The ukiyo-e artist Hokusai was famed for his "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," woodblock prints deeply symbolic of Japan. But one famous view of the mountain, this time from the modern era, has just been blocked off.
Local authorities in Fujikawaguchiko, a holiday town in the mountain’s shadow, recently began erecting a barrier obstructing a view of the landmark that, from the right angle, made it appear to float above a convenience store in perhaps the ultimate illustration of traditional and modern Japan.
Although it might have been gold for your Instagram, the rush of tourists wasn’t appreciated by residents, who complained that visitors were littering, blocking access to services used by residents and spilling out dangerously onto the road in the quest for the perfect shot. The end result: Now no one gets to enjoy the view. It’s a solution to the problem that would make Mr. Burns from the "The Simpsons" proud.