The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© 2024 AFPMount Fuji crowds shrink after overtourism measures implemented
TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
Articles, Offers & Useful Resources
A mix of what's trending on our other sites
41 Comments
Login to comment
WA4TKG
I wouldn’t go there if it was FREE
WoodyLee
"" This summer the environment ministry counted around 178,000 climbers, compared to more than 200,000 the previous year and before the pandemic.""
178,000 still too many , and a 2,000 yen is too high, 750 to 800 yen sounds about right
What are the justifications to collect such high fee when most climbers or visitors have already paid someone to bring them there plus the fact that they will only stay for about 2 to 3 hours??
Total rip off.
Mirchy
Went up by Fujinomiya Trail 28.8.2024. Bullet climb. On the way up almost zero to none hikers, on the way down it started to get crowded. Thank you FujiSan.
Dango bong
Japan was dying to get people to come here after Covid now they are complaining about them
Mocheake
Don't start complaining about revenue now. This is what you wanted - less people.
diagonalslip
put a cap on numbers and....... lower numbers? now there's a surprise! （⌒▽⌒）
ClippetyClop
Less climbers, but far more deaths (six).
By prohibiting climbers from ‘Bullet Climbing’ (formerly known as ‘climbing’) at a slow pace during the cool of the night, they made a situation where climbers had to do it at pace during the heat of the day, often during thunderstorms. Brilliant.
’Bullet climbing is dangerous! And we will show you how by making it more dangerous.’
Antiquesaving
Next we will be hearing from vendors complaining about lost revenue.
So no "over tourism" before the pandemic when it was mostly Japanese and the same number of people.
So basically this was a money grab attempt by the prefectures.
It is shocking how not a single news service questioned the claims of over tourism.
Here are some numbers
2023: 223,000
2007: 350,000
2008: 430,000
2009: 300,000
2012: 320,000
2013: 310,000
Between 2014 and 2019 between 235,000 and 277,000
So somehow 223,000 in 2023 triggered alarms?
Or was it the ethnicity of those 223,000 that triggered the alarm?
Only during the pandemic was the number below that of 2023 every year before that the numbers were far higher.
Something just doesn't smell right!
yoshisan88
Is there any reliable survey done on "foreign visitors coming to Japan and climbing Mt. Fuji is on their to do list"? I believe many foreigners loves sight seeing and some can shop and eat till you drop in Japan (my wife and I are among them). However, is climbing Mt. Fuji really that popular among foreign tourists? Maybe the decline is because the measures impacted domestic travellers.
Well. A while ago some Japanese news outlets claims the rice shortage is partly due to the record influx of foreign visitors. Now they says foreign visitors were coming to Japan to overwhelm their beloved mountain. I wonder what is next?
Don't get me wrong. I have been to Japan for more than 8 times since 2009 (next time is Kyushu and Shikoku, then I will have set foot on all four main islands of Japan). I absolutely love Japan and seriously regret not learning Japanese while I was younger. However, linking negative news to foreign tourists without supporting data is a bit rich.
Kenchi
4 night bullet climbs under my belt. I’m done.
Each time I swore I’d never do it again but I kept going back for more.
Even descending in the heat of the day was brutal…. I can’t imagine climbing during the day.
Antiquesaving
Of course not, it was all fake and a cash grab attempt by the prefectures.
Over tourism!
2023 has slightly more than half the number of climbers in 2008 and no one said anything then.
2023 has 30,000 to 210,000 fewer than than the 12 years prior to the pandemic no complaints then.
Suddenly foreigners arrive and now it is a problem.
Antiquesaving
As usual, seems people don't like facts.
I am waiting to see the explanation or defense of the "over tourism" claim that *triggered the alarm " all the previous years (except during the pandemic) had tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand more than in 2023 and no "alarm" no "over tourism ".
Mirchy
Ooops. I misinterpreted the term Bullet climb. I wanted to say that I did the climb in one go.
ClippetyClop
Who says it wasn't?
Can't trust your 'Numbers' since you thought a thousand was a million and then blamed it on your phone.
Charming. She is no longer with us I'm afraid, and therefore not relevant.
Wayne Denton Trotter
Here in the US we have multiple national parks that have high fees. Here in Maine Acadia National Park cost $41.00 vehicle or 5813 yen for entry. Some of the parks are $46 for vehicle and $25 per person summed together. Total of 10066 yen. Experiencing the park os important, however maintaining it’s integrity it also important.
callbsout
So it seems there is no over tourism but Japanese government is just trying to make money from oversea tourists.
while trying to achieve that, instead of simply rolling out a plan, they try to make an artificial problem and come out with a plan that involves money saying it will fix the problem. I find this a bit pathetic. Really ruining the image of Japan. But I guess Japan is no better than any other developing country when it comes to money.
I wonder what was the goal with all that foreigners-eating-all-the rice BS. Anyone knows what is the (sneaky) end goal there?
falseflagsteve
Ban mountain climbing it’s dangerous except for professionals that have to pay a big fee and have insurance.
Garthgoyle
Falseflagsteve
Nobody climb Fuji san; people hike.
While climbing is a dangerous sport, hiking isn't, for the most part. Also, Japan is a free nation so they can't ban people from every mountain or hill.
proxy
2,000 yen is a lot of money for so many Japanese poverty wage workers.
The reduction in numbers was probably all Japanese visitors who can't afford 2,000 yen.
ClippetyClop
Exactly. And there is nothing wrong with making money from tourism, even on a mountain.
If it was a cash grab, why did the prefectures impose restrictions on climbing times and numbers during the most popular climbing hours that reduced the number of people to be cash grabbed?
Why did they prohibit cash grabbing during the most lucrative cash grabbing hours? It makes no sense.
You made your conclusion before you even saw the 'facts'.
We thank you for your input. We'll be in touch.
Gene Hennigh
Has it right. Vienna, Rome, and New Zealand have all begun to charge money for tourists. The reason is simply to assure that the item(s) visited are not damaged or altered by tourists who disregard a country-treasured site that the ones who do such things ruin it for everyone else. The US also charges for sites for the same reason. Japan seems to be the only country who is ragged on for doing it. Vienna is especially fragile now and no one complains about their actions. Do they want to limit the number of tourists? No. Neither does Japan. All these countries are doing is trying to maintain the tourist sites so they are not damaged. What's wrong with that? Why is it only Japan is bad for doing it? Mighty dense to complain.
ClippetyClop
Nonsense. It was due to the gate restictions and scarcity of yamagoya beds.
If you want to climb Fuji, 2000 yen isn't going to stop you.
The other 3 trails were free of charge.
carpslidy
Instead of individual places charging higher fees why not introduce a 3000 yen tax on every visitor?
The uk, us, aus,nz,Bali all do
proxy
@ClippetyClop
The minimum wage in Shizuoka is 984 yen an hour, before deductions so 2000 yen is not cheap for people making poverty wages.
ClippetyClop
I agree, and yet 2000 yen is for a once in a life experience. The price wasn't an issue. It was the restrictions on climbing that were an issue.
All of the poor Shizuoka people could climb all of the three Shizuoka trails for free.
ClippetyClop
It's a fair point, but I suppose that 3000 yen would go to the central government, and very little of it to, say, Mt Fuji, or Kinkakuji, or Hiroshima. Whereas all of the 2000 yen for climbing Fuji would stay locally.
They could charge that 3000 yen, but local governments would still find a way to tax visitors as well.
callbsout
I agree with that. it is a supply and demand topic. Japan needs to try and see where it end up in worldwide travel pyramid. They will likely be surprised about the tier they end up though.
My problem is spreading lies. I suggest japan to have some courage and simply roll out its plan without resorting to ugly tactics.
May
I am surprised to know the number of climbers of Mount Fuji is deceasing this year. For sure, more and more people, especially foreigners, hike Fuji without much preparation, and get many dangers. I hope many people will clime in safe and enjoy the beautiful sights.
falseflagsteve
Gargoyle
6 people have died climbing it already this year, it’s ruddy dangerous
Gobshite
Oops, words matter
Alan Bogglesworth
Sorry but this is just facts. There was a lot of anxiety about tourism and all the money lost on the Olympics preparation.
Setup a service based economy but when the tourist come , aren’t prepared for it , do not know how to adapt and then do silly things like suggest higher prices for foreigners or erect barriers so people can’t see Mt Fuji or blame tourists for “the rice shortage”.
Worried about trash ? Here’s an idea, install some bins on the street like 99% of the rest of the developed world.
Alan Bogglesworth
The government trying to avoid responsibility for its mistakes.
The Japanese economy would suffer massively without tourism. The tourists are a benefit and they provide Japan with income. Don’t you remember Abenomics and his plan to make this country a service based economy ? This attitude that seems to be growing as if tourists are some type of problems isn’t good for Japan’s image.
itsonlyrocknroll
The number of climbers fell by 14 percent between early July -- when the mountain's hiking trails opened for the summer -- and early September, according to the environment ministry.
This whole process was quote to address the concerns, "Japanese authorities introduced an entry fee and a daily cap on numbers to fight over tourism"
"Mount Fuji is screaming".
message received load and clear.
Why do I suspect some concern that this whole PR show, has not had the desired outcome.
And maybe this drop in numbers could have "knock on" unintended consequences to Japan hospitality sector as a whole.
An anti tourist/foreigner message never fully thought through.
DanteKH
Why do they close it so soon? You can climb up there at least until late October, considering the temperatures in the recent years.
toolonggone
Right but those charges are good for the full season. They aren’t per visit. An Acadia National Park pass is $50.00 for the year and unlimited visits.
https://www.acadianationalpark.com/park_info/fees_permits.php
Antiquesaving
It is all fake xenophobic junk to either scam money or distract from government failures.
Mount Fuji is the perfect example 2023 they started complaining about over tourism.
But with the exception of 2020 and 21 when the mountain was basically closed.
2023 at 223,0000 was the second lowest number of climbers in 17 years with 2007: 350,000 2008: 430,000, 2009: 300,000
https://www.statista.com/statistics/729744/mount-fuji-mountaineer-number-japan/
ClippetyClop
What a load of nonsense!
Do you have any proof of these wild accusations?
If it’s a scam, why are they limiting access to the mountain at the most popular / lucrative time of the day?
What government failures is the Yamanashi government trying to distract from? Why isn’t the Shizuoka government doing its distracting bit too?
And how does it distract from anything at all?
It’s a ludicrous conclusion based on a ludicrous conspiracy.
ClippetyClop
Yes, you can. But from September the weather on the mountain can turn nasty quickly. We’ve had snow up there regularly at this time of the year.
No problem for experienced mountaineers, but casual Fuji climbers might not be so well prepared.
As a general rule of thumb, if it’s raining at about 17C or lower in Tokyo, then it’s probably snowing high up on Fuji.
Moonraker
"Why is it only Japan is bad for doing it?"
Japan constantly oscillates between attention seeking and victimhood. Maybe some foreigners are on board with that too.