The climbing season started Monday at Japan's renowned Mount Fuji with one of the four main hiking trails opened, after a mandatory hiking fee was introduced this year to address overtourism concerns.
The prefecture of Yamanashi now charges 2,000 yen (about 12 U.S. dollars) as a mandatory hiking fee for all climbers for the Yoshida Trail, the most commonly used route up the 3,776-meter mountain.
According to the prefecture government, the collected fees will cover expenses regarding safety and conduct, support for foreigners, maintenance, and disaster response services.
As part of the efforts to control visitor numbers and ease congestion, a maximum of 4,000 climbers are accepted per day on the trail, and restrictions will be imposed when the numbers exceed the daily limit.
During the climbing season which lasts until Sept. 10, visitors are encouraged to use the reservation portal on the mountain's official website to book and pay in advance to secure their slots for a set day.
The official climbing season of the other three trails on the Shizuoka Prefecture side is scheduled to begin on July 10.
Mount Fuji, designated as a Uunited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Cultural Heritage site in 2013, is one of the most enduring symbols and popular tourist destinations in Japan, straddling Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures.
Data showed that approximately 220,000 people visited the mountain during the last climbing season.
Mount Fuji to Charge Climbing Fees
