WANDERLUST NEWS
Japan introduces new Mount Fuji hiking fee across main trails Japan introduces new Mount Fuji hiking fee across main trails
Japan is introducing hiking fees across all of the main trails to the summit of Mount Fuji in a bid to tackle overtourism.
Those taking on any of the Yoshida, Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri Trails will now have to pay JPY4,000 (£20) after passing through the gate at the fifth station. You will also have to register your details ahead of the climb via the online system, which is set to launch next month.
Last year, a JPY2,000 (£10) fee was introduced for the Yoshida trail, which is the most popular. Now the fee has doubled and been applied universally across the various trails.
Other 2025 regulations include entry time being restricted to between 3am and 2pm. Anyone attempting the climb after this time will need to have a reservation at a mountain hut.
Yamanashi Prefecture has also announced that there will be restrictions that limit the number of climbers on the Yoshida Trail to under 4,000 people per day. Shizuoka Prefecture, which manages the other three trails, has not yet announced regulations.
The official climbing season for the Yoshida Trail will run from 1 July until 10 September, while the Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya Trails season will run 10 July until 10 September. While it is possible to attempt the climb outside of these dates, it is not recommended unless you are an experienced climber.
Around 200,000 people climbed Mount Fuji in 2024, down from 220,000 in 2023. Japan as a whole has faced overtourism issues since reopening post-pandemic, particularly in popular destinations like Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka.
The news comes after Nepal announced it would be increasing its Mount Everest climbing fees for the first time in almost a decade in January.
More information: fujisan-climb.jp
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