Japan crowds and rail price rise

A Mount Fuji town canceled its cherry blossom festival after crowding spilled into residential streets, even as Japan braces for another busy spring travel season. (asahi.com) Fujiyoshida said on February 3 that overtourism around Arakurayama Sengen Park had “exceeded the limits” the city could handle. More than 200,000 visitors now arrive during the festival period, and more than 10,000 a day can pack the area in April. (asahi.com) Residents and officials described three-hour lines to the viewing deck, schoolchildren pushed off sidewalks, litter, and tourists entering private property to use toilets. The city still kept traffic controls, security staff, and temporary toilets in place from April 1 to 17 because visitors were expected anyway. (asahi.com) The pressure is landing as Japan keeps chasing bigger tourism numbers. The government is still working toward 60 million foreign visitors by 2030, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in March 2025 ordered a new national tourism plan built around that target. (japannews.yomiuri.co.jp) Japan’s inbound boom is already at record scale. The Japan National Tourism Organization says 2024 brought 36.87 million visitors, topping the 2019 peak of about 31.9 million. (abc.net.au) Travel inside Japan is also expected to rise over Golden Week 2026, the late-April to early-May holiday stretch that drives some of the year’s biggest crowds. JTB said on April 2 that total Golden Week travelers are forecast at 24.47 million, up 1.9% from a year earlier. (jtbcorp.jp) JTB expects 23.9 million domestic travelers, up 1.7%, and 572,000 overseas travelers, up 8.5%, during the April 25 to May 7 period. It said the busiest domestic departure day is likely to be May 2, when 19.6% of surveyed travelers plan to leave. (jtbcorp.jp) Higher prices are arriving at the same time. JR Group said on April 9 that Japan Rail Pass prices bought through overseas agencies will rise for purchases made on or after October 1, 2026, while prices on its online purchase service will stay frozen for now. (japanrailpass.net) The standard seven-day adult pass will rise from 50,000 yen to 53,000 yen, and the 14-day pass will go from 80,000 yen to 84,000 yen. Green Car passes, which include first-class-style seating, will also increase, with the 21-day adult pass moving from 140,000 yen to 147,000 yen. (japanrailpass.net) JTB’s survey suggests travelers already expect a crowded, expensive holiday. Among people not planning a Golden Week trip, 45.8% said the period is too crowded and 34.6% said travel costs are too high. (jtbcorp.jp) In Fujiyoshida, the city’s answer this spring was not to invite more people in. It canceled the festival, kept the guards, and told visitors to stay out of residential areas and stop taking photos without permission. (asahi.com)