One of the most famous climbs in the world is paying off.
Hikers wanting to take the most popular route to climb Japan's Mount Fuji will have to pay 12 euros from July, to reduce crowding and improve safety at the overtourism-hit Japanese volcano, said Tuesday a local official.
Growing crowds flock each summer to the slopes of Japan's highest mountain, capped with a crown of snow most of the year, which attracts more than 220,000 visitors each climbing season , from July to September.
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Starting July 1, an access fee of 2,000 yen (12 euros) per person will be charged for climbing the Yoshida Trail of the famous volcano, under an order approved Monday by the Yamanashi department.
The number of people using the trail each day will also be limited to 4,000 people, and access prohibited between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Three other routes remain free
“After the restrictions linked to (the) Covid pandemic were lifted, we started to see more people.
We want them to wear clothing suitable for the mountains and to be well prepared,” Toshiaki Kasai, a departmental official, told AFP.
“We will ask visitors to monitor social media for the latest information on daily visitor numbers,” he added.
Every summer, Japanese media extensively describe how tourists undertake the ascent of Mount Fuji with insufficient equipment, some sleeping on the trail or lighting fires to keep warm.
Many also attempt to reach the summit at 3,776 m above sea level without stopping to rest and fall victim to illness or accidents.
Still active, the volcano has three other main routes which will remain free.
But the Yoshida trail, relatively easy to access from Tokyo, is preferred by around 60% of hikers, according to official data.