TOKYO — Those who want to climb one of the most popular trails on Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji will have to reserve a spot and pay a fee, as crowds, trash and climbers trying to run too fast to the summit cause safety concerns and conservation in the picturesque stratovolcano. .
The new rules for the climbing season, which runs from July 1 to Sept. 10, apply to those hiking the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi side of the 3,776-meter (nearly 12,300-foot)-high mountain that was designated a Heritage Site. Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2013.
Only 4,000 climbers will be allowed to enter the trail per day for a hiking fee of 2,000 yen (about $18). Of those spots, 3,000 will be available for online reservation and the remaining 1,000 can be reserved in person on the day of the climb, Yamanashi Prefecture said Monday in a statement through the Japan Foreign Press Center. Hikers also have the option to donate an additional 1,000 yen (about $9) to conservation.
Climbers can reserve their spots through the Mount Fuji Climbing website, jointly managed by the Ministry of Environment and the mountain’s two prefectures, Yamanashi and Shizuoka.
Mount Fuji is divided into 10 stations, and there are four “fifth stations” halfway up the mountain from where the Yoshida, Fujinomiya, Subashiri and Gotemba trails start to the summit.
Under the new system, climbers must choose between a day hike or an overnight stay in the various cabins available along the trail. On the day of ascension, they are given a QR code to scan at the fifth station. Those who have not reserved a cabin for the night will be sent back down the descent and will not be allowed to climb between 4 pm and 3 am, mainly to stop “bullet climbing”, or rushing towards the summit without adequate rest , something that authorities are concerned puts lives at risk. .
A symbol of Japan, the mountain called “Fujisan” used to be a place of pilgrimage. Today, it especially attracts hikers who climb to the top to watch the sunrise. But the tons of trash left behind, including plastic bottles, food and even clothing, have become a major concern.
In a statement, Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki thanked people for their understanding and cooperation in helping to conserve Mount Fuji.
Shizuoka Prefecture, southwest of Mount Fuji, where climbers can also access the mountain, has requested a voluntary fee of 1,000 yen ($6.40) per climber since 2014 and is considering additional ways to balance tourism and environmental Protection.
The number of climbers on Mount Fuji during the 2023 season reached 221,322, according to the Ministry of Environment. This is close to the pre-pandemic level and officials expect more visitors this year.
Just a few weeks ago, a town in Shizuoka began placing a huge black screen on a sidewalk to block the view of Mount Fuji because tourists were flocking to the area to take photos with the mountain as a backdrop at a convenience store, a social event. Media phenomenon known as “Mount Fuji Lawson” that has disrupted business, traffic and local life.
Overtourism has also become a growing problem in other popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto and Kamakura, as foreign visitors have flocked to Japan since coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted, partly due to the weaker yen. .
Last year, Japan had more than 25 million visitors, and numbers in 2024 are expected to surpass nearly 32 million, a record from 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
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