Thai Influencer Under Fire for Damaging Japan Alpine Plants

A Thai travel influencer living in Japan has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after posting photos and videos showing her lying and rolling on protected alpine plants during a trip to Mount Komagatake in Akita Prefecture.

The influencer, who has more than 100,000 followers, shared the content from the popular hiking destination in Akita Prefecture. It quickly spread across Japanese social media, where users accused her of damaging fragile vegetation inside a national park.

One viral post claimed the woman had picked alpine plants before lying on top of them, writing: "A troublesome foreigner from Thailand picked alpine plants at Akita Komagatake and even proudly showed herself lying on the vegetation, destroying nature in a national park."

The post also noted that such acts are prohibited under Japan's Natural Parks Act and that park rangers regularly patrol the area to protect its delicate ecosystem.

The backlash escalated as hundreds of Japanese users condemned the influencer's behaviour. Some said they were saddened to see mountain areas becoming increasingly vulnerable to irresponsible tourism.

"The mountains have suddenly become much less safe," one user wrote. "Even if you warn people, they don't listen. Increasing the number of rangers won't solve the problem. I want Japan to return to the peaceful country it used to be."

Others were even harsher.

"Never come back!" one comment read. "People posting the Alps on Instagram or YouTube—don't they care that foreigners end up ruining these places?"

Another user called the influencer "an embarrassment" and said she should return to her home country, adding that "people who destroy nature are not welcome, regardless of nationality."

Some comments went further, with one user calling for her deportation, saying the photos alone should be enough evidence for police and immigration authorities to act.