Overtourism has now reached the heights of Mount Fuji, with the local government now mulling over charging tourists even more to climb Japan’s tallest mountain.
The Shizuoka Prefectural Government is considering charging climbers JPY 3,000 (£15.70) to JPY 5,000 (£26.20) per head starting next summer. The fee is aimed at curbing overcrowding and promoting safety.
The government also plans to restrict overnight climbs from all three trails on the Shizuoka side, except for those with reservations at mountain huts.
Climbing the UNESCO World Heritage site has become a bucket-list activity for both locals and international travellers. During the climbing season from July to September, the trails are often packed with thousands of hikers.
This year, between early July and early September, around 204,000 people climbed Mount Fuji. This marked an 8 percent drop from the previous year – yet, congestion remains a critical issue, wrote Skift.
Yamanashi Prefecture, which shares Mount Fuji with Shizuoka, introduced a daily limit of 4,000 climbers and a fee of JPY 2,000 (£10.50) per climber earlier this year, significantly reducing nighttime congestion on its trails.
However, Shizuoka did not implement entry regulations and only installed a voluntary registration system.
Shizuoka’s proposed entry fee would replace the current JPY 1,000 (£5.20) “voluntary conservation fee”.
During a meeting with a local council last week the prefectural government focused on promoting safe climbing of Mount Fuji, while promoting safety measures such as mandatory teaching of mountaineering rules prior to climbing.
Mount Fuji is a small representation of Japan’s overtourism problem. The weak yen and the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions have driven a record-breaking tourism boom, with over 30 million visitors arriving in the first 10 months of 2024 alone, just shy of the pre-pandemic annual record of 31.9 million.
Last month, Japan welcomed a record 3.31 million visitors, up from 2.87 million in September and surpassing July’s monthly record of 3.29 million, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). Japan aims to receive 60 million inbound tourists by 2030.
All over Japan, reports of overcrowding, pollution, and tourist misbehaviour have become commonplace. Local communities are now grappling with the balance between economic benefits and preserving their cultural and environmental heritage.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that two Japanese towns with stunning views of Mount Fuji took to installing huge barriers to deter unruly tourists. Residents of Fujikawaguchiko accused mainly foreign tourists of dropping rubbish and parking illegally as they searched for the perfect photo. They installed a huge 8.2ft high and 66ft long black net, which cost nearly £6,500.
A town official said: “It’s regrettable we have to do this, because of some tourists who can’t respect rules”.
Soon after, Fuji City, in the Shizuoka prefecture also took steps to stop tourists straying into the road on “The Fuji Dream Bridge” which aligns directly with the outline of the famous mountain. An influx of visitors has caused disruption to the community, with complaints over illegal parking, litter, loud noise and even tourists defecating in public, the Independent reported.
That being said, travellers, themselves are increasingly aware of their impact. A recent joint report by the Japan Tourism Board Foundation and the Development Bank of Japan highlighted how overtourism is impacting foreign travellers in Japan, with 30 percent experiencing overcrowding at popular spots.
Interestingly though, 63 percent of visitors said they were willing to pay extra fees to combat overtourism – up 20 percent from 2019.
Japan has also experimented with targeted pricing strategies, including higher fees for foreign tourists to counter overtourism concerns. Some restaurants in Tokyo have also tested two-tier pricing for foreigners and locals, while Himeji’s mayor proposed raising Himeji Castle’s entry fee by nearly £20 for foreigners, while locals would pay just £3.90.