FUJI, Shizuoka — A tourist spot in this central Japanese city offers visitors opportunities to take composite photos with a spectacular view of Mount Fuji and a tea field in the background — even in bad weather.

Equipment for making the composite photos was set up near a shop in the Ohbuchi Sasaba tea field in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, on October 21. The place has long been known among photography enthusiasts for offering views of Mount Fuji from behind a tea plantation. , without electric wires or modern buildings. Ohbuchi Sasaba began to be included in tour bus routes a few years ago and now attracts over 10,000 visitors a year.

“Especially in the summer, there are many days when people can’t see Mount Fuji. We want them to at least bring home a photo with their memories,” thought Fuji Municipal Government officials. Then they introduced “Machicam,” a self-photograph service provided by KDDI Corp. at the points of interest of the tourist attractions throughout the country.

Visitors can take photos by scanning a QR code with a smartphone next to a small platform newly arranged by the city. The camera that captures Mount Fuji is located 5 meters above the ground, allowing users to compose their photos as if they were looking at the area. Even when the mountain is hidden by clouds, the photo is automatically combined with a pre-taken image to make the weather appear clear.

The photo can be checked on the spot, and if the user likes it, they can choose from three versions to download for 580 to 1,000 yen (about $3.80 to $6.50) per photo, depending on the size. The image of the mountain changes depending on the season, appearing covered with snow in some frames, for example.

Yoshihiro Fujita, 69, president of the local landscape conservation society that manages the tea farm and surrounding facilities, said: “It was hard to see people coming from abroad or outside the prefecture waiting for a long time just to leave because they couldn’t. You don’t see Mount Fuji. We are grateful for the installation of Machicame.

(Japanese original by Koichi Tanno, Shizuoka Bureau)