In-home trespassing, public urination, and other bad manners bring an end to a local tradition.
If you’ve got even a little bit of interest in traveling in Japan, odds are that on multiple times over the past few years you’ve seen a photo taken from the exact same vantage point as the one above, with a five-story pagoda in the foreground, a grove of cherry blossom trees at its base, and off in the distance, Mt. Fuji, with its peak shrouded in snow. It’s such a concise concentration of traditional Japanese beauty that it almost doesn’t seem real, like it’s a collage put together for anyone who needs a splash image that says “JAPAN!” for a report or presentation, but the spot where those photos are taken actually exists. Arakurayama Sengen Park is located in the town of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture, where a walking path leads up from the suburbs to a shrine with a viewing deck offering sweeping views that stretch, unobstructed, all the way to Japan’s tallest mountains. Arakurayama Sengen wasn’t always a poster-park for the whole country, however. As a matter of fact, 10 years ago Fujiyoshida held the first Arakurayama Sengen Park Sakura Festival, in an attempt to drum up publicity and attract leisure-travel visitors to the area. 10 years and countless social media photos later, though, the situation has changed dramatically, and with less than two months left before the start of sakura season, the municipal government has announced that they’re cancelling this year’s cherry blossom festival.
As for why, you can probably guess from the above photo, taken during a previous Arakurayama Sengen Park Sakura Festival: overcrowding and overtourism. With around 45,000 residents, Fujiyoshida isn’t some tiny hamlet, but it’s not a big city by any means either, and the population density is pretty low. The surge in visitors, both Japanese and foreign, is funneling so many people into the neighborhood that it’s negatively affecting the people who live there. Complaints from residents regarding tourist behavior have included: ● Chronic traffic congestion ● Tourists not giving way on sidewalks, forcing children walking to/from school to walk in the street ● Trespassing on private property ● Littered cigarette butts ● Urinating or defecating in residents’ gardens ● Opening residents’ doors and entering their homes without permission to use the bathroom ▼ We’re going to need the help of a team of specialists to determine which of those last two is worse, but their preliminary stance is that they’re both appallingly asinine.
“In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of domestic and foreign visitors [to the park], and harmful overtourism has gone beyond tolerable levels, deeply impacting the living environment of local residents,” says the Fujiyoshida municipal government in its statement cancelling this year’s event, with mayor Shigeru Horiuchi personally adding: “For the city of Fujiyoshida, Mt. Fuji is not just a mere tourism resource, but a part of our lifestyle. However, the flipside of that beautiful scenery is that our residents’ peaceful lifestyles are being threatened, and I strongly feel that this has become a crisis situation. My first priority is to protect the living conditions and dignity of all of our city’s residents. For that purpose, we have made the decision, after 10 years, to bring the Sakura Festival to an end.” It’s worth noting that the Arakurayama Sengen Park Sakura Festival wasn’t a single-day event, but rather a blanket term applied for a period of about two weeks when the sakura were in bloom. These kinds of quasi-festivals usually consist of things like an extra advertising/promotional push by the local administration and vendors selling snacks and souvenirs at the venue, resulting in an overall increase in visitors over the course of several days (Fujiyoshida has experienced an increase of around 200,000 extra visitors during its Sakura Festivals in recent years). Also, while the canceling of the Sakura Festival means no use of the event name or associated promotion by the city government, the cherry blossoms themselves will still bloom, and the park will still be open. Even with no festival taking place, the local authorities recognize that there will still be an increase in incoming tourists once the flowers start to blossom, and so security and traffic direction staff will be deployed around the neighborhood during the first half of April, and temporary parking areas and public restrooms will be set up as well. Finally, yes, it is ironic that in the very same press release in which Fujiyoshida is announcing “We’re cancelling the Sakura Festival because too many people have been coming,” they also included the absolutely stunning photo seen at the top of this article, showcasing the very view that’s been drawing tourists to the town. It highlights a complicated aspect of Japan’s current tourism situation, which is that locals are proud of what makes their communities special, and are, in principle, very happy to share that with visitors…as long as those visitors are considerate to the people who live there. That last part clearly hasn’t been happening in Fujiyoshida, though, as aside from traffic congestion, their complaints aren’t so much about the number of visitors as they are about the number of visitors who are acting like jerks. The cancellation announcement of this year’s Arakurayama Sengen Park Sakura Festival doesn’t make any mention about the city council reconvening next year to discuss brining it back, so even if it’s not necessarily gone for good, it looks like it’s going into extended hiatus at the very least. As Japan’s popular sightseeing spots grow increasingly touristed, it’s going to be more and more important for visitors to remain courteous towards the surrounding community, or else we’re likely to see a rush of places coming to the same decision as Fujiyoshida did for their own local traditions. Source: Fujiyoshida City via Norimono News via Livedoor News via Jin Top image: PR Times Insert images: PR Times, Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Quiz 1: What was the initial word displayed in Anthropic's Super Bowl commercial? A. Welcome B. Betrayal C. Innovation D. Opportunity
Quiz 2: According to Sam Altman, how does OpenAI plan to implement ads within ChatGPT? A. By directly influencing the conversation flow with product placements. B. By randomly inserting ads throughout the chatbot's responses. C. By placing labeled ads at the bottom of answers related to the current conversation. D. By blocking specific topics and then inserting ads.
Quiz 3: What was a key reason Anthropic's commercials sparked such a strong reaction from Sam Altman? A. They humorously highlighted the potential for intrusive advertising in AI chatbots. B. They accurately depicted OpenAI's current advertising strategy. C. They praised OpenAI's commitment to AI safety. D. They accurately reflected the subscription prices of Anthropic's Claude chatbot.
[Answer block] Answers: Quiz 1: B Quiz 2: C Quiz 3: A
The world's largest contract chipmaker says it will produce advanced 3-nanometer semiconductors in Japan. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Chief Executive Officer C.C. Wei notified Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae of this plan during their meeting on Thursday in Tokyo. If realized, it would be the first output of 3-nanometer chips in Japan. Wei said: "The 3-nanometer technology today is the most advanced process used by AI and smartphone products. We believe this fab will further contribute to local economic growth and, most importantly, form the foundation of Japan's AI business." Takaichi said: "We will promote investments in crisis management and economic growth through public-private collaboration. AI and semiconductors are key sectors and the partnership with TSMC will be a model." The Prime Minister vowed to extend government support for the plan. The Taiwan-based chipmaker's first factory in Japan was put into full operation in 2024 in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto. It makes 12- to 28-nanometer-class chips that are used for automobiles and industrial equipment. The company is now building a second plant on the same premises. The 3-nanometer chips are expected to be used in high-demand applications such as AI data centers and autonomous vehicles.
Quiz 1: What technology will TSMC produce in Japan, according to the article? A. 12- to 28-nanometer-class chips B. 3-nanometer semiconductors C. Advanced smartphone technology D. AI data center components
Quiz 2: Who did TSMC's CEO C.C. Wei inform about the plan to produce 3-nanometer chips in Japan? A. The CEO of Kumamoto Prefecture B. Representatives of AI data centers C. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae D. Automobile and industrial equipment manufacturers
Quiz 3: When did TSMC’s first factory in Japan begin full operation? A. 2024 B. 2026 C. Thursday D. 2023
[Answer block] Answers: Quiz 1: B Quiz 2: C Quiz 3: A
Japanese astronaut Yui Kimiya reflected on his stay at the International Space Station, saying he ran "full throttle" to carry out as much work as possible. Yui spoke to reporters online from the United States, Thursday Japan time. Yui and three other astronauts returned to Earth from the ISS on January 15 after a stay of over five months. Their mission was cut short due to a medical issue involving one of them. At the ISS, Yui conducted various experiments and used a robotic arm to capture Japan's new HTV-X cargo spacecraft. Yui told reporters that he was determined to conduct as much work as possible and that he feels he was able to accomplish his mission. Asked about the mission being cut short due to a medical problem, the first time since the ISS went into operation, Yui said they were able to prove that the crew can calmly deal with an unprecedented situation and make a safe return. Yui added that manned space development has become even safer through the experience, which he said will also become useful in moon and Mars explorations. Asked about his career going forward, Yui said that for the future of Japan's space development, he must shift to nurturing younger astronauts and promote generational change. He said he thinks there is a lot he can do from the ground.
Okay, here are three four-choice quizzes based on the provided article, strictly adhering to your specified format.
Quiz 1: What was Yui Kimiya’s primary sentiment regarding his time on the International Space Station? A. He felt overwhelmed by the workload. B. He worked as intensely as possible to complete his tasks. C. He wished the mission had been longer. D. He felt the experiments were less impactful than anticipated.
Quiz 2: Why was Yui Kimiya’s mission to the ISS shortened? A. A critical piece of equipment malfunctioned. B. Yui Kimiya requested an early return. C. A medical issue arose involving one of the astronauts. D. The HTV-X cargo spacecraft experienced problems.
Quiz 3: What does Yui Kimiya believe is his next role in contributing to Japan’s space development? A. Focusing on training and mentoring younger astronauts. B. Leading future missions to the Moon and Mars. C. Continuing to conduct scientific experiments in space. D. Designing and building new spacecraft.
[Answer block] Answers: Quiz 1: B Quiz 2: C Quiz 3: A
Employee accused of not being devoted enough to his work.
The punctuality of trains in Japan is famous all over the world, but that level of efficiency doesn’t just happen by chance. It’s the result of a lot of hard work under very strict conditions that some would consider unbearable. Case in point is the matter of a train driver for JR Hokkaido for “not devoting himself to his work,” as the railway put it. At about 5 p.m. on 7 October, a train was stopped at Otaru Station, when a passenger spotted the driver reading a book and reported it to the company. This was a “local” train, meaning a train that stops at all stations along a line, as opposed to an “express” train, which only stops at major stations. Because of this system, sometimes local trains will stop for extended periods of time at lesser-used stations while express trains get the right of way to zoom through. In this case, the train was scheduled to wait at Otaru Station for eight minutes before setting off again, so the driver decided to kill some time with a book. ▼ They say you haven’t truly lived in Japan until you’ve been late for something because you got on the wrong kind of train.
Not only that, but the book he brought in to read was about railways. The driver admitted that he had done so before in the past too, and that he takes the opportunity to relax for a moment when he has the time. No incidents or delays occurred as a result, but JR Hokkaido apologized for the concern it caused among passengers. Readers of the news online were largely defending the driver in their comments and condemning the person who tipped off JR Hokkaido about the reading. However, there were a few who felt what the driver did was inappropriate for a workplace. “Let him do what he wants when the train is stopped. Why would someone rat on him?” “People who report every little thing like that are really annoying.” “There’s no safety issue, so let him read a book.” “You’re not supposed to read at work.” “What’s wrong with a train driver reading about trains in his spare time?” “Nobody cares.” “He loves trains so much he reads about them while driving them.” “Does everyone think reading at work is a joke? Do you read books at work?” It’s probably safe to say a lot of people read books during their downtime while on the job. It seems better that he was engaged in something during that time as well, rather than just staring at his console to make sure it doesn’t fly away. That being said, in addition to the foibles of certain drivers, JR Hokkaido was hit with an “enhanced safety inspection system” audit by the national transport ministry and Hokkaido Transport Bureau earlier this year. This is a polite way of saying the leash has been tightened on the railway after a string of problems regarding insufficient track maintenance and safety measures were found. Knowing that, it should be no surprise they aren’t taking even the slightest inconsistencies lightly. Source: HTB News, YouTube/STVニュース北海道 Top image: Pakutaso Insert image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
A unique way to see some very different Tokyo neighborhoods. Tokyo Big Sight is Tokyo’s premier convention center, and as such you might expect it to be located in the middle of downtown Tokyo. The reality, though, is that Big Sight is located out on an island in Tokyo Bay. It’s still within the Tokyo city limits, though, which had us wondering, how long would it take to walk from Tokyo Station, which is in the city center, to Tokyo Big Sight? Before we get started, we should clarify that Big Sight does have rail stations close to the venue, two of them, in fact (Tokyo Big Sight Station on the Yurikamome Line and Kokusai Tenjijo Station on the Rinkai Line), so this walk isn’t a mandatory part of visiting Big Sight to attend Comiket, the Japan Mobility Show/Tokyo Motor Show, or any of the other events Big Sight hosts. But if the trains happen to be shut down, or if you just find yourself in the mood for some urban exploring, how doable is it?
To find out, we started by exiting Tokyo Station via the Yaesu Central Exit, at 10:37 in the morning. From here we needed to head southeast until we got to Tokyo Bay, then cross over part of its waters to get to the Ariake neighborhood, where Big Sight is located.
Despite the distance we were going to be walking, it’s actually pretty easy to navigate from Tokyo Station to Big Sight, as Tokyo Metropolitan Road Route 304 will take you almost the entire way, with just a few turns to make at the beginning and end. The closest place from Tokyo Station to pick up Tokyo Metropolitan Road Route 304 is near Yurakucho Station, so that’s our first en-route destination.
“Yurakucho” might not be a name that international travelers are all that familiar with, but the Yurakucho neighborhood blends into Ginza, one of Japan’s swankiest fashion and shopping districts, so you’ll start spotting fancy department stores and brand-name luxury designer shops as you get closer to Yurakucho Station, which is about a 12-minute walk from Tokyo Station. ▼ From Tokyo Station to Urakucho Station
The Yurakucho subway station is underground, but you can spot the stylized “M” mark of the Tokyo Metro at the top of the entrance stairs.
For our purpose of walking to Big Sight, though, we don’t need to go down into Yurakucho Station. Instead, this is where we can start following Route 304, in the direction towards the Toyosu and Harumi neighborhoods.
We’re going to be on Route 304 for quite a while, which means a pretty big transition in the vibe about 14 minutes later…
…when we get to the Tsukiji neighborhood. Although Tsukiji is no longer the home of Tokyo’s central fish market, many of the vendors that make up the “outer market” are still in business, as are dozens of fantastic sushi and seafood restaurants, so this is still a major attraction for local and traveling foodies alike. ▼ From Yurakucho Station to Tsukiji
From here, we’re just a couple of blocks away from Tokyo Bay, so we’re going to stay on Route 304 and cross over Kachidoki Brige.
Once you get past Tsukiji, you enter into a part of the city that doesn’t get a lot of tourist traffic, and you also get some clear lines of sight across the water that make for cool photo spots.
Look up, and you’ll see plenty of high-rise offices and condominium towers,
We’ve got a few more bridges to cross on our way to Big Sight, with the largest of which is called Harumi Ohashi, or the “Great Harumi Bridge.”
We’re now about 20 minutes past Tsukiji, and from up on the bridge we can indulge in a little plane-spotting, since we’re not far from the flight path for Haneda Airport…
…and we can also take in the view of the Rainbow Bridge, which connects central Tokyo with the Odaiba neighborhood, which is also on an island in Tokyo Bay.
▼ From Tsukiji to the Harumi Ohashi bridge
Once on the other side of bridge, we’re finally in Koto, the ward of Tokyo that Big Sight is located in!
Now it’s time to get off Route 304, as we hang a right and walk along the sidewalk that parallels the elevated Yurikamome Line. At the next intersection we’ll come to Shijomae Station, the closest stop to the Toyosu fish market that replaced Tsukiji’s, and here we turn left.
After making this turn, we keep walking and can see Ariake Arena off to our left…
…and pass right by the Ariake Garden shopping center.
After crossing the pedestrian overpass that goes over the expressway, we get to the Doubletree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake hotel…
…and heading back down to the surface street, we’re only another eight minutes away…
…from Big Sight!
▼ From Harumi Ohashi bridge to Big Sight
Checking or watch, we saw that it was now 12:07 p.m., meaning that we’d been walking for a total of exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes. That’s obviously not a quick little stroll, and with the trip by train from Tokyo Station to Big Sight only taking 20 minutes, we wouldn’t recommend making the journey on foot if you’re in a hurry, or if you’re laden down with all sorts of merch or memorabilia from whatever convention you just got done attending.
