This Japanese town cancelled its cherry blossom festival to stop overtourism. It didn’t work

Apr 19, 2026 - 12:00
 0
This Japanese town cancelled its cherry blossom festival to stop overtourism. It didn’t work
People take photos of a very large mountain.

Fujiyoshida was a sleepy town with a great view — until its cherry blossoms went viral on social media. Now, it’s the latest travel hotspot struggling to find ways to balance tourism with liveability.