If you’re planning to climb Mt Fuji this year, be prepared to pay the price – literally. The Japan Times reports that local officials have announced there will be a fee of ￥4,000 to hike the iconic mountain during this year’s climbing season, scheduled from July to September. This is an increase from last year’s fee of ￥2,000, and applies not only to the Yoshida Trail in Yamanashi prefecture, but also all three of Shizuoka prefecture’s trails, which were previously free.
The fee aims in part to manage overcrowding, as Japan has seen a massive increase in tourists in recent years. In addition to the fee, climbers will also be required to make a reservation via the official Mt Fuji climbing site. The number of daily climbers will be restricted to 4,000 people, so make sure to check for availability once the registration system comes online sometime in April.
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