Individuals looking to climb Mount Fuji using the most frequented path will need to pay ¥2,000, equivalent to approximately £10.50, $13.35, or A$20.50, once the summer climbing season commences. This fee is being implemented by local officials in attempts to manage the high volume of tourists and alleviate overcrowding.
The paths that lead to Japan’s tallest mountain, which has been recognized as a Unesco world heritage site in 2013, are becoming more and more crowded. This has raised concerns about littering and reckless attempts by inexperienced climbers to reach the summit, without taking any breaks along the way.
According to local guides, the mountain’s toilet facilities are facing immense strain due to overcrowding. The increasing number of tourists also raises the risk of accidents for those who underestimate the physical demands of reaching the summit.
According to the Kyodo news agency, hikers traveling along the Yoshida trail in Yamanashi, one of the two prefectures that the mountain spans, will now have to pay a fee and follow new restrictions. These restrictions include limiting daily visitors to 4,000 and prohibiting entry between 4pm and 3am.
At this time, climbers are requested to contribute a voluntary ¥1,000 donation to cover maintenance costs for the mountain.
Toshiaki Kasai, a government official in the local area, stated that following the easing of Covid mandates, there has been an increase in the number of individuals visiting the mountain. It is important that they dress appropriately and are adequately prepared.
Hikers will still be able to use three other routes – all in neighbouring Shizuoka prefecture – free of charge. Officials are confident, however, that the measures will limit overall numbers as the Yoshida trail is convenient for climbers travelling from Tokyo, with about 60% using the route. It takes an average of five to six hours to reach the summit from the fifth stage, but can take up to 10 hours depending on the conditions and the climbing ability.
Last year, the number of visitors that completed the eighth leg of the 10 stages of Mount Fuji during the three-month climbing season was over 220,000, as reported by the environment ministry. This amount is approximately equal to the pre-pandemic record.
The limitations on operational hours are likely to discourage individuals from arriving late in the day to start their hike from the fifth checkpoint, in order to reach the peak in time to view the sunrise.
Reports from Japanese media indicate that there are climbers who lack proper equipment and resort to sleeping on the trails instead of utilizing mountain lodges. This has resulted in injuries and altitude sickness.
According to Kyodo, Governor Kotaro Nagasaki of Yamanashi stated that it is crucial to manage the number of climbers due to concerns about overcrowding.
With Agence France-Presse
Source: theguardian.com
