Mount Fuji climbers to be charged ¥4,000 on all trails

It's not enough to deter influencers and other such morons.

Agreed, still seems pretty cheap to me.

I hate to say it, but if you really want to make an impact have it be by permit only. Then make a residency card a requirement of the permit application. This will absolutely cut down on numbers.

I’d go to Fuji-Ku Highlander first

Here we go again with the ‘foreign tourists….’ thing. Yesterday they were causing hot springs to run out of water. What next?!

What's that, 30 bucks? The price of a burger and fries? Not a serious deterrent.

What's that, 30 bucks? The price of a burger and fries? Not a serious deterrent.

No deterrent at all, JGovt just to make more money from tourist on top everything.

Is already happened somewhere else beside Fuji.

https://soranews24.com/2024/06/18/foreign-tourists-to-be-charged-four-times-more-to-enter-himeji-castle-if-local-mayor-gets-his-way/

https://www.klook.com/blog/departure-tax-japan/

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Make sense since Japan industrial is declining so Japan make money from tourist.

As oftentimes is the case here in Japan, a decade later we’ll likely be hearing about how this large new revenue source has become subject to fraud, waste, and abuse.

Would love to see a very transparent annual accounting of how these funds are being used instead of the common vague descriptors such as “to address overcrowding.”

300,000 people climbed Mount Fuji in 2009. This is just another tourist tax. Next week: Tourists wearing out Tokyo's pavements.

Well, it is a 'foreign tourists thing' now isn't it? How else would all that foreign litter wind up on Huzi-san? It's not like the tide and currents from Korea brought it over. The local officials who passed this should be commended. Their predecessors should've done it years ago. 4000 seems cheap. It's high time Japan leaned a lesson from Hawaii. Diamond Head had too many foreign (Japanese mostly) tourists and now charges. Doubters will see that this works. The revenue will help to both filter out idiots and with safety and beautification.

Well done japan , usually they just let things slide , now they take affirmative action ,which as usual is pathetic !

¥4000 ($26) is very cheap. They could make it a 20,000 yen fee and it still wouldn't deter foreign tourists who have Fuji on their bucket lists.

Keeping a low cap on hikers is possibly the best way to protect the mountain.

"" A record influx of foreign tourists to Japan has sparked alarm about overcrowding on the nation's highest mountain, a once-peaceful pilgrimage site. ""

Then talk to the Tourism industry about limiting the number of visitors per season.

The 4000-yen entry fee wouldn’t hurt foreign tourists at all. They could afford 10,000 yen per person easily. Residents living and paying tax here should be exempt from the climbing fee.

Fuji San will be more than happy to know that the collected fees $$$ will be used for it's benefits and NOTHING ELSE, after all it's Fuji San's income.

In few years you will need a Passport with a Visa to visit the beloved Fuji San.

Good move, use the money to raise wages. But don't over do it, else the tourists would be encouraged to wander outside main tourist attractions and trigger overcrowding nation wide. Imagine tourists hitting the Tateyama ropeway en masse, or tramping Hotaka san.

What will they use the more than ¥1 trillion collected?

Foreign visitors won’t have to pay as it will be included on their tour group package when they book their tour. They won’t notice the details in their itinerary. Mt Fuji is a big mountain, so it would be easy to jump the fence and start climbing from anywhere and join up with the tourists later. Will there be inspectors checking documents on the trail?

But! What will the money be used for? Is it just going into council coffers or will be used to improve amenities on the trails and to clean up the mess?

If the money goes towards improving safety infrastructure in the area, and making sure there arent mountains of garbage being left behind, then i dont see any issue with this whatsoever.

Its just another one of those ragebaiting news pieces designed to antagonize people who have never visited Fuji, and probably have no intention of visiting either.

It's not enough to deter influencers and other such morons.

That is fine, since the purpose of the fee is not to stop everybody from climbing, just offset the costs and reduce the total number of people visiting to more manageable numbers.

Foreign visitors won’t have to pay as it will be included on their tour group package when they book their tour.

That still means they have to pay, the tours are not going to absorb the fee, so visitors will have now options that are pricier.

@Fighti. You are right. Sadly, Mount Fuji is now just a tourist attraction, not what it was 40 years ago - a spiritual place.

While Mt Fuji is beautiful from a distance, Hiking up it is not worth ¥4000; you will be let down. Up close, it's one big ugly volcano.

The ¥4,000 entry fee might not deter people but can help pay for trail maintenance, emergency service workers, etc. Especially with so many people climbing the mountain, those things are necessary.

A record influx of foreign tourists to Japan has sparked alarm about overcrowding on the nation's highest mountain, a once-peaceful pilgrimage site.

How many times are they going to repeat the full on lie!

The number of climber in the years 2007 to 2017 were far higher between 275,000 and 430,000 so suddenly 230,000 is much!

Peaceful pilgrimage? 430,000 was the peak in the early 2000s.

All this about "over crowding" us just a cover-up for "hey foreigners got money left get them to pay"

International flight, travel insurance, hotels. I really wanted to hike Mt. Fuji but 4,000 yen. Nah, I can't afford it!

virusrex

Today 08:41 am JST

It's not enough to deter influencers and other such morons.

> That is fine, since the purpose of the fee is not to stop everybody from climbing, just offset the costs and reduce the total number of people visiting to more manageable numbers

So if the "cost" were a problem, why wasn't this done back in 2007~2017 when far more people were climbing the mountain? you know when 300,000 plus each year and a peak of 430,000!

Have you ever climbed up Mr. Fuji?

You have to be a masochist to pay for the session.

Japan is super intent on killing their tourist industry.

charge foreigners hotel taxes, airport taxes, what is next

Best seen from a distance. Still cool after many observations.

Cap numbers, fee and permit....but I anticipate problems if permit implemented.

Entitled tourists who didnt get permit trying "new routes " to get around the proper entrance

The popularity of Fuji is not new, and neither are the issues that come with lots of people hiking up it.

Presumably local governments were footing the bill before, but won't have to to the same extent any more.

There are literally thousands of other mountains you can climb for free if paying to climb this one offends you.

It might sound like a lot of money to hard pressed, poorly paid folks in Japan but it really isn't.

This is fair enough. Other countries have fees like this too.

So if the "cost" were a problem, why wasn't this done back in 2007~2017 when far more people were climbing the mountain? you know when 300,000 plus each year and a peak of 430,000!

Who knows? the own article say that this number is now considered excessive even when before it was higher, it may just be that now the people responsible can say so.

Although climber numbers continue to be eclipsed by pre-pandemic levels, "200,000 hikers is still huge", Natsuko Sodeyama, a Shizuoka Prefecture official, told AFP.

Access to the trails will also be further restricted. Last year you were not able to enter between 4pm - 3am unless you had a reservation at a mountain hut. This year it will be from 2pm.

If the mountain huts are full, which they often are, people will enter before 2pm and spend the entire night hanging around on the mountain in order to see the sunrise. Not ideal and it infuriates the authorities, but it's because of their obsession with nighttime 'bullet climbing'.

However, daytime bullet climbing is statistically more dangerous due to thunderstorms and heat exhaustion. At night the weather is usually calm and cool, perfect for climbing. That's why nine people died on Fuji last year compared to four the previous year. Plus the four that died in late June before the mountain even opened.

Basically, in dissuading people from bullet climbing they have made it more dangerous for those who are determined to do so.

Please, make it higher than that!

BakaFuguToday 06:59 am JST

I hate to say it, but if you really want to make an impact have it be by permit only. Then make a residency card a requirement of the permit application. This will absolutely cut down on numbers.

That's not what they want. They want to be able to complain about foreigners while making money off of them and show the world how badly people who come here behave.

Want to climb it, pay for it..

But what if you don't use a trail?

Aha!

But what if you don't use a trail?

Just walk into the forest and join the trail later up the hill. Also avoiding the queues. Or just avoid the trails all together.

Not following a trail will lead to more deaths. Not worth trying to save just ¥4,000.

Just walk into the forest and join the trail later up the hill. Also avoiding the queues. Or just avoid the trails all together.

What forest? The checkpoints are all above the treeline.

Dumb suggestion.

For those saying it's cheap, there's also transportation, round trip plus a hut and food and equipment. Then if one wishes to take a child, it could then run you minimum ¥45,000 with the added trail fees. I think this will encourage people to climb out of season.

@ClippetyClop

What forest? The checkpoints are all above the treeline. 

Dumb suggestion.

Subashiri trail starts in the forest and you don't come out for quite a while. Not sure where that checkpoint will be.

Newgirlintown - I’m sorry the valid point you’re making is being downvoted

virusrex

Today 11:16 am JST

Although climber numbers continue to be eclipsed by pre-pandemic levels, "200,000 hikers is still huge", Natsuko Sodeyama, a Shizuoka Prefecture official, told AFP.

As I pointed out lies not "false" but lies.

https://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat25/sub165/entry-6554.html

CLIMBING MT. FUJI

About 300,000 people make the ascent to Fuji s summit every year. About 320,000 climbed it in the 2012 summer season. More than 350,000 people climbed Fuji in 2007 and a record 430,000 did it in 2008

This article was written before all the anti tourists propaganda.

Hideyoshi.N

Today 11:07 am JST

This is fair enough. Other countries have fees like this too

It isn't the fees that bother me it is the constant lying about "over tourism" as an excuse.

They had not problem with More than 350,000 in 2007 and a record 430,000 did it in 2008.

But suddenly they see foreigners and yen signs flash infront of their faces and they invent a problem to justify charging.

Why lie, they should just say the truth, they want money from the foreigners.

Just watch, once Japan loses it appeal and the number of foreigners drops but the number of climbers remains buy no nearly only Japanese, they will find a reason to stop charging.

I like how so many here hate facts.

They don't like being pointed out that the number of climbers is nowhere near what it was in previous years and it is all fake excuses.

AntiquesavingToday 02:26 pm JST

I like how so many here hate facts.

> They don't like being pointed out that the number of climbers is nowhere near what it was in previous years and it is all fake excuses.

You get nowhere on this site by telling people the truth about Japan.

As I pointed out lies not "false" but lies.

What lies? the article clearly, explicitly says the number of climbers was even higher before the pandemic, you are "pointing out" something the article is saying in the first place, no lies, just you not reading the article and thinking they are hiding something that it is clearly written there.

This article was written before all the anti tourists propaganda.

An long before you wrote your comments, so you are once again just repeating what it says, no lies found anywhere.

As someone who's climbed many much taller peaks than Fuji in REAL nature, Fuji up close it like a cow trail, so definitely not worth climbing, many other 'natural' mountains in Japan that're far more scenic and enjoyable = Don't be a sucker and climb Fuji!

This is a joke. 4000 yen? To climb Mt Everest you need to pay 15k US dollars. You wanna keep Mt Fuji clean and away from people that want to destroy it, make it 800 bucks!

Unpopular opinion: Locals and Japanese residents should NOT have to pay that much.

Unpopular opinion: Locals and Japanese residents should NOT have to pay that much.

should be free for us.

It is an attraction for res. and non res. Any proof that the trashing is only caused by non res. Or by % caused by non-Japanese ethnicity res.? I would pay. But it still looks more magnificent from a distance.

They had not problem with More than 350,000 in 2007 and a record 430,000 did it in 2008.

And they still don't have a problem with that many. As long as they don't exceed the daily limit and pay. The Yoshida trail alone has a theoretical seasonal limit of around 300,000.

I like how so many here hate facts.

Who exactly are you angry with, why, and what actually is your point?

Subashiri trail starts in the forest and you don't come out for quite a while. Not sure where that checkpoint will be.

Good point. The checkpoint is about 100m from the shops at what was the donation cabin. Circumventing it would be quite a nasty bushwhack but I suppose it's doable.

Someone's gonna be swimming in money, and they gave stated in the past year the collected money will not go into the trails cleaning or maintenance.

Not following a trail will lead to more deaths. Not worth trying to save just ¥4,000.

Have you ever been to Mt. Fuji. Its not Everest, just a big version of a South Wales slag heap. From the 5th station it is a 4.5 km uphill walk. Avoiding the trails also avoids the lines of old people and unfit tourists.

Have you ever been to Mt. Fuji. Its not Everest, just a big version of a South Wales slag heap.

Have you been? It really doesn't sound like it.

Firstly, you can't walk off trail, it isn't permitted, and with very good reason.

And what do you think happens if you climb up a rocky 'slag heap'? It just crumbles, collapses and endangers everyone below. Plus it is utterly exhausting.

Come on Kippers, it's a really, really bad idea and you know it!

ClippetyClop

Today 05:04 pm JST

They had not problem with More than 350,000 in 2007 and a record 430,000 did it in 2008.

> And they still don't have a problem with that many. As long as they don't exceed the daily limit and pay. The Yoshida trail alone has a theoretical seasonal limit of around 300,000

Someone didn't read the article (s).

They have been claiming 230,000 is a problem and too many just about everytime the authorities open their mouths.

Thanks in part to the new restrictions, the number of climbers who tackled Mount Fuji declined to 204,316 last year, from 221,322 in 2023, environment ministry data shows.

> Although climber numbers continue to be eclipsed by pre-pandemic levels, "200,000 hikers is still huge", Natsuko Sodeyama, a Shizuoka Prefecture official, told AFP.

So I will say it again.

Why wasn't it an urgent problem at 300,000 to 430,000?

Only difference is the influx foreign money.

Someone didn't read the article (s).

Someone didn't understand the article, nor it seems what the actual issue is here.

The Yoshida trail alone has a daily limit of 4000 climbers, and there are three other trails. The climbing season is about 75 days. Multiply those two numbers. This isn't KM² so you should have no problems.

The problem isn't the number of people climbing but the days on which excessive numbers climb and at what times they climb. That is the reason for the restrictions.

Why wasn't it an urgent problem at 300,000 to 430,000?

Well who said it either was or wasn't 'urgent'? They have been discussing entry fees, restrictions and access to the mountain for well over a decade.

You have assumed something without the correct info and then presumed that people are 'liars' based on your assumption that this is a conspiracy of sorts.

I know it is hard to believe, but perhaps these people know a few more FACTS! about this than you do.

"WHY" are FUJI climbing fees are rising so drastically?

Japan's Govt. desperately needs more sources of tax $revenues, especially as Japanese interest rates keep climbing, making Govt's debt 'Servicing' $Expensive.

Above should NOT Surprise ANYONE on Planet Earth!

ClippetyClop

Today 06:31 pm JST

Someone didn't understand the article, nor it seems what the actual issue is here.

You are right someone didn't and doesn't.

Total number this year all trails

Thanks in part to the new restrictions, the number of climbers who tackled Mount Fuji declined to 204,316 last year, from 221,322 in 2023, environment ministry data shows.

That number doesn't say one trail it says "number of climbers who tackled mount Fuji" not just Yoshida trail.

So you do the math.

Cheap

Total number this year all trails

Is zero so far. Do you know what year it is?

Thanks in part to the new restrictions, the number of climbers who tackled Mount Fuji declined to 204,316 last year, from 221,322 in 2023, environment ministry data shows.

That number doesn't say one trail it says "number of climbers who tackled mount Fuji" not just Yoshida trail.

I know, that's why I said, "The Yoshida trail alone..".

Again, if you actually have a point to make then at some point you will have to make it, because you aren't making any sense.

Do you understand why the numbers fell in 2024?

So you do the math.

As you were unable to, I did.

Unfortunately you still have no idea about what is being discussed here. It's all gone completely over your head in your haste to get angry about something that you can't grasp.

It's a sad indicator of Japan's increasingly dire economic situation that locals (and foreign residents who haven't been back home for a few years) think 4,000 yen is a lot of money. It isn't.

ClippetyClop

Today 07:45 pm JS

Do you understand why the numbers fell in 2024?

> So you do the math.

> As you were unable to, I did.

Do you understand that they never had a problem when the numbers were over 300,000 and fewer were foreigners?

Suddenly 200,000 is too many and they need to charge and I am guessing people here just think it is a coincidence that they start charging using the fake excuses of too many climbers only when they can get money from an influx ilof foreigners.

I guess Japanese people will pay the same ?

Do you understand that they never had a problem when the numbers were over 300,000 and fewer were foreigners?

This incorrect 'they never had a problem' assumption is the basic cause of your confusion.

I've been up there every year bar one year for the last two decades. I can assure you there were a myriad of problems and plenty of foreigners up there. Always have been.

Those problems were recognized at that time and some measures were introduced to deal with the problems. Those measures have brought us to the entry restrictions now in place.

Suddenly 200,000 is too many and they need to charge and I am guessing people here just think it is a coincidence that they start charging using the fake excuses of too many climbers only when they can get money from an influx ilof foreigners.

Nobody has said that 200,000 is too many. Nobody has claimed that the 2000 yen / 4000 yen fee was implemented to stop people climbing.

These are just the incorrect assumptions of your own mind.

The fees are there to help fund the running of the mountain. The entry restrictions are there to control numbers climbing on certain days and times.

It's bewildering how incredibly poorly you understand any of this.

I guess Japanese people will pay the same ?

As of now, yes. Everyone pays the same and I haven't heard any official suggest that locals / nationals not be subject to charging / restrictions.

Clippity..

Have you been? It really doesn't sound like it.

Yes, like a fool 3 times

Firstly, you can't walk off trail, it isn't permitted, and with very good reason.

Like speeding is also not permitted?

And what do you think happens if you climb up a rocky 'slag heap'? It just crumbles, collapses and endangers everyone below.

No it doesn't, but hard on your boots.

Plus it is utterly exhausting.

For you maybe. For others just a 4.5 km hard hike.

I'm so lucky to have. Climbed Mt Fuji after moving here over 10 years ago. Climbed 3 times once, was ore season with a bit of snow. Used to be they'd ask you to donate 1000 yen and give you an emergency toilet kit. (I always found that strange). They huts also changed 100-200 yen to get their stamps burned into your walking stick. Nit sure if they still do this. I think the most recent one I did was in 2016. Some tourist guide was trying to tell me what to do despite not being part of their group. I think that was what turned me off of climbing again.

I think it's unpopular to say so but the tourism both international and Japanese is a large part of why the heritage must now charge the climbing fee. I think it would be better to charge international tourist more just like restaurants are starting to do. Either way 4,000 yen seems too cheap to be a defective detourent.

ClippetyClop

Today 08:57 pm JST

Do you understand that they never had a problem when the numbers were over 300,000 and fewer were foreigners?

> This incorrect 'they never had a problem' assumption is the basic cause of your confusion.

Are you trying to rewrite past comments and articles be the authorities?

No confusion.

They said exactly tourists overcrowding and too many people post COVID!

Please don't try changing what they said.

First they tried using the excuse "prevent bullet climbing" that failed to get the public on board, then they tried over tourism and too many climbers post COVID that worked partially until it was pointed out far more in previous years.

So they fell back on the old "foreigners are using up resources and we need to charge" and yes they did originally propose only charging non residents during their planing stage, that was also published way back when this whole thing started.

Same Kyoto and Himeji castle who both proposed charging foreigners more for public transportation and entrance.

Yes, like a fool 3 times

I can relate to that, I've been up there more times than I can count. Did you go off trail?

And what do you think happens if you climb up a rocky 'slag heap'? It just crumbles, collapses and endangers everyone below.

No it doesn't, but hard on your boots.

Plus it is utterly exhausting.

For you maybe. For others just a 4.5 km hard hike.

It's not. With as much respect as I can muster, you clearly have no idea what hiking off trail would entail on Fuji. And even less idea of the consequences if lots of people were to do it.

Like speeding is also not permitted?

No, nothing like that at all.

With as much respect as I can muster, you clearly have no idea what hiking off trail would entail on Fuji. And even less idea of the consequences if lots of people were to do it.

As I said, 3 times off trail. Third time someone on a tracked vehicle came across to tell us to move to the trail. We apologized and started heading towards the stream of plodders on the trail but then went on our way when the "authority" figure took off.

As others have pointed out. Fuji San, is not that high, not that steep and not a difficult hike for a fit person.

Here we go again with the ‘foreign tourists….’ thing. Yesterday they were causing hot springs to run out of water. What next?!

They're causing Fuji-san to run out of symmetry.

Would love to see a very transparent annual accounting of how these funds are being used

Here's your accounting, Asiaman. Can't be bothered to translate for you.

登山者から頂いた協力金は、トイレの新設・改修などの富士山の環境保全対策、救護所の拡充などの登山者の安全対策、信仰の対象、芸術の源泉として富士山が有する価値の情報提供等といった事業に使われます

The entrance to the Grand Canyon in the Americas is 35.00 per car, and that pass is valid for 7 days.

¥4000 to hike up a volcano with vending machines is a rip-off, and the only reason tourists want to hike up it is because of its distant beauty. Save your money and enjoy the distant beauty, this is a much better memory and it's free.

Why wasn't it an urgent problem at 300,000 to 430,000?

Where does it say it was not a problem? the same as with many other things the pandemic showed how a manageable amount of people can make everything work smoothly and without problems, so it is understandable that people wish things to remain like that. Is the same as companies where people teleworked during the worst of the pandemic with all the work being done without problems, just because something was done one way before that does not mean it should return to that.

“Here we go again with the ‘foreign tourists….’ thing. Yesterday they were causing hot springs to run out of water. What next?!”

……ummmm well it never happened before for decades until the increase in number of tourists and also the type of tourists…..so yes……it is a foreign tourist thing…

…imagine locals being priced out of seeing their own national sites….. although a lot of the blame for this is also on the government for not taking care of its own people.