Starting today, climbers ascending Mount Fuji will be required to pay a “climbing fee” of 1,000 Japanese yen, approximately NT$300.
Japan News Network reports that the governments of “Yamanashi Prefecture” and “Shizuoka Prefecture,” which oversee Mount Fuji, have announced the implementation of a “trial” fee system starting today and running until August 3. The payment is voluntary.
Early this morning, government staff from both prefectures set up collection boxes at four climbing entrances, encouraging climbers to pay the 1,000-yen climbing fee. Those who pay will receive a commemorative Mount Fuji oak emblem.
Mount Fuji attracts around 300,000 visitors annually. Since being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, managing visitor numbers and protecting the mountain’s environment have become major challenges for the two prefectural governments.
The official climbing season on Mount Fuji typically begins in July each year. According to statistics, during the first week of the climbing season from July 1 to July 7, over 15,000 climbers entered via the Yoshida Trail, 1.5 times the number from the same period last year. In response, the Japanese government plans to implement entry control measures starting next year.
(CNA)