Fewer climbers tackled Mount Fuji throughout this yr’s mountaineering season, preliminary figures present, after Japanese authorities launched an entrance price and a day by day restrict on the variety of individuals to fight overtourism.
This yr, officers involved about security and environmental injury on the nation’s highest mountain additionally launched on-line reservations.
The variety of climbers fell by 14 % between early July, when the volcano’s trails opened for the summer time, and early September, in response to the Surroundings Ministry.
To calculate its preliminary figures, the ministry used infrared units put in on the 4 trails.
This comes regardless of Japan receiving a report inflow of overseas guests, with almost 18 million vacationers getting into the nation within the first half of 2024.
Final yr, authorities raised the alarm about over-tourism on the once-peaceful pilgrimage web site, with the native governor of the Yamanashi area warning that “Mount Fuji is screaming.”
This summer time, the Ministry of the Surroundings counted round 178,000 climbers, in comparison with greater than 200,000 the earlier yr and earlier than the pandemic.
Gates to the paths have been closed on Tuesday, marking the top of the mountaineering season. Preliminary knowledge refers to September 4 and might be up to date at a later date, a ministry official informed AFP on Wednesday.
The mountain is roofed in snow a lot of the yr, however through the summer time many hike at evening to look at the dawn from the three,776-metre (12,388-foot) summit.
This yr, the favored Yoshida Path charged an entrance price of two,000 yen ($14) plus an optionally available donation, with a restrict of 4,000 individuals per day. The opposite three trails remained free.
Considerations have been raised that some climbers have been sleeping on the path or lighting fires for heat, whereas others grew to become sick or injured after making an attempt to achieve the summit with out breaks.
Mount Fuji is about two hours by prepare from central Tokyo and could be seen from miles away.
The majestic mountain is a logo of Japan that has been immortalized in numerous artistic endeavors, together with Hokusai’s “The Nice Wave.”
