The Asahi Shimbun
According to Japan’s Asahi Shimbun, Shizuoka Governor Hideaki Kawakatsu recently stated that the prefectural government is considering charging visitors to climb Mount Fuji in an effort to protect its environment.
The World Heritage Committee is set to meet this June in Cambodia, where Mount Fuji may be honored as a World Heritage Site. Japanese authorities believe that in recent years, around 300,000 people have visited during the annual summer climbing season, leading to issues such as trail damage and littering.
Shizuoka Prefecture had previously considered charging climbers an entrance fee starting in 2002, with the revenue going to the prefectural tax system. Ultimately, the plan was shelved due to the inability to decide on a collection method.