New Delhi, Feb. 7 -- Officials in Japan have taken the unusual step of cancelling one of the country's most celebrated spring traditions - the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival - after rising concerns that large numbers of tourists are intruding on the "quiet lives" of residents.

The move comes amid record tourism numbers and repeated reports of unruly visitor behaviour that has strained community tolerance and local infrastructure.

City authorities in Fujiyoshida, a small town in Yamanashi Prefecture near Mount Fuji, announced this week that the festival will not be held in 2026. The event, which has been held for the past decade, typically attracts around 200,000 visitors annually during cherry blossom season.

The decis...