(Tokyo) Mount Fuji has seen a significant drop in attendance this season, a consequence of the decision by Japanese authorities to introduce an entrance fee and a daily quota to combat overtourism, according to initial figures released by Japanese authorities.
This summer, the Ministry of the Environment counted around 178,000 hikers compared to around 205,000 the previous year and before the pandemic, a drop of 14% between the beginning of July – which marks the official start of the season – and the beginning of September.
Japanese authorities decided this year to charge an access fee of around $19 (2,000 yen) per person and to set a maximum of 4,000 hikers per day on the main trail to the summit.
To do this, fans had to go through an online reservation system for the first time and only a few tickets were available for purchase on the day on site.
The volcano, which remains active, also has three other climbing routes that have remained open and free. But the Yoshida trail – easily accessible from Tokyo – is the preferred choice for about 60 percent of climbers, according to official data.
The figures, which were taken as of September 4, will however be updated later, since official access closed on Tuesday 10, a ministry official explained to AFP on Wednesday.
The decisions come as Japan welcomes a record influx of foreign tourists, with nearly 18 million visitors in the first half of 2024.
The volcano is covered in snow for most of the year, and during the summer many people set out to climb Japan’s highest point (3,776 m).
Many climb at night to see the sunrise, some sleep on the trail or light fires to keep warm, while many try to complete the hike without a break, risking serious failure or injury. Every year there are deaths on the slopes of the volcano.
Mount Fuji is about a two-hour train ride from central Tokyo and can be seen from dozens of kilometers around, especially from the Japanese capital. This majestic mountain is a symbol of Japan immortalized in countless works of art, including Hokusai’s “The Great Wave.”