FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan — The quest to share an iconic image of Japan on social media is driving a tourist boom near Mount Fuji that is spreading far beyond the beaten track.
Fujiyoshida, formerly a relatively little-known city close to the iconic mountain, started to attract more visitors after the peak’s 2013 selection as a cultural World Heritage site. Its popularity later spiraled due to social media’s obsession with breathtaking views of Mount Fuji — with snaps often featuring elements like cherry blossoms, autumn leaves and ancient pagodas or even juxtaposing the ancient, snow-covered summit with the mundanity of places such as a Lawson convenience store.
