Tourism Mount Fuji climbers to pay ¥4,000 fee on all trails

[thomas]

Starting this summer, climbers using the four trails on Mt. Fuji will be required to pay a ¥4,000 ($27) fee following the approval of a plan by the Shizuoka prefectural government on Monday. This decision follows a similar move by neighbouring Yamanashi Prefecture, which manages the most frequently used trail. Yamanashi announced it will double its climbing fee to ¥4,000 in response to growing concerns over overcrowding and its environmental impact on the 3,776-meter peak.

The Shizuoka prefectural assembly also approved an ordinance to restrict access of its three trails from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. in order to discourage overnight "bullet climbing," or trying to reach the summit of Japan's tallest mountain without resting. The ordinance is set to take effect on May 9, before the climbing season starts in July. Shizuoka manages the Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri trails, while Yamanashi hosts the Yoshida trail. Access to the trails after 2 p.m. is allowed only for those who have reserved a stay at a mountain lodge. Staff will be stationed at the trails' 5th station to confirm payment has been made.

Funds collected from the climbing fees are allocated to cover labour costs and safety measures. As a result, the prefecture will discontinue the previous practice of requesting JPY 1,000 donations from climbers, which had been used for trail maintenance. Mount Fuji, recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013, draws hundreds of thousands of climbers annually during its official climbing season, which lasts through September.

Climbers of Mt. Fuji to face 4,000 yen fees amid overcrowding concern

Climbers using the four trails on Mt. Fuji will be charged a fee of 4,000 yen ($27) from this summer after a plan by the Shizuoka prefectural government was approved Monday by the local assembly.

english.kyodonews.net

 

[musicisgood]

I hope that the money is used wisely. Never been close to MT. Fuji, but I've seen the mountain of distance on the train many times with snow covering it. Maybe one day I'll make the journey, don't know yet.

 

[mdchachi]

I hope that the money is used wisely. Never been close to MT. Fuji, but I've seen the mountain of distance on the train many times with snow covering it. Maybe one day I'll make the journey, don't know yet.

Don't wait too long. It doesn't get easier with age.

 

[thomas]

The measures against "bullet climbing" (people attempting to reach the summit without staying at a mountain hut or taking enough time to rest) seem to be working. Climbers without a hut reservation are now prevented from starting their ascent after 2 pm, making it more difficult to set off late and climb through the night with little preparation.

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Bullet climbing had steadily declined since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and had now almost disappeared. Foreign visitors make up a large share of climbers, with many coming from Southeast Asia. The number of Europeans has also been increasing. Some foreign climbers still ignore the rules, but the official said such cases accounted for only about one in 10 visitors. Overall, manners have improved considerably compared with the past.

Before the pandemic, as many as about 8,000 climbers could be on the mountain on Saturdays, with people continuing to ascend throughout the night. Now, the flow of climbers drops sharply in the evening, with only tour participants and others with reservations continuing to climb later in the day. "After 7 pm, they suddenly stop coming," the official said, describing the situation as completely different from the past. The official said the goal for the future is for people to put safety first while enjoying their climb on Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji Climbing Fee of 4,000 Yen Helps Eliminate Bullet Climbs

The measures were introduced in response to concerns over reckless climbing, including attempts to reach the summit without staying overnight at a mountain hut or taking sufficient rest. Under the current system, climbers who do not have reservations are restricted from beginning their ascent...

newsonjapan.com

 

[johnnyG]

Those lines (yikes!) in the video remind me of the final scene in Field of Dreams: