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Famous Japan cherry blossom festival cancelled amid overtourism concerns

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
The annual Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival near Mount Fuji won’t go ahead due to concerns about overtourism.

Between late March and early April, thousands of tourists flock to Japan to see the iconic cherry blossoms blooming. Hanami (flower viewing) is an important event in the Japanese social calendar. And one of the most famous destinations to see the swathes of sukura is in Fujiyoshida, a small town in Yamanashi Prefecture, located at the northern base of Mount Fuji.

This year, things are set to look slightly different as one of Japan’s most revered cherry blossom festivals, the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival, has been cancelled. 

What is the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival?

Chureito Pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival
The Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most beautiful in Japan. (Image: Getty/ Sean Pavone)

The Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Japan’s most popular cherry blossom festivals, attracting approximately 200,000 visitors each year. Located in Fujiyoshida City, the festival has been held every spring for a decade in Sengen Park. The park features 650 someiyoshino variety cherry blossom trees that flank 398 steps up to the Chureito Pagoda – a famous spot for viewing Mount Fuji. The festival comes alive each spring with food and craft stalls, stage performances and organised events. 

Why has the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival been cancelled?

In 2025, Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million tourists. In a statement, Fujiyoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi shared that the decision to cancel the festival was to protect locals from tourism pressures.

“Behind [Mount Fuji’s] beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened. We have a strong sense of crisis," he shared.

Littering, traffic congestion and general disruption to the city have become increasingly problematic.

Can you still see the cherry blossoms?

Chureito Pagoda at sunset with cherry blossoms
Visitors can still see the blooming trees sans festival. (Image: Getty/ Sean Pavone)

Although stalls, lighting, music, shuttle buses and promotion will no longer go ahead, visitors can absolutely still see the cherry blossoms in bloom. Sengen Park is open at all times, with security managing crowds from April 10.

Fujiyoshida is also home to Fuji-zakura — the city’s official flower — where 20,000 rare mountain cherry trees bloom white and pale pink. 

Despite the efforts to reduce tourist numbers, Euronews has reported that local authorities believe the festival will still be extremely busy, with wait times of up to three hours for the Arakurayama Sengen Park observation deck. 

Where are some quieter spots to see cherry blossoms in Japan?

The cherry blossom trees around Japan blossom at various times, so it is possible to explore Japan across a few weeks and experience more than one area in full bloom. If you’re looking for quieter spots to see the flowers, consider: Sedota Island, Shiroyama Park in Takayama and Oide Park in Nagano.

Other cherry blossom festivals include: Nakameguro Cherry Blossom Festival, Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival and Bokutei Cherry Blossom Festival.

South Korea is renowned for its cherry blossom festivals, including the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival and the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival.

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist, editor and hotel addict based in the UK. She was formerly International Traveller's Evergreen Editor and was responsible for the foundational content ahead of its website relaunch, as well as managing and growing the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to creating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. Next on her travel wish list is Malta.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

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    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

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    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

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    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.