Mount Fuji adds reservation system as it battles litter and human traffic jams

Travelers eager to visit one of Japan’s premier attractions will soon need to make online reservations in advance. Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain and a site of cultural significance, announced on Monday a reservation system for its most popular trail, the Yoshida Trail, with a daily limit of 3,000 slots. This new system, starting at 10 p.m. on May 20 for hikes between July 1 and September 10, aims to address overtourism and enhance trek safety.

Currently, the trail accommodates up to 4,000 climbers per day. Under the new system, 3,000 hikers will be able to secure their spot by paying a non-refundable fee of 2,000 yen (about $13) at least a day before their trek. Groups of up to 100 people can make a single reservation. Climbers will need to present a QR code to access the trail. The remaining 1,000 slots will be available on the day of the hike, provided the limit has not been reached.

Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a climbing season limited to the summer months, attracting around 300,000 climbers each season. The mountain features four trails, with the Yoshida Trail being the most popular due to its ease of access from Tokyo.

Many visitors opt to experience the Yoshida Trail’s fifth station, accessible by public transportation from Tokyo, to marvel at the mountain’s beauty without climbing it. However, Mount Fuji and its surroundings have been plagued by human traffic jams and litter. The Fujisan Club, a local nonprofit, collected 850 tons of trash from the mountain’s foothills between 2004 and 2018.

Masatake Izumi, a government official and expert on Mount Fuji, highlighted overtourism as the mountain’s biggest issue, leading to problems such as rubbish, increased CO2 emissions, and reckless hikers.

To further mitigate crowding, Mount Fuji will introduce a new gate at the fifth station, closing access from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Many climbers ascend at night to witness the sunrise at the summit, often descending without rest, contributing to overcrowding. The new reservation system applies only to trail access, not to the mountain huts, which are dorm-style accommodations along the trail. Hikers without mountain hut reservations will not be permitted to climb between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m.

The influx of tourists has also strained local communities. Kawaguchiko, a resort town offering picturesque views of the 3,776-meter mountain, announced plans to install a large mesh net to block the view due to tourists illegally parking and climbing on local businesses’ roofs to capture the perfect photo.