Mount Fuji straddles Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, and can be climbed from both prefectures. - Photo: AFP
SHIZUOKA, (Japan): Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture plans to charge a toll of between 3,000 yen (US$19.35) and 5,000 yen (US$32.25) per person to climb Mount Fuji starting next summer as part of efforts to combat overtourism.
Mount Fuji straddles Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, and can be climbed from both prefectures.
Yamanashi Prefecture already collects a 2,000 yen hiking fee from climbers in addition to the cooperation fee for maintenance and conservation, and has begun restricting access to the mountain after 4pm.
Starting the climb from Shizuoka Prefecture’s side, there are three routes – Fujinomiya, Subashiri and Gotemba – and about 89,000 people, or 40 per cent of the total number of Mount Fuji climbers, used these routes in the summer.
The prefecture’s authorities also plan to limit the number of climbers on Mount Fuji after learning that Yamanashi Prefecture – which introduced the climbing restriction and fee this summer – saw the effect in reducing “bullet climbing”, which involves climbing through the night to reach the summit.
Three options were considered for the entrance fee to cover the cost of personnel to check the number of climbers at the starting point of a route up the mountain: 3,000 yen, 4,000 yen, and 5,000 yen.
The plan will be presented at a meeting with local government and mountain lodge officials as early as Nov 21. It will then be refined based on the opinions of those involved.
The prefectural government hopes to submit the draft ordinance to the prefectural assembly in February 2025.
Climbing restrictions will be determined for each trail as the time it takes to reach the summit or the halfway point at the mountain lodges varies.
The prefecture plans to restrict access to the mountain after 1pm on the Gotemba route, which takes the longest to reach the summit, after 3pm on the Subashiri route and after 4pm on the Fujinomiya route.
Currently each climber is asked to pay a voluntary cooperation fee of 1,000 yen to support conservation and maintenance efforts on Mount Fuji.
The voluntary fee is expected to be included in the toll to be introduced next season. - The Japan News/ANN
