Climbers will be prohibited from beginning the ascent between 4 pm and 2 am
Japan will introduce a new visitor fee and add restrictions on hiking at Mount Fuji this year, one of its major attractions, in a bid to protect the site from over-tourism.
According to reports, Mount Fuji has seen a boom in visitor numbers bringing with it concerns over discarded rubbish and hiker safety. Japan’s Yamanashi prefectural government, which oversees hiking activities at the UNESCO World Heritage site, has deemed it necessary to introduce the toll to protect the environment.
The proposed change comes as a measure to help clean up the mountain, a sacred site for the Japanese, and preserve its environment, say Japanese authorities. Accordingly, with effect from July 1, the country has decided to introduce a fee and a daily visitor cap along the most popular trail.
It says that visitors to Mount Fuji will have to pay to hike one of the routes, the Yoshida trail, the most popular ascent owing to its easy access from Tokyo and the frequency of mountain huts enroute offering accommodation and meals.
The ministry is also implementing a daily limit to 4,000 hikers a day via the Yoshida trail to ease congestion. Climbers will also be prohibited from beginning the ascent between 4 pm and 2 am.
According to the Japanese government, the Yoshida trail encountered an ‘unprecedented number’ of climbers last year and is anticipating a similar surge this year. Over half of the 221,322 climbers who reached the summit of Mount Fuji in 2023 did so via the Yoshida trail.
The surge in visitors has led to a build-up of discarded rubbish along the trail as well as traffic jams resulting in accidents and injuries, the authorities say. There are also concerns over inexperienced hikers who attempt the trail and find themselves in difficulty near the summit where there are fewer facilities.
The statement adds that plans are in place to install a gate at the entrance to the Yoshida trail where the toll will be collected. Authorities say the proceeds will be used to construct shelters along the path for use in the event of a volcanic eruption and to maintain the hiking route.
