Mount Fuji trails now require $27 entry fee to curb crowds
Starting with the new tourist season, accessing the trails leading to Mount Fuji will cost 4,000 yen (about $27). The authorities in Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures are implementing these changes to manage excessive tourism.
Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectural authorities in Japan have decided to introduce entry fees for the trails leading to Mount Fuji. They are concerned about excessive tourism, so beginning this season, which starts in June, every tourist will have to pay 4,000 yen.
New rules for the trails
In Shizuoka prefecture, home to three of the four main trails—Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and Subashiri—additional restrictions are now in place. From 2 PM to 3 AM, access to the trails will be restricted to those with reservations at huts located in the higher parts of the mountain. This measure is to deter night climbing and enhance tourist safety.
In Yamanashi prefecture, where the most popular Yoshida trail is situated, restrictions were introduced last year. Entry to the route was prohibited after 3 PM, and the daily number of tourists was capped at 4,000 people. A fee of 2,000 yen ($13,5) was also implemented, which will now increase to 4,000 yen ($27).
Investments in safety
According to the Kyodo agency, the revenue collected from fees in Shizuoka prefecture will be used for trail management staff salaries and investments to enhance tourist safety.
Mount Fuji, standing at 12,388 feet above sea level, has been listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 2013, drawing hundreds of thousands of climbers each year.
The climbing season on Mount Fuji runs from June to September, and the new regulations aim to protect the environment while improving the comfort and safety of visitors. These changes address growing concerns about rising tourist traffic and potentially hazardous behaviors by some climbers.
