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The Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of Mount Fuji opened on July 1, marking the start of the summer climbing season. To address “tourism pollution,” the prefectural government has introduced three major new regulations: limiting the number of daily climbers, charging a fee, and installing gates. However, the first day of implementation saw many problems, with numerous foreign climbers unaware that reservations were required in advance. Some Chinese tourists even attempted to climb in short sleeves, dragging suitcases behind them.
To prevent chaos, the Yamanashi Prefecture government has introduced three new regulations this year. First, the number of daily climbers is limited to 4,000 people. Those with reservations for mountain hut accommodations are not subject to this limit.
Of the 4,000 slots, 3,000 are available for online reservation, while 1,000 are reserved for on-site climbers. Second, climbers must pay a 2,000 yen access fee and a 1,000 yen preservation cooperation fee upon entry. Third, gates have been installed at the entrance to the Yoshida Route’s 5th station trailhead, which will be closed from 4 PM to 3 AM to prevent climbers from making night assaults on the summit. The gates will also close once the daily limit of climbers is reached.
Despite these new rules, numerous issues have arisen. Many foreign tourists have been seen climbing in shorts and sandals, with one Chinese tourist even dragging a suitcase and wearing a short-sleeved shirt, claiming, “The suitcase isn’t too heavy.” Additionally, many foreign tourists were unaware of the need to make an online reservation, present a QR code at the service desk, and pay the fees to receive a yellow identification wristband before being allowed to climb. This resulted in many being stopped at the entrance. Communication issues between on-site staff and foreign tourists, due to language barriers, have also posed significant challenges.