Why Did Japan Cancel Its Cherry Blossom Festival For The First Time In 10 Years?

When the first soft petals of sakura appear in spring, Japan usually buzzes with celebration as locals and travellers alike flock to parks and temples to witness cherry blossoms in full bloom. This year, however, a town at the foot of Mount Fuji is putting out its lanterns early. The Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival, a ten-year-old spring staple that drew roughly 200,000 visitors annually, has been cancelled for 2026 after city officials concluded that tourism had become more of a burden than a blessing.

Japan Cherry Blossom Festival Cancelled In 2026

According to The Guardian, Fujiyoshida, a community of about 44,000 people nestled near the iconic snow-capped peak, has watched the festival’s popularity explode, fuelled by a weak yen and the irresistible allure of Instagrammable cherry blossoms framing the historic pagoda against Fuji’s silhouette. In peak spring weeks, the city has come to feel like a permanent festival, with more than 10,000 visitors passing through each day. 

But in recent seasons, those crowds stopped being just “big,” they became almost disruptive. City officials say they’ve received complaints that some visitors have wandered off paths, ignored signage, and behaved in ways that directly interfere with everyday life for residents. 

Examples cited by authorities include tourists entering private homes without permission to use restrooms, littering neighbourhood streets, and, in situations that city leaders described as utterly untenable, defecating in private yards and causing a commotion when called out by homeowners. Parents have reported that sidewalks near schools have been so crowded that children walking home have been jostled or pushed aside.

Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi explained that while Mount Fuji draws admiration worldwide, the pressure of crowds has begun to endanger the quiet lives of locals. Protecting citizens’ dignity, he said, was the reason the city cancelled the long-running festival.

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Cherry Blossoms Will Still Bloom, Even Without The Official Festival

It’s worth noting that the festival itself has been shelved, but the cherry blossoms won’t be. The blossoms will bloom this spring as usual, and many visitors are still expected to arrive to see them. Fujiyoshida officials, anticipating the continued influx, outlined plans to boost security, install portable toilets, expand temporary parking, and attempt crowd-flow control in hopes of preventing last year’s worst behaviours from recurring. 

That so many people want to come is a testament to Japan’s immense global appeal, but it also underscores a growing crisis around overtourism. Across Japan, from Kyoto’s centuries-old streets to Fuji’s scenic viewpoints, residents and local leaders are wrestling with how to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the social and environmental costs when visitor numbers spiral into the tens of thousands on peak days, as stated by The Guardian. 

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For future travellers planning spring trips to Japan, the cancellation is a clear reminder that beautiful places still exist, but community respect, not just photo ops, is essential. A stunning backdrop doesn’t justify leaving homes, streets, and public spaces overwhelmed and unsafe for the people who live there.

Cover Image Courtesy: quangnguyen/canvapro