Cherry‑blossom festival canceled

Fujiyoshida, a city near Mount Fuji, canceled its 2026 cherry blossom festival after officials said tourism had pushed the area past what residents could absorb. (asahi.com) The city announced the decision on February 3, and the canceled event was the Sakura Matsuri at Arakurayama Sengen Park, the hillside site known for views of Chureito Pagoda, cherry trees and Mount Fuji in one frame. (asahi.com) Fujiyoshida had kept running the festival for about a decade, but officials said more than 200,000 people now arrive during the festival period alone. In 2025, the park drew 210,583 visitors during the 18-day festival window and 1.58 million across the full year. (forbes.com) (hyperjapan.co.uk) City officials said residents had complained about trespassing, litter, traffic jams and tourists entering private property to take photos or use bathrooms. The city said “the quiet lives of local residents are threatened,” according to reports published after the February 3 announcement. (abc.net.au) The cancellation does not mean the blossoms stopped or the park closed. Fujiyoshida and outside reports said Arakurayama Sengen Park would stay open during sakura season while the city shifted to crowd control, traffic management and temporary facilities instead of a formal festival. (dovisa.com) (kokojourney.com) That distinction matters in April because Fujiyoshida’s own tourism guidance says cherry blossom season there usually runs from early to mid-April, with full bloom often lasting four to six days. Peak bloom can start as early as April 3 or as late as April 13, depending on the year. (city.fujiyoshida.yamanashi.jp) The site became one of Japan’s most copied travel images as social media pushed more visitors to the pagoda overlook above the city. Even after the festival was canceled, news reports from April 9 and April 10 said visitors were still packing the narrow streets during peak bloom. (ocregister.com) (petapixel.com) The local decision also landed in a year when Japan was handling record inbound tourism. The Japan National Tourism Organization said the country logged 42,683,600 international visitors in 2025, up 15.8% from 2024 and the highest annual total on record. (jnto.go.jp) Fujiyoshida’s move is narrower than some headlines suggest: Japan did not cancel cherry blossom season, and the city did not shut the park. It canceled one festival at one of the country’s most photographed sakura spots, then spent peak bloom season trying to keep the crowds from overrunning the neighborhood again. (tripjaunt.com) (asahi.com)