The latest edition of "this is why we can't have nice things"

I think we've all probably noticed the influx of travelers post borders reopening after COVID, and obviously I can't blame them. The yen is weak, there's a ton of stuff to do here, and it makes logical sense that people would want to visit. 

In saying that, there have been quite a few instances of "this is why we can't have nice things", with the latest of that being the cancelation of the Fujiyoshida Cherry Blossom Festival.

Fujiyoshida has been hit particularly hard from all things overtourism, with this article from the Japan Times mentioning issues like chronic traffic jams, littering, and even defecation in private yards (ew!) happening in the region. That's obviously a big driver behind the decision being made to cancel the festival.

What makes this all particularly frustrating is that it's not like cancelling the festival magically makes the crowds disappear. The views remain, the photos will still circulate online, and visitors will continue to arrive, but the difference is that locals lose an event they once enjoyed.

A good reminder that sakura exist outside of the "big" hotspots ;)