The Current State of Yamanashi's "Convenience Store Mt. Fuji"—The "Curtain" Has Been Reinstalled, But at Half the Height, Its Deterrent Effect is Weaker; Dangerous Crossings Continue as Foreign Tourists Flock

1. What's Happening with "Convenience Store Mount Fuji" Now

In front of the convenience store near Kawaguchiko Station, the "low curtain" was updated to a height of about 1.4m on August 7 this year. Unlike last year's black privacy curtain (2.5m), the height is set to fit Mount Fuji's ridgeline within the frame, aiming for "a balance between scenery and safety." However, even after reinstallation, the crowd has not diminished, and dashing into the roadway and diagonal crossing have become routine. Reports from on-site investigations have given harsh evaluations, stating "no effect" and "dangerous crossings continue."Mainichi ShimbunMezamashi Media

2. Reviewing the Two-Year History: "Installation → Removal → Reinstallation"

• May 2024: To address the crowd and nuisance behavior on the road, a black curtain with a height of 2.5m and a length of 20m was installed (significantly blocking the view).AP News+1

• August 2024: The curtain was temporarily removed due to safety concerns from an approaching typhoon. The local government stated that it would be reinstalled if the situation worsened and kept it in storage.euronewsAsahi Shimbun

• August 7, 2025: The curtain was reinstalled with a specification change to a height of about 1.4m and a brown color (intended to balance view preservation and crossing prevention).Mainichi ShimbunJapan Today

3. Why "Half the Height"?—Bus Safety and Scenic Considerations

The town's urban development officer explains that the height was kept low to avoid interfering with the side mirrors of large buses. As a result, tourists can photograph Mount Fuji over the curtain, but some view the deterrent effect as limited.Minami Nihon Shimbun Digital

4. Opinions on the "Deterrent Effect" Are Divided

While on-site observations report "dangerous crossings continue," the town suggests that nuisance behavior has decreased (though quantitative data is scarce). The new curtain, at 1.4m, is designed to ensure visibility while making it harder to step onto the roadway, but it may not be sufficient against crowd pressure during peak times.

The variation in evaluations arises from the large fluctuations in demand due to factors like time of day, weather, and the arrival timing of visiting groups. Going forward, evidence-based verification, such as **pedestrian crossing counts by time, number of warnings, and minor incidents (near misses)**, is essential.Mezamashi MediaVOCO News Global Instant NewsTokyo Weekender

5. Why So Many People Gather Here—The Magnetic Pull of "Composition" in the SNS Era

This spot has a "set composition" where "Mount Fuji appears to sit on the convenience store roof," which spread on SNS, leading to long lines of foreign tourists and dangerous crossings. The impact of exchange rates and travel videos also contributed, making crossing solely for photography a common practice.The Japan Times

6. The Shadow of Overtourism Spreading Across Mount Fuji

Since 2024, climbing regulations such as a daily limit of 4,000 people and an entrance fee of 2,000 yen have been introduced to curb bullet climbing and ensure safety on Mount Fuji. At the foothill photography points, rule development is needed to protect safety, the environment, and residents' lives.AP News

7. What's Missing—Five Effective Improvements on Site

1. "Surface" Management of Traffic Flow: Connect the front of the curtain with continuous guardrails, limiting crossing points to crosswalks only.

2. "Position and Shape" of Crosswalks: Relocate crosswalks and implement "Zone 30" by adding humps (bumps) and colored pavement to reduce (vehicle) speed.

3. Installation of "Photography Platforms": Set up mini observation decks (steps) in safe zones, guiding people to create the roof-sitting composition with telephoto lenses (shifting the target to safe zones).

4. "Group Bus" Measures: Implement temporary operations with bus stop bays, multilingual guidelines for tour guides, and placement of coordinators upon arrival.

5. Redesign of Information Dissemination: At airports, stations, and hotels, distribute multilingual warnings centered on pictograms and videos, and collaborate with influencers to distribute official SNS templates (safe photography methods).

These are combinations of "hardware + software + nudges" proven effective at tourist sites worldwide. The key is to block dangerous actions on a "surface" without completely taking away the "visible/photographable" aspect.

8. Mini Safety Guide for Visitors

• Do not step onto the road/cross only at crosswalks..

• During crowded times, line up in the queue.Do not enter private property..

• Keep photography short.Take your trash with you..

• Utilize alternative spots (parks and viewing areas) and cooperate in dispersed tourism..