Japan’s Highest Mountain Restricts Tourist Access

Archived material. Last modified on the old site: 2023-09-16. Prices, dates and conditions are preserved from the original and may be outdated.

Japan’s highest mountain, Fuji (Mount Fuji), is a popular destination for climbers and tourists and is visited by many people throughout the year.

The climbing season on Fuji usually runs from July to August, when the mountain trails are accessible and the weather is favourable for the ascent. During this period, many tourists come to climb to the summit. However, visitor numbers more than doubled from two million in 2012 to over five million in 2019.

The biggest problem of overtourism is its consequences, such as litter, increased CO2 emissions and careless tourists. Crowds of travellers also put pressure on mountain toilets and medical stations that were not designed for so many visitors. The environmental situation may reach a ‘critical point’.

Because of this, the local authorities are restricting access to Mount Fuji’s summit. This measure is being taken to reduce the environmental damage caused by visitors and to remedy artificial features of the landscape, such as large car parks built to accommodate tourists.

Therefore, if you plan to visit Mount Fuji, it is important to take all restrictions and safety recommendations into account and follow them.