Japan's Mount Fuji barrier delayed

FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO

Tourists have a few more days to snap Mount Fuji at a popular vantage point after Japanese authorities said yesterdy that the construction of a barrier has been delayed.

Fujikawaguchiko town is building the screen to deter people from taking pictures of Japan's most famous landmark from a pavement opposite a Lawson convenience store.

Residents complain that the visitors cause traffic problems and behave badly in their desperation for the perfect Instagram post of the snow-capped volcano.

The barrier was originally scheduled to be in position last week, and then by mid-May, but a town official told AFP on Thursday that there were problems getting the required materials delivered.

"We believe we should receive necessary parts on or around May 20 or later," the official said, without wishing to be named.

The barrier made of netting is meant to measure 2.5 by 20 meters and the requisite poles have been in place since early May.

Lawson issued a statement on May 5 to "deeply apologize to the local residents, store customers, and the many other people who have been inconvenienced and troubled" by the popularity of the vantage point.

The convenience store chain said it had "dispatched staff from Lawson headquarters" and "put up signs, in multiple languages, stating that crossing the street in front of the store is prohibited."

It is also considering deploy private security staff.

Record numbers of overseas tourists are traveling to Japan, where monthly visitors exceeded 3 million in March for the first time.