More and more tourists want to climb Mount Fuji. And so overtourism also grips this sacred mountain, one of the symbols of Japan, causing traffic and pollution. The Japanese authorities have been looking for a solution for some time, some time ago a surface metro was also hypothesized, but the impact of the infrastructure on the environment does not seem to have convinced the local communities.
Now, according to what The Japan Times reports, Yamanashi prefecture, where the most popular route used by climbers lies, is ready to announce the plan for a trackless tram built by the Chinese CRRC, therefore road transport for tourists who want to tackle the 3,776 meters of the volcano. The tram would connect the base to the fifth hiking station of the famous Yoshida trail, which then goes all the way to the top. A measure that could mitigate the inconvenience and pollution caused by the constant flow of buses and tourist cars arriving at the fifth station: a headache for the authorities trying to clean up the tourist site, which many Japanese consider sacred.
However, the issue of overcrowding on the trails remains: Mount Fuji, which extends between the prefectures of Yamanashi and Shizuoka, is one of the most popular destinations in Japan, whose number of tourists has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2024, however, after some containment measures and the introduction of the tax for climbers – the prefecture charged 2000 yen per climber for the first time in the period between July 1st and September 10th – something started to change : visitors fell by 14%.
To power the tram, Yamanashi Prefecture plans to use locally produced hydrogen. Reuters reports that the public transport system will reduce project costs by up to 40% compared to the approximately 140 billion yen (850 million euros) estimated for the surface metro. The new plan would allow the prefecture to use the existing Fuji Subaru Line toll road and prohibit entry to all private vehicles and tour buses. The goal is to carry out a pilot test as early as next spring. «Tourism is one of the pillars of our tertiary sector – says Kotaro Nagasaki, governor of Yamanashi, to the Travel Voice portal – We are offering other experiences on Mount Fuji, not only the climb to the summit but also the cultural and traditional attractions on the old routes climbing to avoid excessive tourism and balance the presence of tourists.”
What specific strategies are being implemented by Japanese authorities to address the challenges of overcrowding and environmental degradation caused by tourism on Mount Fuji?
I’d be delighted to help you with that. Here are some interview questions that cover different aspects of the topic:
1. Tourism and Overcrowding on Mount Fuji: How does the increasing number of tourists on Mount Fuji impact the local communities and the environment? Can you share any specific challenges faced by the Japanese authorities in managing tourist traffic and pollution on the mountain?
2. Alternative Transportation Solutions: What prompted Yamanashi prefecture to consider building a trackless tram instead of a surface metro for the Mount Fuji trail? How does the use of locally produced hydrogen contribute to the sustainability of this transportation system?
3. Sustainable Tourism Initiatives: What are some of the other measures taken by Yamanashi prefecture to promote sustainable tourism on Mount Fuji besides the new tram system? Can you discuss the success of the pilot climber tax and how it has affected tourist numbers?
4. Balancing Tourism and Preservation: How do you ensure that tourism does not compromise the mountain’s cultural and traditional importance? What initiatives have been put in place to educate tourists about respecting Mount Fuji’s sacred nature?
5. Future Prospects: What impact do you foresee the proposed tram system having on tourist experiences at Mount Fuji? Are there any potential downsides to this solution that need to be addressed? Additionally, what are the long-term plans for further developing sustainable tourism practices on the mountain?
