Mount Fuji trail gate installation prompts call for additional crowd control measures
- A gate has been installed halfway up Mount Fuji to manage crowds during climbing season.
- The governor of the region states that further measures are necessary to control the crowd effectively.
- Concerns arise over the need for crowd management on the iconic Japanese mountain.
A crowd-control gate was installed halfway up Japan's Mount Fuji to address safety and overcrowding issues. The gate will be closed between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m. to prevent "bullet climbing," with a maximum of 4,000 climbers allowed per day. Climbers must make reservations and choose between a day hike or overnight stay at huts along the trail. A mandatory hiking fee and optional conservation donation are required. The new measures aim to prevent disasters and ease overcrowding on the mountain. Additional steps are needed to address lower slope issues. An online registration system was implemented to manage climbing plans and discourage climbing after 4 p.m. Concerns over trash left behind by visitors have prompted actions like erecting screens to block views of the mountain.