According to Japan's Kyodo News, the governments of Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures announced on the 26th that, as Mount Fuji is entering its winter climbing period, the four climbing routes will be closed at noon on September 2. The summer climbing season following Mount Fuji’s inscription as a World Heritage Site will also come to an end after the closure of these routes.
According to Shizuoka Prefecture, the decision to close the climbing routes is mainly due to the anticipated harsh weather conditions such as strong winds and low temperatures in the coming period, as well as the closure of mountain huts, making it difficult to continue ensuring the safety of climbers. The routes are scheduled to reopen on July 1 next year, but this may be postponed depending on snow accumulation.
The two prefectural governments stated that the section from the 5th station to the summit on the Yoshida Trail in Yamanashi Prefecture will be closed; similarly, the routes from the 6th station to the summit on the Fujinomiya Trail in Shizuoka Prefecture, as well as the New 5th Station on the Gotemba Trail and the 5th station to the summit on the Subashiri Trail, will also be closed. It is reported that, under favorable weather conditions, the 5th–6th station section on the Fujinomiya Trail has traditionally remained open until late November.
In July, the two prefectural governments formulated climbing guidelines, which generally prohibit climbing during the route closure period, and require climbers outside the official climbing season to submit a climbing plan to the police or other authorities in charge of Mount Fuji.