Known as Fujisan, the iconic symbol of Japan and a UNESCO World heritage site, is moving. It’s taking new steps to address the growing popularity of climbing Mount Everest. In order to protect its pristine landscape, the mountain opted to close access. To help ensure visitors’ safety, only 4,000 visitors will be permitted each day with a timed-entry reservation. Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures are kicking off this new program to alleviate congestion. Their goal is to redefine Mount Fuji’s image away from that of “trash mountain.”
Climbers who want to make the world-famous hike need to reserve their spots in advance through a new online system. Through this new system, they hope to make the experience more efficient and reduce the number of visitors each day. Now, Shizuoka prefecture has implemented a mandatory climber’s permit fee of 4,000 yen ($27). Beginning in 2024, this excessive fee will increase in cost by two times. The fee is the only realistic strategy to manage the overwhelming influx of tourists pouring in to ascend the mountain.
To further regulate the flow of visitors, Mount Fuji will be closed daily from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m., with exceptions made for those staying overnight in designated hiking huts. These huts are conveniently spaced along Mount Fuji’s four hiking trails, three of which start in Shizuoka prefecture. They offer camping and yurts for people who want to scale the rock faces outside of limited climbing times.
We chose to enact these rules as a direct response to increasing concerns. These issues are centered on both the environmental destruction and the safety threats created by mass tourism. To protect the mountain’s unblemished environment, authorities are keeping the climbing population down and requiring a new permit fee. Connecting the visitor experience to the safe enjoyment of history will improve safety for all visitors.
Yamanashi Prefectural Governor Koutaro Nagasaki stated that these measures were specific to 100-year decisions that would impact future generations.
"By strongly promoting comprehensive safety measures for climbing Mount Fuji, we will ensure that Mount Fuji, a treasure of the world, is passed on to future generations," stated Koutaro Nagasaki, governor of Yamanashi Prefecture.
Mount Fuji’s allure for hikers and other visitors has drawn millions of people to this sacred peak every year. Local governments are passing new ordinances to try and control these crowds. These steps are just one piece of a larger puzzle leading up to the 2025 climbing season. These adjustments will help provide a more environmentally sustainable adventurer experience. They will in turn dramatically improve the experience of climbing Japan’s highest peak.
