Mt. Fuji is arguably Japan’s most iconic landmark and a world famous symbol of the nation. Conquering this mountain by climbing to its summit is on the bucket list of many travellers to Japan. So, in response to the growing numbers of climbers, new regulations have been introduced, starting at the beginning of the 2024 climbing season.
The new regulations apply to the Yoshida trail and include a daily cap on visitor numbers, which has been implemented to reduce damage to the trail and ease the safety concerns that can be caused by overcrowding. Climbing hours have also been restricted, and the gate to the trail now closes between 4pm and 3am. This is to protect the fragile ecosystems and avoid so-called “bullet climbing,” where climbers try to ascend the mountain at night, which has resulted in numerous serious injuries and even fatalities.
These regulations don’t apply to travellers who have made advance reservations for a stay at one of
Mt Fuji’s climber huts, but all climbers will now be asked to pay a nominal fee of JPY 2,000 per person. However, the JPY 1,000 donation toward the protection of Fuji-Hakone National Park remains voluntary.
For more information, get in touch with our reservation team in Japan at: [email protected]
