- Tourists are throwing coins into the crystal-clear ponds in the village of Oshino Hakkai, a Unesco World Heritage site at the base of Mount Fuji, raising concerns about water quality.
- The eight ponds, fed by Mount Fuji's melted snow, are renowned for their mineral-rich water and are part of a site sacred to the worship of the volcano.
- Around 50,000 coins have been recovered from the pond beds, with the issue escalating since the site gained World Heritage status in 2013, attracting more visitors.
- Village officials have installed warning signs in multiple languages and plan to introduce an offertory box, as coin tossing is not a traditional Japanese practice.
- Despite current water quality tests showing no abnormalities, locals and the Yamanashi Prefecture Government are worried about future environmental impact and urge visitors to act responsibly.
IN FULL