Japan is a magnet for tourists for so many reasons. It’s got dazzling cities, charming villages, some great beaches, and also some excellent opportunities for those who love a good hike. But that is about to become a little bit spennier – if you opt for this particular route, at least.
That’s because a fee is about to be introduced on one of Mount Fuji’s most popular paths. The Yoshida trail, a 14.5 km loop, is considered one of the safer and most accessible ways to experience this iconic mountain – but from July 1, 2024, climbing it will no longer be free.
The mountain offers a range of hiking routes, each one for different capabilities and with different amenities, but the Yoshida trail’s proximity to Tokyo and suitability for less experienced climbers means it gets crowded.
There have been instances of congestion and logjams, and the safety implications are one factor that led to the implementation of this fee. The mountain welcomed more than 221,000 climbers in 2023.
It’ll be easier to restrict the number of people ascending the mountain each day (which will be limited to 4,000) as they’ll have to buy their entry, and beginning a climb will also be forbidden between 4pm and 2am.
That’s not the only problem being tackled here, as the fee will loosen the strain on local teams who need to rescue inexperienced climbers getting into trouble.
The fee will also apparently contribute to the construction of shelters to protect visitors from an eruption (Fuji’s technically a volcano after all) and other bits of maintenance that the mountain needs.
The thing is, we don’t know exactly how much it will be yet. A voluntary fee of ¥1,000 (€6.20, £5.30, $6.75) was introduced in 2014, but the exact amount of this new compulsory charge will be announced in February.
The news follows other recently-announced tourist charges in popular destinations, like paying €25 to enter the Hagia Sophia or a €5 charge for day-trippers to Venice. Japan already announced a fair few new tourism measures back in October, as well.
Did you see that UN Tourism has opened calls for the Best Tourism Villages 2024?
Plus: The world’s best beaches have been crowned for 2024.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.