Many travelers looking to visit Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will now need to make online reservations in advance due to a new system implemented to address issues of overtourism and improve safety. The reservation system, which will be in effect for climbs on the popular Yoshida Trail between July 1 and Sept. 10, will have a daily limit of 3,000 slots. Climbers will need to pay a non-refundable fee of 2,000 yen to secure their spot, with groups of up to 100 people able to make reservations. Access to the trail will be through a QR code. The remaining 1,000 slots can be paid for on the day of the hike before the limit is reached.
The mountain and its surrounding areas have been struggling with issues such as human traffic jams and littering, with a local nonprofit organization having collected 850 tons of trash from the mountain’s foothills between 2004 and 2018. In addition to the reservation system, new gates will be installed at the trail entrance, and the mountain will be closed to climbers from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. to reduce overcrowding.
Local communities have also been impacted by the influx of tourists, with a resort town installing a large mesh net to block the view of the mountain due to issues such as illegal parking and climbing on roofs of local businesses. The new reservation system applies to trail admission only, not to the mountain huts along the trail. Travelers without hut reservations will not be allowed to hike during certain hours. The measures are aimed at improving the visitor experience while also preserving the cultural and environmental significance of Mount Fuji.
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