have no idea why people with luggage are milling around the parking lot w/ no view of Mt Fuji.
While I agree it’s nonsense, it is possible they are already in transit. Let’s not forget not everybody is going to handle travel the same way as you.
Thanks for sharing it. ✌️
🎉🎉🎉 thank you john
Thank you for the information. Over tourism has two sides. Is it a kind of stimulant to the economy to become better or a nightmare for the locals for the tourists’ “rowdy” behavior?
I visited that area a few weeks ago and got a lot of beautiful shots of Mt. Fuji. I don't consider having a Lawson's store in the foreground a beautiful picture. Weird.
Me neither - an odd phenomenon which I hope passes.
Why don't they find, and fund, a spot just for the Mt. Fuji photo shot, like they did with the Las Vegas sign. I see many tour buses passing by in this video. Is this Lawsons part of the bus tours attractions?
There are many spots for taking photography of Fuji but it depends entirely on the time/weather that day. People just flock to the viral social media spots (like this one) thinking they'll get a similar pic without looking at the forecast. And no--while Kawaguchiko is definitely a tourist destination--this Lawson's itself is not a traditional tourist attraction until recently which is the cause of the problem.
Hope this goes viral for you John. Saw that this was going to happen on AccuWeather in US last weekend.
The edited video will give you a better overview. I’ll come back here when it’s done to see if it is working.
A simple solution. Looks the underlying, and very valid, concern are the near collisions between the cars being driven by the locals and the tourists trying to get "the shot" by stepping out into the street at this specific location. My proposed answer - why not have Lawsons provide an alternative (and arguably better) viewing vantage point by erecting a set of stairs leading up to the flat roof of their building so the invaders can get their shots from there?
Some of the best shots I got of Mount Fuji were from being allowed roof top access at a ryokan I stayed at in Kawaguchiko.
Japan is a beautiful gift, John, thanks for this nice videon❤🎉🎉🎉
Thank you John for this video! And yes, Japanese don't go to other countries and cause issues to the point where the government has to get involved to block, put up gates etc etc? This is crazy! I'm soooo sad for the locals who just want to go to the convenience store for a snack or drink and then to have to face all these people from everywhere 😮 😢 I too will not be a part of this problem or any problems in Japan! Gambare Nippon!!! 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
This is truly bizarre behaviour John. Thanks for the update. Cheers, Muffy from Oz (Australia)
Another great informative livestream.
Are there maps with safe places to take pictures of the mountain?
The train you saw is the JR Fuji Excursion (富士回遊, Fuji Kaiyū) limited express. It might be one of reason why more tourists come to kawaguchiko in recent years.
“Doesn’t happen very often” means it happened even on few hours in a day he was here. For local people, it means that happens everyday.☹️
Much appreciate the reality of the story. There are always two sides of a story. It's only matter of time for another picture at a different location and tourist flock to it. Thanks John. By the way, did Leo like Beastro?
At first, shy and scared but after an hour, he loved him! Beastro is really kid friendly, just shows it in his beasty way 😂 he misses him, we’ll go back soon.
i went passed on a bus about 2 weeks ago and got the picture of lawson with mt fuji clearly in the background, maybe one of the last few pics to be taken of this ever!
The morning news had a short story on this and I immediately thought about the live stream you did last year I believe and you had two buddies of yours taking photos on that street. One of them almost got hit ! You stressed the dangers of people stopping there for photos.
I think once the tarp/wall is up, the tourists will just stand in the street to get the picture. The tarp/wall won't stop the picture taking, but that's my opinion. Will be interested in an update after the installation is completed.
Thanks I visited that spot a few weeks ago and the crowd was not paying attention to the ‘cross guard’. However frankly speaking I felt the bicycle riders on the crowded pedestrian sidewalks in Tokyo and Fukuoka were much more dangerous and inconvenient than the Lawson parking lot.
There are a lot of buses going down that street. Is that usually or are they tour buses taking people past the infamous view point?
I went there during my trip. Also went to other smaller cities. I can say the roads in these smaller cities are so narrow. Sometimes there is no sidewalk at all. It's definitely not a place for tourists to come to a full stop and take photos
the top of the platform looks like a decent place to take a photo from! cars won't get in the way in the background from up there! lol
Im in japan now and when we were at one of the temples there were clear signs not to film or take photos where people go to do their prayer and the amount of people with cameras out filming and taking photos getting in the way of people actually praying and filming them right up close to them embaressed me as a visitor to this country. I actually scolded a few people by me and pointed to the signs.
Hey John ~ 👋
Saw you earlier today on *that* road in Fujiyoshida.
Mahalo for driving out there early and giving us an up close perspective. I feel really bad for the locals. What a nuisance and safety problem.
They should consider citing people for jay walking and obtain passport info so the fine can be collected before leaving the country. Banned from entering the country as a tourist if not paid.
Those trains in the foreground with Mt.Fuji in the back ground would be an awesome picture @ 35:30
I understand your frustration John but, where can tourists go to take pictures safely? I don’t know where we could go. Love to know where to go safely around Japan? Thank You so much John for the updates of Japan. Love watching and supporting your channel and your Country. 👋🥰 hello from Colorado USA 🇺🇸
It is Fuji, you can see it from many places, including popular temples, whole lakes and whatnot. Just being on most streets around gives you a view. Not that it is your right to have a photo with a damn mountain.
It’s a freaking Mountain. There are a billion places to get a shot without a Lawson blocking half your picture.
We were there in March. From Tokyo caught Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. Took beautiful photos of Mount Fuji 🤩 lucky it was a clear sunny day.
Thank god I visited Fujikawaguchiko back in March 2020 right at the eve of the pandemic. almost no tourists. I experienced eating delicious curry at the station, bike riding around the lake, chureito pagoda views of mt fuji and the panoramic view you can get of mt fuji when you take the lift trolley up, wind cave and ice cave and more! Unobstructed views of mt fuji with no clouds during the sunset was my best japan experience so far out of the several trips I took there.
Unfortunately theres wayyyy too many tourists now. I fear I would never have the same magical experience now as I did then. I dont think anybody visiting right now would. you would probably have hundreds of poeple at chureito pagoda every single day and tons of noise. Unavoidable unless you visit at the crack of dawn maybe....
Yes, this place became a thing in 2022.
went to fujikawaguchiko like over a month ago as part of a tour and dropped us off the famous 'lawson' although this is not the lawson store they dropped us off ... funny thing is the views were still awesome. Wonder if there is an alternative initiative among tour operators to distribute it across the different lawsons around mt fuji haha
There are a few, this is the closest to the train station. Easy access. I wonder if they’ll close down and move 😂 that would be a cure.
Some day, I will make trip to see mt. FUJI but much closer!! ❤🎉
Hi John thanks for the update. Create a new trend of where to go! Maybe a deck, patio at a park for people to go to that is near by. Again its pop culture and unfortunately somepeople are not raised properly and have a lack of care for society and others. Lets hope humanity can improve! 17 days til I leave for Japan
I've been to Fujinomiya in Shizuoka. I say that there are a lot of places there with perfect view of Mt. Fuji. And I mean A LOT, even in the place where I was staying in. You just have to look for them. I don't remember the names, but I can describe the 3 best locations to take a picture with Mt. Fuji that I've been. One is in this public park with a gymnasium that everyone can use. There's nothing that obstructs the view of the mountain there. Next is this tourist attraction that looks like some kind of ancient village from few centuries ago. It's between these two large rock formations... or was it beside one... but the view of the mountain there is also not obstructed by anything. Lastly, Lake Tanuki. Just sit in a bench and watch Mt. Fuji in full view or go camping, your choice.
In these three locations, you won't be a public nuisance because you won't bother anyone while taking a shot. Of course, hope that it's not cloudy.
I was just there 10 days ago and it was absolutely insane! I don’t blame them one bit. Was staying in Fujiyoshida and walked over to Honcho Street at 6 AM to get my shot. Walked past later that morning and was worse than Lawson’s. People jumping in the road, almost getting hit by cars, totally ignoring the traffic cop. Just waiting for them to do something there next.
John, i want to come to Japan, Can you help with budget places to stay ? Thanks
Just did an episode on it for you. Good suggestion!
If those people really are going to Photoshop Mt Fuji into the picture, they might as well not have gone at all. Just take a photo of themselves somewhere else and then insert them on top of an old picture with the view in.
My tour bus took us here. I couldn't understand the hype. However this was the only place Mt. Fuji was visible at, as it was raining the entire day. I walked to the road adjacent to lawsons and got a great picture there without the lawsons in the picture.
Tour bus? That’s awful - I guess it’s something many want. I don’t get it, many buses went by but none actually stopped. I’ll be back when they finish the “wall”
What a great opportunity for the Lawson Company! Have a viewing platform at the corner of the store with a token-operated gate. Tokens are free inside the store (but most customers will feel obligated to make a small purchase). Limit platform viewing to one minute. Win-win! Tourists happy. Lawson's happy.
Yet the normal people who live in this area are still having to deal with unwanted masses. Good on the city for more or less telling them to go away and prioritizing the quality of life of its people instead of profit.
Not only in front of Lawson but also in Honcho where tourists take pictures of Mt. Fuji in the middle of the road.
its interesting to me, ive stayed there a couple days 6 years ago, and in general, i thought cars were driving pretty dangerous and fast in that town, on other roads. i actually remember noticing that back then.
Thanks
You’re welcome ^_^ thank you!!
Lawson NEEDs to build a new spot with a better view and bigger neon sign. Away from that busy local area but will have lots of parking and capitalize on the view with a fake Lawson store front. The inside can be all vending machines that sell posters, tshirts, mugs and other products that advertise that THIS new view is the best!
It is
There’s an other one about 300m away with the same view 🤦🏻♂️ the media and tourists are so ….
@@onlyinjapanGO I smell a new business boom in setting up conbini is far flung photo ops that cater only to tourists to bring in inaka township revenue
That was cool exploring a new town nice the picture of the mountain is very beautiful view thank you John also the gift shop was interesting too see
What is a black tarp? Is that where they stand to take photos or to keep them away? Not sure I was following you. And isn’t there any other place to get a good photo of mount fugi?
A fence that’s 2.5 meters high and 20 meters wide with a black wall you can’t see through.
@@onlyinjapanGO oh. Thank you! Not what I thought was going on!
We were lucky last year its not that crowded in fact when I was taking a photo with my friend and it was just two of us and single girl who was taking picture at that spot. I even had a video walking around with no one around.
How about putting a blind between two of the power poles?
They’re building it now.
Wow, I'm also there now.
37:30 this is actually a nice shot of Mt. Fuji with parked trains in the foreground.
Surprised they haven't done anything about the Kamakurakokomae intersection. Loads of tourists getting the way of traffic.
This is absolutely crazy. What an uncomfortable invasion for the locals. I’d be so upset if crowds of tourists were just congregating by our small local gas station so it was difficult to get in and out of it, and wandering around in the street affecting traffic and causing accidents 😩 zero self awareness.
That is so cool, only 2 weeks and already over 70,000 views!
I had the same experience last year at Kawaguchiko station car park last May , cars having to move around people taking selfies in front of Fuji San
We call them "pa-ke" where I'm from. Aloha!
John in Ipoh Malaysia the younger generation will take photos of themselves anywhere..I have seen them taking photos at old under construction buildings, empty walkways, guys taking flowers of themselves with flowers at roadside.. just for no reason photos of themselves at any location
I've got an idea. Make an periscope that goes under the road, up the wall and perfectly frames Lawson with Mt. Fuji sitting on its roof. It'll save the tourists from faffing around trying to position themselves and render the need to cross the road redundant. It could also be coin operated, a bit like those telescopes you have at other tourist hot spots 🙂
Installing an observation deck seemed like a good idea, but it would have caused other problems, so it probably didn't come to fruition.
The construction of an observation deck is an official facility of the city, and the number of tourists will further increase. Some of them may come by car and illegally park nearby or throw away trash.
It may be noisy with tourists all day long to take pictures of the sunset, sunrise, and night climbers. Problems may arise due to long lines forming for photo shoots.
The city abstained from assuming those undetermined responsibilities.
Shouldn't we also discuss who these offenders are, and what nationality? A lot of disciplined tourists are suffering because of them. Those people should be ashamed or at least be mindful and considerate of others. Respect the rules and the culture. How hard that could be?
Thank u as usual to adding context to news meant to incite outrage
Once the clouds parted and Fujisan showed itself - it got crazy! Behavior changed. People started to cross the road and I saw what the issue was! It’ll be an interesting edited video on @onlyinjapan this month.
The Dentist comes across in the articles as 'Chief Stirrer'. Are they owners of that building? When will they charge tickets to access their rooftop once the barrier is up? Notice there's no interest in pedestrianising the
street!
I talked to him. He’s so nice! I think that’s BS, he cleans up daily the trash all around his place. He’s worried about the scaffolding and the tourists bumping into it, maybe causing an accident. If you stay there and observe the behavior, 5% of a lot of people is a lot of people! When Fuji showed itself from the clouds, it was like a pack of dogs! Awful to see.
Oh the Mayhem! One would think the company would appreciate the crowd around its business, a couple honks to get people out of the way. Thats too much though so the barrier must rise. City gives up on whatever revenue thats been bringing, suppose for peace of mind.
They don’t look like big spenders. Few went in. It’s close to the station so it’s a side stop for a quick photo and return.
How do you live stream and show pop up at the same time?
Magic
To be honest;
For me personally, it's not so much about people loitering around taking snaps.
It's more the fact that jaywalking and general inattentiveness makes that place incredibly hazardous.
You just happened to catch the tourists on their well-behaved day today 😂
I live around the corner and drive/ride through this road daily, and I've lost count of the amount of time I nearly ran over jaywalkers or more terrifyingly - runaway baby strollers (the parents were too busy taking selfies, they hadn't realized their baby was freerolling right onto the moving traffic).
Just today, a pedestrian in front of my car got the right idea of using the zebra cross ... just that she crossed the road whilst the traffic light was green for vehicles ~ 🤪
A great view of Mt. Fuji can be had by just going to Gotemba Outlet
I got so many nice shots of Fuji when I was in Fuji Q. Safe too.
First went to Japan in 2016 and then in 2018. It was already quite popular but one could travel and walk around easily without many tourists... Now.... I'm afraid of going back with my children and see it overcrowded with unrespectful tourists everywhere
if you stand in the MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC
thats on *YOU*
good lord
Wrong, its not just on the idiot crossing, it’s on the driver and they’ll live with hitting that person for the rest of their life. The guilt even though not their fault is a crime beyond just crossing illegally. Not to mention if they hurt someone in the car! The damage to the town from the press because they didn’t do more to keep dumb tourists safer. It’s a sword that cuts so many ways 😢
Instead of blocking it, they should just monetize it by building a platform to take pictures from there and charge people for entry.
Or just walk to the lake for a better photo of Mt Fuji lol
Oh my....