ローソン 富士河口湖町役場前店
LAWSON Fuji-Kawaguchiko Machiyakubamae store
1395-1 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0301
This is the it! Easily the most famous Lawson convenience store in the world, and it has been the focus of attention even more so in 2024.
A renowned convenience store in Japan was recently at the center of an intriguing debate: it is deemed too excessively picturesque. This establishment is a standard Lawson, comparable to a 7-Eleven. However, when viewed from a specific angle, Mount Fuji appears to emerge directly from its roof. The tranquil beauty of the blue-tinted volcano, combined with the understated blue branding of Lawson, creates an ideal setting for a travel photograph.
Earlier in 2024, a Lawson convenience store located in Kawaguchiko became a central point of discussion regarding overtourism when local officials erected a 20-meter-wide photo barrier in front of the store. The Lawson experienced an influx of visitors daily, all eager to capture images of its contemporary blue exterior set against the breathtaking backdrop of Japan’s tallest mountain, Mt. Fuji. This surge in tourism unfortunately resulted in significant issues, including littering, obstruction of pedestrian pathways, and illegal parking, as individuals sought to obtain picturesque photographs. On August 15, the barrier was temporarily taken down due to safety concerns related to the impending Typhoon Ampil. Following the removal of the barrier, the number of tourists visiting the site has remained low, prompting officials to postpone its reinstallation. As reported by The Mainichi, a town official remarked that while the decrease in visitors is encouraging, the barrier will be reinstalled if disruptive behaviors reemerge. The barrier, which was first installed in May, underwent an upgrade in July to a more durable brown material after the initial black cover proved to be easily damaged. As of August 20, some tourists were still observed taking photographs near the clinic, although the crowds were significantly reduced compared to earlier. Local authorities will continue to monitor the situation diligently.
I came here during early January 2025 to see what the hype is all about. There can still be throngs of tourists around in the afternoons but the place is nicely empty at dawn, when this picture was taken.
I think people need to realise that it is not possible to get perfect views of Mount Fuji like this in 2/3rds of the year because it is often covered by clouds.
Even on a clear day, it is useless to visit this place on a bright sunny afternoon because the direction of the sunlight works against you. Weather reports illustrate that the best opportunities are during winter, making it the prime Fuji spotting season. And December offers the best chance to see Mount Fuji, with a 68% likelihood of the entire mountain being visible.
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