One of the most famous climbs in the world is bearing fruit. Travelers wanting to take Japan’s most popular climbing route to Mount Fuji will have to pay 12 euros from July in a bid to ease crowds and improve safety at the Japanese volcano, which has been battered by overtourism, a local official said on Tuesday.
More people flock to the snow-crowned slopes of Japan’s tallest mountain each summer, attracting more than 220,000 visitors each climbing season, from July to September.
From July 1, climbing the famous volcano’s Yoshida Trail will charge a fee of 2,000 yen (12 euros) per person, according to an order approved Monday by the Yamanashi department. The number of people using the trail each day will also be limited to 4,000, with access prohibited between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Three more routes remain free
“After Covid restrictions were lifted, we started seeing more people. We want them to wear clothes suitable for the mountains and be well prepared,” department spokesman Toshiaki Kasai told AFP. “We will ask visitors to monitor social media for the latest information on daily visitor numbers,” he added.
Every summer, Japanese media detail how tourists climb Mount Fuji without adequate equipment, some sleeping on the trail or lighting fires to stay warm. Many also attempt to reach the summit at 3,776 m above sea level without stopping to rest, and become victims of illness or accidents.
The still active volcano has three other main routes that will remain free. However, according to official data, the Yoshida Trail, which is relatively easy to reach from Tokyo, is preferred by about 60% of tourists.
Source: Le Parisien
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