First, Japan erected an eight-foot mesh barrier in front of a popular spot in the resort town of Fujikawaguchiko, where tourists flock to take pictures of Mount Fuji.
Then it announced plans to build a tall, anti-tourist metal fence at another popular photo spot, the Mount Fuji Dream Bridge.
The quest to preserve these pristine views, however, just got more intense — a Japanese property developer has decided to knock down its nearly-finished 10-storied condominium after neighbors complained that it would block their view of the snowy peak.
The Grand Maison Kunitachi Fujimi Dori condominium, built by developer Sekisui House, is located in western Tokyo, in an area famous for its views of the country’s highest mountain. The building is located on Fujimi Street, a picturesque viewing street.
A spokesperson for the developer told Business Insider that the company first tried to appease irate neighbors by changing the design of the building — but that didn’t pan out.
“After continuous info sessions with local residents and Kunitachi City, we made design changes such as changing the building from 11 stories to 10 stories and lowering the building height,” the spokesperson said.
However, the developer eventually decided to knock the building down entirely.
“We have concluded that the current situation has a significant impact on the landscape, and have come to the conclusion that the despair from Fujimi Street is a priority, and have independently decided to cancel this project,” Sekisui House said in the statement on Tuesday.
The condominium comprised 18 housing units, priced from around $445,000 to $646,000, per the report by Bloomberg.
Its tenants were due to move into the condominium in a month’s time, per Bloomberg.
A spokesperson for the developer told Bloomberg that the company would compensate its apartment buyers and assist them with finding housing if required.
That said, Japan’s efforts to prevent Fuji-hunting tourists from creating a nuisance for the locals have been aggressive — but travelers yearning for the perfect picture have found ways to foil these plans.
For one, the authorities found about 10 finger-sized holes in the mesh in Fujikawaguchiko just a week after the barrier went up.
June 13, 2:36 a.m. —This story has been updated with responses from a Sekisui House spokesperson.
AloJapan.com