Reported about 1 year ago
The Mount Fuji trail from the Yamanashi Prefecture side, Yoshida Trail, will open for the summer climbing season starting July 1. To address issues caused by the increasing number of climbers, the Yamanashi Prefectural Government will implement new measures for the first time this year, including a daily visitor limit of 4,000 people and an entry fee of 2,000 Japanese yen (about 400 New Taiwan dollars) per person. Concerns about overtourism prompted these new regulations as the effects of these restrictions will be closely monitored amidst the historic depreciation of the Japanese yen, leading to a rise in foreign visitors. The measures aim to mitigate problems like overcrowding, improper climbing behavior, and 'bullet climbing' for fast ascents. The Yamanashi Prefecture will also temporarily set up gates near the 5th station of Mount Fuji, distribute wristbands to those who paid the entry fee, and close the gates if daily visitor numbers exceed 4,000. The prefecture plans to have 3,000 slots reserved for pre-paid reservations and 1,000 slots for same-day payment. The new regulations come after last summer saw around 221,000 climbers on Mount Fuji, nearing pre-COVID-19 levels, with most visitors concentrated at the Yoshida Trail, leading to congested conditions and safety concerns. The Yamanashi Prefecture hopes these strategies will help manage the flow of climbers, with future adjustments under consideration based on the effectiveness of these measures.
Source: YAHOO