Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture has brought in the toll to protect the UNESCO-designated environment.
ADVERTISEMENTHikers will have to pay to climb up Mount Fuji using any of its four main paths starting from this summer.
Under a new bill passed on Monday, an entry fee of ¥4,000 (€24.70) will be introduced in time for peak season.
Japan’s highest mountain has been struggling with overtourism. A dramatic increase in visitors is causing pollution and safety concerns.
To help clean up the mountain and preserve its environment, authorities previously introduced a fee and a daily visitor cap along the most popular trail in 2024.
Mount Fuji hikers will have to pay €24 this summer
Last summer, visitors to Mount Fuji had to pay ¥2,000 (€12.35) to hike up the Yoshida trail. This is the most popular ascent thanks to its easy access from Tokyo and the frequency of mountain huts en route offering accommodation and meals.
Japan’s Yamanashi prefectural government, which oversees hiking activities at the UNESCO World Heritage site, deemed it necessary to introduce the toll to protect the environment.
It also implemented a 4,000 people per day limit on hikers using the Yoshida trail to ease congestion.
Now, the fee to hike the iconic trail is doubling to ¥4,000 (€24.70), a charge which will also apply to three other routes that were previously free.
Hikers will have to pay between July and September, which is the peak climbing season.
Last year, authorities said the proceeds would be used to construct shelters along the path for use in the event of a volcanic eruption and to maintain the hiking route.
Since 2014, climbers ascending the mountain via any of its trails have also been encouraged to voluntarily pay ¥1,000 (€6.20) per person towards the preservation of the site.
Mount Fuji regulations have helped tackle overtourism
The restrictions that were brought in last year proved to be effective, reducing the number of visitors ascending Mount Fuji from 221,322 in 2023 to 204,316, according to figures from Japan’s environment ministry.
Another measure brought in last year to curb overtourism in a nearby town has also proved effective.
Fujikawaguchiko got so fed up with tourist crowds that they built a huge fence blocking the view they were coming for – Mount Fuji.
The 20-metre long and 2.5-metre high fence covered with a black mesh prevented tourists from taking selfies with the landmark after incidents of littering, crossing dangerously through busy traffic, ignoring traffic lights and trespassing into private properties.
ADVERTISEMENTThe barrier was taken down in August as a precaution when a typhoon was forecast, but authorities decided not to reinstall it as it proved to have been effective.
They warned, however, that it could be put back up if tourists return in large numbers.
