Overview
- The city announced on Feb 3 it will not hold the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival after roughly a decade of staging it.
- Authorities cited repeated sanitation and nuisance cases, including tourists entering private homes to use toilets and defecating in yards, with confrontations reported.
- Peak seasons have brought more than 10,000 visitors a day and about 200,000 annually, overwhelming local streets and services.
- Parents reported children being pushed aside on school routes as sidewalks filled with visitors near the popular photo spot.
- Although the event name is being removed from promotions, the city expects April crowds and is preparing security, temporary parking and portable toilets; officials point to a weak yen and social media virality as drivers of the surge.