Japan will start collecting entry fees of JYP 2,000 per head from people climbing the famous volcano to limit the number of trekkers to Mount Fuji.
A gate is set to be installed at the entrance to the Yoshida Trail, also known as the fifth station, on the Yamanashi side of Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776m.
The gate will begin collecting fees from climbers starting 1 July this year, marking the beginning of this year’s climbing season.
The implementation of this fee collection aims to manage overcrowding near the summit of the mountain, the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly has said.
Climbers will need to allocate as much as JYP 3,000 per person for their climb, which includes a voluntary contribution of JYP 1,000 dedicated to the conservation efforts of the mountain, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
For the 2024 season, up until mid-September, the newly installed gate will operate with limited hours, closing at 4pm and reopening at 3am the next day.
The authorities further added that should the daily influx of climbers surpass 4,000, entry limitations will be enforced. However, climbers who have bookings at mountain huts will not be subject to these restrictions.
Mount Fuji, located at the border of Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, attracted approximately 221,000 climbers last summer, roughly the same level as in 2019, according to Japan’s Environment Ministry.
