Fuji-Yoshida to Introduce Parking Fees to Manage Overtourism
The city of Fuji-Yoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is implementing new measures to address the challenges of overtourism caused by the influx of foreign tourists visiting popular photo spots like the Chureito Pagoda and the Honcho 2-chome intersection.
Starting in April, all four free parking lots near Arakurayama Sengen Park, including two newly built ones, will charge fees. The two lots closest to the park will charge 1,500 yen for up to six hours, while the other two, slightly farther away, will cost 1,000 yen for the same duration. The city aims to discourage visitors from parking on residential streets.
Parking fees at three city-run lots near the Honcho 2-chome intersection will also double. The first hour will cost 200 yen instead of the current 100 yen, and every additional 30 minutes will cost 100 yen instead of 50 yen.
The revenue generated from these fees will be used to cover essential tourism-related expenses, such as maintaining public restrooms and paying for traffic attendants. The city hopes these measures will reduce the burden on local residents and improve the overall tourist experience.
In addition to parking fees, the city is also considering charging an entrance fee for Arakurayama Sengen Park and ending the free use of a parking lot for tour buses. The goal is to manage tourist numbers and ensure a more sustainable tourism model for the city.
9 Comments
Habibi
I feel like the city is treating tourists as a burden instead of a valuable source of revenue.
ZmeeLove
I believe this is a fair and reasonable approach to ensure Fuji-Yoshida remains a beautiful and enjoyable place for both residents and visitors.
Muchacho
Free parking was one of the things that made Fuji-Yoshida attractive. This new policy is disappointing.
Coccinella
Fuji-Yoshida needs to find a more sustainable solution that doesn't penalize visitors.
Africa
This policy is short-sighted and will ultimately hurt the local economy.
Matzomaster
This is outrageous! Charging tourists to park near iconic landmarks is unfair and greedy.
Donatello
I understand the need to manage tourism, but charging parking fees feels like a penalty for visitors.
Michelangelo
Fuji-Yoshida should be ashamed of itself for discouraging tourism with these measures.
Raphael
Fuji-Yoshida is losing its charm by squeezing every penny out of tourists. This will only discourage people from visiting.