Fujikawaguchiko (富士河口湖町, Fujikawaguchiko-machi) is a town located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2019[update], the town had an estimated population of 26,542 in 10,618 households,[1] and a population density of 170 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 158.40 square kilometres (61.16 sq mi).
Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Fujikawaguchiko grown slightly in recent decades.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
2000
23,824
—
2010
25,471
+6.9%
2020
26,082
+2.4%
History
The area around Lake Kawaguchi has been inhabited since at least the Jōmon period. It was on the road connecting Kai Province with Suruga Province, and is mentioned in Heian period records, which also document an eruption of Mount Fuji in 864 AD. During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period on July 1, 1889, the area came under the jurisdiction of Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture.
On 15 November 2003, the town of Kawaguchiko, and the villages of Katsuyama and Ashiwada merged to form the new town of Fujikawaguchiko. The headquarters of the infamous Aum Shinrikyo was located in the village of Kamikuishiki, most of which was absorbed into Fujikawaguchiko on 1 March 2006.
In May 2024, Fujikawaguchiko erected a large black barrier to block the iconic view of Mount Fuji due to a surge in tourists drawn by the town's popularity on social media platforms like Instagram. Installed on May 21, this measure followed complaints of disruptive behavior from tourists, including harassment of locals, littering, and trespassing. Even businesses unrelated to tourism, such as a dental clinic, had been affected, prompting them to seek intervention from local authorities. Unlike specific attractions, Fujikawaguchiko's issue stems from a viewpoint favored for capturing Mount Fuji, located in front of a convenience store. Most visitors opt for day trips, contributing to traffic congestion and environmental damage without significant financial benefits to the town.[6]
Education
Another view of Mt. Fuji across the Fujikyu Railway tracks
Fujikawaguchiko has eight public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the town government, along with one private elementary school and one private junior high school. The town has one public high school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education. The Health Science University, a private medical school, is located in Fujikawaguchiko.
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