Mt. Fuji peak-day climbers drop 17% with overtourism measures

Popular trail sees 27% fall on busiest summer day after introducing $14 toll

Hikers climb Mt. Fuji on the Fujinomiya trail on Sept. 10. This summer has seen a 17% decline in peak-day hikers on Japan's tallest mountain due partly to access restrictions on some trails. © Kyodo

TAKAYUKI MATSUNAGA and TARO SAEKI, Nikkei staff writers

September 14, 2024 08:30 JST

KOFU/SHIZUOKA, Japan -- The number of people climbing Mt. Fuji has fallen 17% on a peak day in the summer season, compared to last year, after entry restrictions were placed on the most popular trail, adding momentum to local efforts to curb overtourism identified by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to UNESCO.