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Tokyo take a day trip from Tokyo to these scenic spots in Yamanashi The highest peak in Japan standing at 3,776m and whether you're in Tokyo for a short time or you've lived here for decades, a clear view of the mountain never gets old. While it’s possible to get a glimpse of the mountain in the capital when the weather is clear you're better off travelling out of the city to get the perfect view Admire Mt Fuji's beauty from these nine scenic spots in Yamanashi all of which are easily reachable from Tokyo as a day trip Just try to get there early in the morning or in the late afternoon as the midday clouds tend to block the view RECOMMENDED: Best day trips from Tokyo Photo: Christopher Moswitzer/DreamstimeLocated in Yamanashi prefecture at the northern base of Mt Fuji Fujiyoshida is the town closest to the sacred mountain Here you'll get the iconic shot of Mt Fuji that's posted all over Instagram The city's main street is perfectly aligned with the centre of the mountain so it looks as if the road is heading right towards Mt Fuji The stores flanking this thoroughfare have protruding signboards creating a scene (and ultimately a photograph) that is quintessentially Japan do note that this is the city's main transport artery so be mindful and do not obstruct the traffic Photo: Tabea GreunerSaiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nemba is a former farming village turned open-air museum situated not far from the shores of Lake Saiko Its quaint countryside setting provides an ideal photo op with the towering Mt Fuji acting as a backdrop to charming traditional thatched houses.   Nemba village was destroyed by a massive landslide in 1966 The twenty ‘heritage’ houses that you see today are true-to-original reconstructions now home to craft shops – think pottery documenting the daily lives of the farmers back then as well as the tragic disaster that occurred over half a century ago Make sure to take a souvenir photo on the little bridge that overlooks the scenic village with Mt Fuji in the background – you can even dress up in a kimono or samurai armour available for rent nearby at ¥2,000 per person Art enthusiasts should check out the on-site gallery for its regularly changing exhibitions by local artists During our visit we met famous illustrator and producer Kosei Maeda of the hit anime ‘Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi’ which aired from 1975 until the early ‘90s order the hoto noodles at the little eatery near the entrance these flat noodles are served in a hearty miso-flavoured broth with meat and seasonal vegetables primary and junior high school students ¥250 Photo: Chon Kit Leong/DreamstimeOshino Hakkai fulfills all your requirements for that Instagram-perfect shot of Mt Fuji – imagine a rural Japanese village featuring small thatched huts and little ponds of crystal clear water A small sightseeing village between Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Yamanakako (two of the Fuji Five Lakes) Oshino Hakkai’s ponds receive their water straight from the slopes of Mt Fuji the mountain’s snowmelt has been filtered through porous lava layers You can take a sip of this pure water at pond Waku household goods and even samurai armour and weaponry 265 Shibokusa, Oshino-mura, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi prefecture. Free admission, except for the area around Sokonuke-ike that belongs to the museum: ¥300 primary school students ¥150, younger children ¥100; 9.30am-4pm Photo: Fujiyoshida Tourism AssociationThis marvellous view of the famous Chureito Pagoda overlooking Fujiyoshida city and Mt Fuji is almost as iconic as the peak itself. Set against a slope, the five-storey structure belongs to the Arakura Sengen Shrine and was built in 1963 as a peace memorial You’ll find the pagoda surrounded by pastel pink cherry blossoms in spring lush greens in summer and fiery red leaves in autumn Photo: Armin Forster/PixabayYou’ll find this jaw-dropping panorama at the northeastern shore of Lake Kawaguchiko, right next to the Kawaguchiko Music Forest when shutterbugs flock to the site looking to capture the sacred mountain with a frame of pink sakura courtesy of the dozens of cherry trees by the shore On windless days when the lake is exceptionally still you might even be able to take a shot of the majestic mountain and its reflection on the lake's surface If you’re not afraid of heights, board the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway at the eastern shore which goes up to an observation deck near the summit of Mt Tenjo From there you can look out to Lake Kawaguchiko on one side and Mt Fuji on the other Photo: Torsakarin/DreamstimeHakone is not only known for its many onsen (hot spring) resorts it’s also home to the expansive Lake Ashi the symbol of this mountainous region formed about 3,000 years ago There are a few ways to take in Mt Fuji here Looking from the southern shore at Moto-Hakone you’ll also get a perfect trifecta of the lake the mountain range behind and Hakone Shrine’s famous red torii gate kitschy sightseeing ‘pirate ship’ that sails on the lake several times a day 313 Sasahara Shinden, Mishima, Shizuoka prefecture. 055 972 0084. 9am-5pm daily. ¥1,100, junior high and high school students ¥500, primary school students ¥200, free for younger children.  Photo: Gotemba CityWant a good view of Mt Fuji The Gotemba Premium Outlets is so near to the iconic mountain that you can get a marvelous view of it on a clear day from the mall’s East Zone entrance By far Japan’s most popular outlet mall this Gotemba venue is laid out like an old American town with 200 or so shops spread across two zones connected via a pedestrian bridge Photo: Fujikyu Co. LtdFor a panoramic view of Japan’s national treasure, head up Mt Tenjo near Lake Kawaguchiko. Take the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway and you’ll come to an observation point near the mountain’s summit The observation deck at Mt Tenjo features a pair of massive swings It's set up at the highest point of the observation deck giving you a direct view of Mt Fuji that will take your breath away Note that the swings are only open from 9.45am-4pm daily you’ll need to get a ticket (¥500 per person) at the adjacent Tanuki tea house Photo: Fujikyu Co. LtdFuji-Q Highland in Yamanashi is not only known for its record-breaking, terrifying roller coasters, but it also makes for a great day trip from Tokyo especially in winter when you’ll have clear views of a snow-capped Mt Fuji If you’re looking to get the views without the adrenaline rush, head up Fujiyama Tower. This 55m-tall Fujiyama Sky Deck built beside part of the Fujiyama roller coaster boasts the same grand view of Mt Fuji that you probably missed while screaming on the ride.  The tower is also home to the Fujiyama Walk: a course where you can traverse midair with no guardrails but just a harness to keep you tethered to the tower Fujiyama Tower is just outside Fuji-Q Highland so you won’t need a park ticket to enter and enjoy the view Fujiyama Sky Deck: 5-6-1 Shin-Nishihara junior high and high school students ¥800 Photo: Fujikyu Co. LtdGet panoramic views of Mt Fuji, Lake Kawaguchiko and the entire city from high in the sky at the Zekkei Panorama Kairo observation deck. It’s on the Mt Fuji Panorama Ropeway which goes from ground level all the way to the top of Mt Tenjo which will take you on a 2-minute-20-second journey up the mountain walk a few minutes up the slope to reach the observation deck.  You’ll be able to get stunning views of Mt Fuji at eye level although be aware that the view is much better on clear days Photo: Alpina ResortsIf climbing Mt Fuji sounds a bit too ambitious, you can still enjoy the icon of Japan from one of the best vantage points in the area: the Fujimi Terrace at Izunokuni Panorama Park in the scenic Izu Peninsula. The park is located just under two hours from Tokyo Station and it offers a blissful getaway from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. To get up to the sky-high terrace, just hop on the park's 1,800m ropeway, which will take you up to the summit of Katsuragi Mountain at 452 metres above sea level in seven minutes. Ropeway: 260-1 Nagaoka, Izunokuni, Shizuoka prefecture. 055 948 1525. Feb 16-Oct 15 9am-5.10pm, Oct 16-Feb 15 9am-4.40pm. ¥1,800 round trip, children ¥900. Photo: Lee Hans/UnsplashFind some of Japan’s most beautiful temples, hiking trails and nature attractions no more than a few hours from Tokyo Photo: Keisuke TanigawaSpend a leisurely afternoon at these Tokyo parks – don’t forget the sunscreen and the beer Photo: ikeda_a /PIXTAVenture beyond Tokyo – add these breathtaking temples landmarks and hiking trails to your Japan bucket list Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Yamanashi Prefecture—The city government here will introduce fees at normally free parking lots and double the charges in certain areas to ease congestion caused by foreign tourists flocking to see Mount Fuji The city proposed an ordinance for the parking-fee plan on Feb have called on officials to force visitors to cover more of the city’s tourism-related expenses Two photo spots in Fuji-Yoshida are especially popular among foreign tourists where visitors can capture shots of the striking red Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji in the background The parking lots near the park are on narrow residential streets Cars waiting for spots to open up have caused traffic jams which have made it difficult for residents to get around their neighborhood The other popular spot is near the Honcho 2-chome intersection where tourists can take photos of Japan’s highest mountain as it “rises” at the end of a one-lane national road running through a nostalgic shopping street Many tourists have been seen crouching on the centerline of the busy road to take photos Littering has also become a problem in the area the city has deployed traffic attendants and installed additional public restrooms.However the costs of hiring attendants and maintaining the restrooms total about 100 million yen ($652,000) annually all four free parking lots for Arakurayama Sengen Park―including two built this fiscal year―will charge fees Located within a few hundred meters of the park these lots can accommodate around 200 vehicles The two parking lots closest to the park will charge 1,500 yen for up to six hours while the two other ones slightly farther away will cost 1,000 yen for the same duration The city also aims to encourage visitors to avoid parking on residential streets the rates for three city-run parking lots near the shopping street will be doubled from the current 100 yen to 200 yen for the first hour and from 50 yen to 100 yen for every additional 30 minutes Revenue from these fees will be used to cover essential tourism-related expenses such as maintaining public restrooms and paying for traffic attendants around 240,000 tourists visited Arakurayama Sengen Park in 2016 the number surged to 1.15 million in 2023―about triple the previous year’s figure―and reached roughly 1.51 million in 2024 Many affluent tourists arrive in rental cars taxis or chauffeured vehicles from Tokyo and the Kansai region the city set up an overtourism countermeasures committee comprising three internal departments After hearing opinions from relevant organizations and local community associations the city formed a special task force in early January this year to move forward with the paid parking plan “We are truly grateful for visitors from abroad but the reality is that they are causing inconvenience to local residents,” Fuji-Yoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said at a regular news conference in January “Our goal is to reduce friction with local residents while ensuring a pleasant experience for tourists,” he said “We are identifying the challenges and implementing measures.” The city is also considering charging an entrance fee for Arakurayama Sengen Park the city plans to end the free use of a parking lot for tour buses operated by the Fuji-Yoshida tourism promotion service led by mayor will begin charging 3,000 yen to 5,000 yen per vehicle in April Most of the passengers are foreign tourists many of whom stop briefly in the city just to take photos and do not contribute much to the local economy The city expects some tour groups to stop visiting due to the parking fees Officials hope this will help bring tourist numbers closer to an appropriate level Yamanashi city weighs entrance fee to park famed for Mt China-made tram eyed to take hikers up Mount Fuji Students create local rice ball for foreign visitors at foot of Mt Base opens for high tourist spot offering ‘best’ view of Mt Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Yamanashi — The city of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture plans to start charging a fee for parking at a park with a view of Mt Fuji alongside a five-story pagoda from April please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The city aims to ease traffic congestion around Arakurayama Sengen Park as well as help pay the large expenses associated with guiding traffic and cleaning toilets “Having many tourists come to the park has a great effect on revitalizing the city it also causes inconveniences to residents,” Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said at a regular press conference on Wednesday He added that “it will cost a lot of money to take a variety of measures” to ensure that tourists enjoy themselves without affecting the lives of locals According to the city and relevant organizations a parking fee is being considered at four parking lots with a total capacity of about 200 vehicles An extraordinary city council meeting to submit a draft ordinance is planned for next month The city is also considering a parking fee for approximately 6 sightseeing buses in the city center ¥3,000-¥5,000 has been proposed for that fee the city is considering introducing an entrance fee at the park itself “There are several entrances [to the park] so it would be difficult to collect the fee.” He also revealed that a proposal to charge a fee to enter an observation deck at the park has been discussed Visitors to the park numbered a record 1.51 million last year the so-called “off-season for tourism,” many foreign tourists visit the park to take pictures of the snow-capped Mt the area surrounding the park is densely populated with houses and the narrow and complicated roads there cause traffic jams on a daily basis resulting in complaints to the city from nearby residents the city dispatched traffic guides and took such measures as building two new parking lots to accommodate a total of about 70 vehicles in the surrounding area this fiscal year The cost of measures continues to rise every year with approximately ¥80 million spent in fiscal 2023 on such expenses as hiring park guides and cleaning restrooms Calls for the parking charge had been heard throughout the municipality Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Today's print edition Home Delivery This year's climbing season for Mount Fuji ended on Tuesday without any major confusion over new restrictions that were imposed at the start of the season The hiking trails in Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures were closed down at Japan's highest peak on the day.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Yamanashi introduced a daily limit of 4,000 climbers and a fee of ¥2,000 per person in hopes of easing congestion and clamping down on dangerous attempts at what is known as bullet climbing In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division The evening chimes of Fujiyoshida City’s disaster prevention administrative radio will change to Fujifabric’s “Wakamono no Subete” from July 7th (Sunday) to July 13th (Saturday) proposed under the “Heisei 24 Fiscal Year City Hall Young Staff Project,” is named in honor of Masahiko Shimura a musician from Fujiyoshida City who passed away suddenly in 2009 Fujifabric’s songs are broadcasted via the disaster prevention administrative radio around Shimura’s birthday This marks the 26th occasion of the project attracting many fans from both within and outside the prefecture to visit the city during this period at Shimo-Yoshida Station on the Fujikyuko Line in the same city Shimura’s vocals from “Wakamono no Subete” and “Akaneiro no Yuuhi” have been used as train approach sounds The station platform features special panels introducing Shimura’s profile and musical achievements in commemoration of their 20th anniversary Fujifabric will hold “THE BEST MOMENT” at Tokyo Garden Theater in Ariake Tokyo on August 4th (Sunday) and a special three-man live event “Non-Fiction” with Quruli and ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka on November 10th (Sunday) Tickets are currently available on ePlus for both events NiEW Best Music is a playlist featuring artists leading the music scene and offering alternative styles in our rapidly evolving society the NiEW editorial team proudly curates outstanding music that transcends size A road with a view: Tourists snap pictures of Mount Fuji from Honcho Street in the city of Fujiyoshida FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan -- The quest to share an iconic image of Japan on social media is driving a tourist boom near Mount Fuji that is spreading far beyond the beaten track Fujiyoshida, formerly a relatively little-known city close to the iconic mountain, started to attract more visitors after the peak's 2013 selection as a cultural World Heritage site Its popularity later spiraled due to social media's obsession with breathtaking views of Mount Fuji -- with snaps often featuring elements like cherry blossoms autumn leaves and ancient pagodas or even juxtaposing the ancient snow-covered summit with the mundanity of places such as a Lawson convenience store Yamanashi — A local government in Yamanashi Prefecture has launched a new subsidy system to revitalize an abandoning shopping district taking advantage of the influx of foreign tourists who are flocking to the area to enjoy beautiful views of Mt By Makoto Kimura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer The Honcho-dori shopping street in the central part of Fujiyoshida in the prefecture has become full of vacant store spaces large numbers of foreign tourists have visited this spot in to see spectacular Mt The city government has established a system to offer subsidies to those who want to open stores or eateries in the shopping street in hopes of using the scenery’s attractiveness to foreign tourists to revitalize the area are preparing to open in the Honcho-dori shopping street in the central part of Fujiyoshida in the prefecture The city government aims to develop the shopping street into a nucleus of tourism-related industries in the city as the street appears to extend straight on to Mt the area was a bustling commercial district the area is lined with more than 100 empty houses and closed stores the shopping street has been a social media phenomenon as people say they can take great photos there –- retro items that give the atmosphere of half century ago such as old signboards and chochin lanterns the street has begun to see visitor numbers exceeding 4,000 a day The city government has begun revitalizing the shopping street full of closed store spaces by utilizing the large numbers of tourists a company was established to promote the revitalization of the local community the city government began a scheme to offer subsidies of up to ¥5 million to business entities and individuals who want to begin new businesses in closed shops on or around the shopping street So far a total of 19 subsidy applications have been submitted There are plans for a wide variety of businesses used a subsidy to start a restaurant that will open as early as October and serve char-grilled food which had previously served as both a home electronics store and the home of that store’s owner He plans to run a restaurant where customers will enjoy yakitori grilled chicken and nikomi boiled dishes in a retro atmosphere “I want to run a restaurant which will remain in the memories of visitors both from home and abroad,” Horiuchi said One of the questions involved in revitalizing the area is how to avoid spoiling the retro atmosphere that attracted so many tourists in the first place The promoting company is also providing subsidies for projects to preserve the exteriors of existing buildings as well as beginning attempts to connect owners of vacant store spaces with people who want to open new businesses there the company official in charge of the project “We want to maintain the scenery which fascinates so many people for as long as possible and make the area a place that offers excellent hospitality.” National Report Tourists flock to the city of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture for the picture-perfect vistas of nearby Mount Fuji But while Fujiyoshida and other parts of Japan are being visited by increasing numbers of inbound tourists there has also been a growing number of traffic accidents caused by foreign drivers in rental cars Poor safety awareness due to differences in traffic rules is cited in many cases Measures are being taken in these popular tourist destinations to overcome language barriers and help non-Japanese visitors gain a better understanding of local traffic rules the prefectural police's Fujiyoshida Police Station produced a flier in English last spring calling on inbound tourists to drive safely asking car rental agencies and tourist information centers to display it in their offices The flier shows illustrations for stop signs while also explaining that pedestrians are given priority at crosswalks and that drivers are required to call the emergency 110 number when they are involved in an accident the number of property damage accidents caused by foreign tourists in rented cars in the jurisdiction of the police station totaled 216 in pre-pandemic 2019 But the figure rose by around 3.5 times to 770 in 2024 these foreign drivers were involved in single-vehicle accidents in which they hit curbstones Local residents have also raised concerns to the police station and the city government The police station also produced fliers in Chinese Korean and Thai in December last year and intends to distribute them to inbound travelers Similar educational efforts are being made elsewhere members of the Hokkaido police were at a venue of the Sapporo Snow Festival in the city's Odori Koen park which was filled with visitors from around the world They called on inbound tourists to practice traffic safety in English The officers handed out foreign-language fliers to alert foreign tourists who rent vehicles of the dangers of snow-covered roads and inform them of the traffic laws in Japan There were 8,743 accidents involving injuries in Hokkaido in 2024 inbound tourists were held most responsible for causing the accidents The Hokkaido police painted "STOP" in English on the road near stop signs in 2017 for the first time in the country The police also produced a YouTube video featuring clips of past accidents on snow-covered roads According to the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis there were 57 accidents in Japan in 2023 in which foreign travelers on short-term visits driving rental cars were deemed most responsible The institute analyzed in depth accidents caused by foreign drivers in rental cars who visited Japan for sightseeing and entertainment purposes during the five years until 2018 The result showed that there were 66 such accidents a year on average indicating that foreign drivers were at a significantly higher risk of causing accidents than Japanese drivers Compared to Japanese and foreign residents many of them caused "right-turn accidents," in addition to intersection collisions a car turning right collides with a car going straight in the opposite lane in a country where cars drive on the left side of the road It is possible that they failed to confirm safety at intersections Okinawa and Hokkaido accounted for about 80 percent of the accidents There were many cases of right-turn accidents in Okinawa while intersection collisions and rear-end accidents were frequently reported in Hokkaido Possible causes include inability to understand Japanese differences in traffic rules and culture and ignorance of local traffic environments and circumstances The institute pointed out that it is helpful to raise awareness on traffic safety and provide information appropriate for areas where foreign tourists rent cars The All Japan Rent-A-Car Association calls on foreign drivers to be vigilant when driving in Japan Vietnamese and other languages on parking rules how to respond in the event of an accident and other situations on its website Go-kart service caught letting tourists drive without licenses Car automatic braking systems to cover cyclists under new rule NPA: 70% of students in bike accidents hit at intersections Icy roads strand drivers overnight through Tokyo as accidents abound the Fujiyoshida city government in Yamanashi Prefecture has recently asked the media to refrain from covering Arakurayama Sengen Park By Toya Wakui / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer the city has been holding the Cherry Blossom Festival at the park attracting many foreign visitors who wish to see the cherry blossoms The city’s measures to deal with traffic jams and other issues isn’t sufficient for the unstoppable flow of people which was crowded with foreign tourists and others smiled as she snapped photos of the view of Mt This combination is famous outside Japan as it is quintessential Japanese scenery the cherry blossoms at the park were featured in a travel guide in 2015 attracting worldwide attention through social media and other media The number of visitors especially increases when the cherry blossoms are at their peak It is already necessary to deal with traffic jams during the off-season April has longer lines than usual of cars and tourist buses on roads used by local residents due to increased passenger cars and tourist buses the Cherry Blossom Festival was started with the specific purpose of easing traffic congestion in 2016 the city can limit road usage to prevent accidents and lessen traffic with permission from the head of the local police station “We thought this was an initiative that would not only revitalize the community but also alleviate traffic congestion and control visitors.” the city has taken measures such as increasing the number of security guards to about 50 which is three or four times the normal number visitors to the festival have been increasing beyond the city’s capacity The first festival in 2016 attracted about 60,000 people “The truth is that there is nothing much we can do to prevent it,” and “There is a limit as to what we can do as a city.” The city asked media to refrain from filming or photographing inside the observation deck and reporting on the condition of the cherry blossoms’ in order to avoid a rush of tourists to the park This is the first time the city made such a request Its tourism website has a statement: “This year we will decline all media coverage to avoid crowds and traffic congestion and to ensure safety.” The city is concerned that the same situation will occur during the Golden Week holiday period in May and the autumn foliage season The Cherry Blossom Festival will last until Friday the city will no longer be able to restrict traffic on roads used for daily life so the city will have to rely on the honor system again causing constant traffic jams and collisions on narrow roads,” said a man in his 70s who lives nearby To maintain a certain level of order even during the off-season the city has switched to charging to park at four city-run lots in the area and is considering charging for the observation deck at the park The city began allocating about 15 security guards to deal with worsening traffic behavior and littering and earmarks more than ¥100 million a year to handle these issues and other ones such as keeping toilets clean “It is difficult for the city alone to deal with the situation,” said a city official arranging the Cherry Blossom Festival “We would like to see the prefectural and national governments get serious about taking countermeasures such as adding English to road signs and making visitors aware of overtourism when they enter Japan.” Yamanashi Prefecture--Visitors to a popular viewing spot for Mount Fuji could face being slapped with an entrance fee as city officials tackle issues related to overtourism Foreign tourists are flocking to Arakurayama Sengen Koen park whose viewing deck offers picture-perfect views of Japan’s highest peak with the Chureito five-story pagoda in the foreground 2.4 times as many as the pre-pandemic 540,000 in fiscal 2019 Officials complained that toilets in the park are frequently clogged because users don’t observe the rules on what can be flushed and plastic drinks bottles are strewn here and there city officials are mulling plans to collect an entrance fee to the park to curb the influx of visitors while they step up cleaning and garbage disposal efforts “The fee could be in the form of voluntary ‘cooperation money,’ rather than mandatory,” said a senior city official The city has also received complaints that the 398 flights of steps leading to the viewing deck are sometimes so crowded that elderly people and those with physical disabilities have difficulties making it to the platform City officials are considering installing an elevator an escalator or another means to ease the congestion “Our priority is coexistence between tourists and residents,” said Noboru Kobayashi who heads the city’s economy and environment department “But we don’t want to put a burden on residents.” At another popular viewing spot for Mount Fuji the city government opened a pay parking lot at a cost of 180 million yen ($1.14 million) on June 1 to mitigate traffic congestion The Honcho-dori road in central Fujiyoshida teems with tourists eager to snap pictures of retro-looking shops that line both sides of the road against the backdrop of 3,776-meter-high Mount Fuji Vans carrying group tourists frequently stop along nearby alleys Stores along Honcho-dori have complained that many tourists drop by to use their restrooms without buying anything City officials expect vans for group tourists to use the new parking lot the neighboring town of Fuji-Kawaguchiko installed a barrier to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji that appears to be sitting on the roof of a Lawson convenience store following complaints about littering and other issues Japan imposes new fees on Mount Fuji climbers to limit tourists October 24th Mayor John Suthers of Colorado Springs and Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi of Fujiyoshida Japan celebrated the 60-year relationship as sister cities Mayor Suthers and Mayor Horiuchi celebrated the occasion by planting two Japanese Lilac Trees at America the Beautiful Park to remember the occasion Mayor John Suthers was recently in Fujiyoshida back in 2017 where Mayor Horiuchi and Mayor Suthers had previously planted trees to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the sister cities The sisterhood between the two cities began in 1962 and was the first of seven international sister cities Colorado Springs would come to have The Sister Cities International program was created at President Eisenhower’s 1956 White House summit on citizen diplomacy Eisenhower envisioned a network that would be a champion for peace and prosperity by fostering bonds between people from different communities around the world at the local level Fujiyoshida is a city located in central Japan and stands at a population of around 50,000 people Known as one of Japan's high-elevation cities the town holds the world-renowned Chureito Pagoda with its gorgeous cherry blossoms and stunning views in beautiful proximity to Mt Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5 Report a typo Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture is known as the location of a now iconic photo featuring Mount Fuji and the Chūreitō pagoda in the city’s Arakurayama-Sengen Park the image graced the cover of the Michelin Green Guide Japan and then the front of the Lonely Planet guide Best in Travel 2016 instantly putting Fujiyoshida in the spotlight at home and abroad This iconic image of springtime cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji has been shared worldwide on social media the pagoda and its scenic environs have been go-to destinations for travelers The site was not especially well known in Japan but with growing international attention it has become a popular day-trip destination for visitors from the Tokyo area few have taken time to explore Fujiyoshida itself or head for the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park Fujiyoshida is now running a public relations campaign about the city’s past and its modern-day attractions One feature the campaign emphasizes is the local tradition of weaving a craft established here over one thousand years ago Fujiyoshida was known around the world for its weaving technology and quality products Old-fashioned storefronts line Honchō-dōri Visitors can start their tour of the city’s weaving traditions at Fujiyoshida’s information center a facility operated by the local textile cooperative that stands adjacent to Fujisan Station on the Fujikyuūkō Line The center displays textiles woven in Fujiyoshida and provides an overview of the local weaving industry’s history along with information on factory tours Several textile manufacturers in Fujiyoshi have created their own house brands and take turns hosting “Open Factory” events in which they open their doors to the public The events are held the third Saturday of every month Visitors can peruse outlet items and also reserve a place at a workshop to create a stole or tie-dyed fabric The Fujiyoshida Textile Information Center The Center offers a space where visitors can inspect fabrics or try their hand at making a fabric-covered button Small items from local textiles are available at the Yamanashi Weaving Travel Mill Shop in the Q-Sta shopping mall next to Fujiyoshida Station Weaving in Fujiyoshida dates back over a millennium although some sources say it began in prehistoric times The earliest written evidence is the Engishiki compilation of laws and customs completed in 927 which mentions that the Province of Kai (present-day Yamanashi) was obliged to provide cloth explains that weaving took root as local soils are unsuitable for farming “The plentiful snow-melt water flowing from Mount Fuji was ideal for dyeing “Many locals were engaged in raising silkworm and weaving from early on.” Maeda Tomio The shop originally was in the business of weaving silk for umbrellas and other items but has recently branched out into organic cotton Stoles and other items made from cotton produced on looms originally designed for fine silk weaving are popular for their uniquely soft texture Dyeing the thread before weaving yielded fabrics with vibrant colors that retained their hues and were resistant to fading Sophisticated weaving skills also made it possible to produce patterned fabric social rules mandated that ordinary people dress in a restrained manner but that they expressed their sense of style through the linings of their garments When they took off their haori at a banquet or some other occasion their garment’s fancy lining was on view for all to see.” He explains that in this way fashion conscious people in society vied to outdo their peers Vividly colored Kai silk shows subtle color variations when viewed from different angles Each bolt of fabric has its own detailed specifications Fujiyoshida continued to prosper as a purveyor of quality textiles after the last decades of the nineteenth century but experienced a decline during World War II when its looms were taken due to wartime requisition of metals Wholesalers would flock to Fujiyoshida from all over the country to buy its textiles each clack of the loom was likened to cash pouring into the till the renewed burst of prosperity was short-lived,” declares Kobayashi Shinji Fujiyoshida’s weaving industry suffered a blow when imported textiles starting pouring into the country in the 1960s leading several weaving concerns to either shut down or downsize their operations the region’s textile makers agreed to dispose of their looms en masse there are 200 companies with about 1,000 looms compared to the industry’s most prosperous period when there were over 6,000 weaving companies operating 20,000 looms Kobayashi checks a loom He says that older machines are sometimes preferred for weaving certain types of fabrics A collection of Tenjin Factory linen goods the weavers of Fujiyoshida have transmitted their skills and worked hard to preserve the local craft Motivated by connections with students from fine arts school Tokyo Zōkei University in the last 10 years or so younger business owners have branched out in new directions opening factory-owned shops or launching private brands “Many local weaving businesses are known for their highly-developed technologies and specialize in niche products unsuited for mass production,” explains Kobayashi “But they are very small outfits and few produce outer cloth for garments which may be why the local industry isn’t very well known.” Even though textiles made in Fujiyoshida are less in the limelight today they continue to be used for garment linings The factory shop at necktie specialist Hadachū Orimono displays a range of colorful wares A shop operated by Makita Shōten which produces fabric and also designs and manufactures umbrellas This sign for Kai Silk Wholesalers is over 150 years old Fujiyoshida textile producers have some of the best skills in the country which has attracted notice among students who have worked hard to communicate the appeal and tradition of the local industry Enticed by the city’s location in the foothills of Mount Fuji many of the students even moved to Fujiyoshida after graduation This spurred young weaving business owners to develop unique products for sale in their directly-owned shops to broadcast the appeal of their wares It has also created a movement attracting creators from near and far city authorities have gone into high gear to put “textile city” Fujiyoshida back on the map “We Fujiyoshida natives had lost sight of what made our city attractive,” says Kobayashi “Young folks rediscovered the local appeal just like foreign visitors were drawn to the area by that famous photo of the Chūreitō pagoda.” Tenjin Factory’s Kobayashi is proud of his linen products The Tenjin Factory shop and many businesses provide bike stands outside their shops Fujiyoshida holds a textile festival every October that attracts exhibitors from all over the country there are events like hands-on weaving sessions and shows with live presenters to highlight the appeal of Fujiyoshida and its textiles explored new possibilities for textiles and the city through fabric art installations at several locations along Honmachi-dōri and elsewhere in the city Organizers foresee that this kind of event will gradually help make Fujiyoshida known for its textiles once again Toki no Kage (Shadows of Time) installation by Ohmaki Shinji at Fuji Textile Week 2021 Fabrics and products from Fujiyoshida textile makers were also on display at the event Visitors to the area can also enjoy the local treat Yoshida udon extra-chewy wheat noodles have a connection with the textile industry many of the loom operators in textile factories were women Men were in charge of preparing the noon meal and to ensure that workers had enough sustenance to last until evening Walking through the city’s streets and sampling a bowl of Yoshida udon are surefire ways of getting to know Fujiyoshida and its mainstay industry better and of appreciating the bounty that Mount Fuji has bestowed The typical Yoshida udon is topped with horsemeat and boiled cabbage and accompanied by a spicy paste seasoning Extra-chewy udon in dipping sauce is also popular Banner photo: Textile art by Nishio Yoshinari exhibited at Fuji Textile Week 2021.) Reports of monkey sightings poured in on Thursday in Fujiyoshida The sightings are believed to be of the “monkey with no left hand,” which has been spotted in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture since October according to Fujiyoshida’s city government The monkey was about 50 centimeters tall and was missing its left hand It was sitting in front of an automatic door to the museum and was not moving About 60 people were inside the museum at the time and after museum staff took measures to keep the automatic door from opening The city later received reports from people who said they had seen the monkey the monkey with no left hand has been spotted in the northern part of Tokyo’s 23 wards and the Tama region there were also many sightings of a similar looking monkey in Oyama Pacific Islands Guam public relations manager Keiko Nishida PACIFIC Islands Club Guam hosted six Guam runners at the Fire Festival Road Race in Fujiyoshida according to information provided in a press release from PIC Guam Bill "Shep" DeBenedictis and Yuki Kobayashi earned a free trip and entry to the Japan event courtesy of Pacific Islands Club Guam based on their results from last year's Pacific Islands Club International Road Race the PIC International Road Races have enjoyed a sister-race relationship with the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival Road Race Taking place in the city of Fujiyoshida in Japan every August the top male and female resident finishers of each of the PIC Road Race events (5K 10K and Half Marathon) are invited to participate in the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival Road Race the top male and female finishers of the Fujiyoshida Race are invited to compete in the PIC Road Races Pacific Islands Club Guam will host the 20th annual PIC International Road Races on Sunday Runners from all over the Asia-Pacific region will compete in the 5K Online registration is now open. Additional race information can be accessed at www.picresorts.com Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Many foreign tourists are flooding into the area as traffic congestion and littering have also worsened A large number of foreign tourists gather at Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida on Monday to take pictures of the snowcapped Mt TOKYO – Overtourism is becoming more serious in the municipalities in the northern foothills of Mt which has finally been crowned with snow for this year trying to take pictures of the spectacular scenery Traffic congestion and littering have also worsened and local governments are working on countermeasures a 54-year-old tourist from India was in Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida enthusiastically snapping pictures with her smartphone She said she felt very lucky to get to see the beauty of snowcapped Mt and that this was what she had hoped for in making her first visit to Japan The park has become popular for its panoramic view of Mt the observation deck was overflowing with tourists taking pictures But the spectacular view became a hot topic on social media In addition to littering and trespassing on private property the park is plagued by chronic traffic jams The total number of visitors to the park between April and the end of November this year was a record 1.02 million an increase of 10,000 from the same month last year and a record high for that month If the number of visitors continues to increase at the current pace it is expected to exceed the previous fiscal year’s total of 1.3 million the city plans to allocate about ¥19 million in a supplementary budget plan to add more traffic wardens A city official says that finding a fundamental solution is difficult The cost of countermeasures has continued to balloon with about ¥80 million spent last fiscal year on traffic guides and restroom cleaning among others “It is possible that the amount will increase further this fiscal year,” said one city official At the Lawson convenience store in Fuji-Kawaguchiko which previously became a topic of discussion as a hot spot for photographing Mt people are once again starting to gather and on the Fujikyu Railway line which runs at the foot of Mt people have often been observed entering the tracks from railroad crossings to take pictures of the snow-capped Mt The company has installed warning signs and a device that automatically plays warning sounds near railroad crossings Lake Yamanakako and the mountains at the foot of Mt has posted security guards on weekends and holidays to prevent traffic jams A shuttle bus service from a remote parking lot has also begun operating on a trial basis An official at the village’s tourism department said “There have been concerns about overtourism due to the spectacular scenery So we took steps immediately after the opening of the deck to prevent problems such as traffic accidents.” This year will mark the latest snowcap formation on Mt Fuji since record-keeping began 130 years ago Fuji in this picture taken from Fujiyoshida City Fuji’s first snowcap of the year traditionally signifies the arrival of winter TOKYO – The record for the latest snowcap formation of the year on Mt with the mountain’s peak still yet to see its first snowfall This year will therefore mark the latest snowcap formation on Mt Fuji since recordkeeping began 130 years ago According to the Kofu Local Meteorological Office in Kofu higher-than-usual temperatures are believed to be behind the delay in snowfall on the mountain weather officials confirm the season’s first snowcap from the meteorological office about 40 kilometers away from the mountain The officials said cloudy weather around the mountain or in the city could make it difficult for them to confirm the formation of a snowcap even if snow has fallen “We can usually appreciate the view of a snowcapped Mt Fuji against autumn colors this time of the year,” said Yuka Shimizu a worker at a green tea shop in the Honcho-dori shopping street in Fujiyoshida The street has become a famous location for enjoying Mt “I’m looking forward to the first snowcap so that I can appreciate the changing of the seasons,” she said Please upgrade to a more modern version to fully experience JapanToday site and for security reasons An employee was trapped and killed while making an inspection of the roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida City was inspecting the roller coaster at around noon when a coaster started moving for some reason and he was crushed against the rails The park's management company said the roller coaster was out of service all day for regular inspection and Kamura was working under a carriage parked just before the boarding area when it started moving and pinned him against the rails The park operator said a total of 11 mechanics had been working on the ride since around 9 a.m The manual states that inspections are to be performed with the main power to the operating device turned off and that the vehicle is designed to stop using brakes attached to the rails but it is not yet known whether the main power was on or the brakes were working properly at the time of the accident No one should ever die while just doing their job Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts Join the leading Asian tourist attraction to assist our diverse range of customers A mix of what's trending on our other sites As inbound tourism to Japan rebounds to pre-pandemic levels, Yamanashi Prefecture is experiencing a surge in visitors flocking to breathtaking views of Mount Fuji Highlighting this trend is the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival in the prefecture's Fujiyoshida City visitors can enjoy views of cherry blossoms and the iconic five-storied pagoda all in one vista a notable 50% increase from the previous year Some local governments were initially slow to tap into the potential of inbound tourism many of them are actively seeking to attract more visitors by expanding and establishing observation facilities at scenic locales the popularity of Mount Fuji has also brought with it the unwelcome consequences of overtourism This has led some municipalities to take unprecedented measures such as installing a "view-obscuring screen." The view of Mount Fuji seen from Shindo Pass in Fuefuki City is featured in the iconic intro of Shochiku films this spot remained relatively unknown beyond avid mountain climbers and photographers due to its rugged mountain path To improve accessibility, Fuefuki City constructed the FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace observation facility in July 2021 Despite attracting around 20,000 visitors annually it has yet to capture the attention of inbound tourists Fuefuki City partnered with travel giant JTB to promote the location internationally and establish a new hub with cafes and retail shops They have also launched guided tours starting from Lake Kawaguchi.  Mayor Masaki Yamashita envisions it as "a destination for Mount Fuji tourism," aiming to attract 50,000 visitors annually Plans for new observation decks are also in progress in the northern foothills of Mount Fuji. Yamanakako Village is building a 60-meter-long observation deck at the Yamanakako Panoramic Viewing Platform which will offer views of Mount Fuji and Lake Yamanaka The deck is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 in the current parking space accommodating fewer than ten cars the village is exploring the possibility of providing bus services from lakeside facilities to the observation platform Narusawa Village is building a Mount Fuji observation deck at the "Ikikatsu Hiroba," adjacent to Road Station Narusawa will be able to accommodate around 30 people for photos The area is also a popular destination for school trips.  Both villages aim to redirect some of the inbound tourism in Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town to their new facilities From an administrative standpoint, overtourism poses significant challenges for Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town. A notable example is the Honcho 2 Intersection in Fujiyoshida City, where Honcho Street stretches straight toward Mount Fuji, lined with nostalgic shops, signs, and paper lanterns reminiscent of the Showa era This spot has gained immense popularity on social media drawing crowds of inbound tourists eager to capture photos Tourists have been observed stopping in the middle of the intersection to use Mount Fuji as a backdrop for their photos Some linger on the road even after the stoplight turns red Proposed measures such as converting the intersection into a scramble crossing or separating pedestrians and vehicles have been considered but not yet implemented the city's approach centers on increasing the number of security guards concerns persist regarding traffic congestion and safety Fujikawaguchiko Town took an unprecedented step to tackle overtourism dubbed "Mount Fuji Lawson," became a hotspot for inbound tourists Mount Fuji appears to float just above the shop's roof It was discovered that this angle could be achieved from a sidewalk in front of a dental clinic opposite the convenience store Tourists attempting to capture the perfect shot trespassed onto nearby private property and crossed a busy single-lane road without using designated crossings Attempts to address these issues with security guards and English signage proved futile the town's urban development division decided to erect a screen to obstruct the view of Mount Fuji deeming it a "last resort." Construction to install the poles for the screen measuring approximately 2.5 meters high and 20 meters wide The situation reflects a complex combination of anticipation for regional revitalization through tourism and concerns about the negative impacts of overtourism Fujikawaguchiko Town's decision to block Mount Fuji has attracted significant attention as deliberately obstructing an iconic view in response to overtourism is unprecedented in Japan (Read the article in Japanese.)Author: Takashi Hirao You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Yamanashi — The number of people making a “bullet climb” to the summit of Mt Fuji overnight dropped by 90% a week after Yamanashi Prefecture introduced climbing restrictions By Makoto Kimura and Hiroyuki Yoneyama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers The restrictions — a climbing fee and a cap on daily visitor numbers — were introduced at Mt The finding was based on analysis by The Yomiuri Shimbun of data on the number of climbers collected by the city of Fujiyoshida The restrictions are believed to be having a positive effect with some people concerned saying that the number of bullet climbers has decreased dramatically Fuji straddles the border of Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures During the climbing season from July 1 through Sept the Yamanashi prefectural government closes a temporary gate at the fifth station from 4 p.m The prefecture has limited the number of visitors to 4,000 per day and climbers from the trail on the Yamanashi side are charged ¥2,000 per person According to data collected by Fujiyoshida at the sixth station’s Mt 394 climbers passed through the sixth station from the 5 p.m hours in the week after the gate was opened on July 1 The figure represented 3.4% of the total number of climbers during the week there were 1,167 climbers during those hours The number of climbers counted from the 9 p.m believed to include bullet climbers trying to catch the sunrise at the summit a 94.8% decrease from the 400 counted last year “Restrictions are working as there are almost no climbers at night I feel the number of climbers during the daytime seems to have increased a little,” said Katsuyoshi Iwasa it remains to be seen whether the other goal of the restrictions — reducing trail congestion — can be achieved The prefectural government announced that 13,217 climbers were allowed to pass through the fifth station gate during the first week of the opening of Mt The average daily number of climbers was 1,888 and there were no days when the number of climbers exceeded 4,000 more than 1,000 reservations are being made each day and reservations for Saturday daytime hikes this week and next are already full and at times I couldn’t climb at my own pace it would have been hard to climb the mountain,” said a 24-year-old company employee from Nerima Ward “The number of climbers will increase from here on We will continue to monitor how the restrictions will affect climbers,” an official of the Fujiyoshida municipal government said Climbers now need to make a reservation to use the popular Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of Mount Fuji The new reservation system started accepting bookings at 10 am on May 20 6,849 reservations had been made for the climbing season from July 1 to September 10 "The reservations aren't concentrated on particular days like weekends or the Obon [holiday] period We have received around 100 reservations per day." As the daily limit is 3,000 people These were predominantly from groups rather than individual climbers It appears that travel agencies offering Mount Fuji trips were quick to get in Yamanashi Prefecture will install a gate at the 5th station This aims to limit the number of climbers by time and day It will also prevent "bullet climbing," where climbers leave the 5th station in the evening and ascend straight to the summit without staying overnight in a mountain hut A ¥2,000 JPY (around $13 USD) fee is required to pass through the gate which must be paid in advance through the reservation system to avoid congestion It can be paid by credit card or other cashless methods which they can scan at the gate to receive a wristband as proof of payment (Read the article in Japanese.)Author: Takashi Hirao You must be logged in to post a comment Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Japanese version (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs and Fujiyoshida Japan are celebrating 60 years as sister cities Monday including Fujiyoshida’s Mayor and his wife will be in Colorado Springs to celebrate the long-standing relationship between the two cities Fujiyoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers will each plant a Japanese Lilac tree in America the Beautiful Park Mayor Horiuchi also planted a tree in Colorado Springs in 2012 Two trees have been planted in Fujiyoshida by Colorado Springs mayors including one in 2017 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the sister cities' relationship Sister Cities International was created at President Eisenhower’s 1956 White House summit on citizen diplomacy Colorado Springs Sister Cities International launched in 1962 with its first sister city The city said Colorado Springs engages with seven global sister cities to advance world peace Colorado Springs' seven international sister cities are: Tyler is a Digital Content Producer for KRDO KRDO NewsChannel 13 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KRDO Jobs | FCC Applications | KRDO FCC Public File | KRDO FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Contest Rules Yamanashi Prefecture—The construction of a gate at the fifth station of Mount Fuji was completed on June 17 two weeks ahead of its use to stop crowds and unsafe climbing of Japan's highest peak which is on the Yoshida trail from Yamanashi Prefecture will be used to regulate the number of climbers on Mount Fuji starting at midnight on July 1 measures 1.8 meters high and eight meters wide The cost of the construction was 1 million yen ($6,400) to reduce congestion on the trail at night and prevent “bullet climbing,” the practice of climbing the 3,776-meter mountain overnight without resting If 4,000 climbers enter through the gate before 4 p.m. Climbers who have booked mountain huts can pass through regardless of the time or the limit on the number of climbers Climbers going down the mountain can exit through the gate at any time climbers must show that they have paid the 2,000 yen fee They also have to show proof of booking accommodations in a mountain hut when they pass through the gate after 4 p.m A maximum of seven security staffers will be deployed around the gate and the toll gate on a round-the-clock basis Yamanashi to cap Mount Fuji climbers at 4,000 per day Live stream will show congestion around Mt Climber details close escape from avalanche that kills 1 in Nagano Chinese survey team plans to summit deserted Everest Copyright © The Asahi Shimbun Company. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission. Print TOKYO — A crowd-control gate was installed halfway up Japan’s Mount Fuji on Monday ahead of the July 1 start of this year’s climbing season one of the two prefectures that are home to the mountain said additional measures are needed to control overcrowding on its lower slopes The gate was completed as part of a new set of rules that Yamanashi is introducing this year to address growing safety, environment and overcrowding problems on the mountain. The newly installed gate will be closed between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m. to lock out those who have not booked an overnight stay at a hut along the Yoshida trail, which is used by most climbers, mainly to stop “bullet climbing,” or rushing to the summit without adequate rest, considered a major safety risk. A maximum of 4,000 climbers will be allowed to enter the trail per day. World & Nation Those who want to climb one of the most popular trails of Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji will now have to reserve ahead and pay a fee. “The restrictions that will take effect this year are measures to address the problems that are putting climbers’ lives at risk,” Yamanashi Gov. Kotaro Nagasaki said at a news conference in Tokyo. He said the number of climbers on the trail this year is expected to surpass last year’s 137,236. “Overcrowding near the summit could lead to a major disaster, like people falling in a domino effect,” he said. Under the new system, climbers must make reservations and choose between a day hike or an overnight stay at one of several huts along the trail. There is a mandatory hiking fee of 2,000 yen (about $12.70) and an optional donation of 1,000 yen (about $6.35) for conservation. Known for a number of spots that offer a near-perfect shot of Japan’s iconic Mt. Fuji, the town is trying to reduce the number of visitors. A QR code is sent to climbers’ smartphones to be scanned at the gate, which is halfway up the mountain in an area known as the fifth station, where the Yoshida trail begins. There are 10 stations on the mountain. Nagasaki said he is confident that the new measures will ease overcrowding on the upper reaches of Mount Fuji, but that problems remain lower down. He pledged to ease overtourism on the lower levels and their surroundings, possibly by introducing a mountain railway to the fifth station, which currently can be reached by cars and buses, while promoting traditional climbing routes from the mountain’s foot. Signs in both Japanese and English will warn tourists to keep out of certain areas in Kyoto’s geisha district currently imposes no mandatory hiking restrictions On June 10 it began an online registration system in which climbers fill in their hiking plans and are encouraged not to climb after 4 p.m it attracts tens of thousands of people who hike to the summit to watch the sunrise the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi erected a large black screen along a sidewalk to block the view of Mount Fuji after tourists began crowding the area to take photos of the mountain appearing to sit on the roof of a convenience store a social media trend known as “Mount Fuji Lawson” that disrupted businesses Overtourism has also become a growing problem for other popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto as foreign visitors flock to Japan, in part because of the weaker yen. Yamaguchi writes for the Associated Press. Travel & Experiences Lifestyle Politics California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. This new workation scheme by Fujiyoshida city adds a little more to the experience of remote working with events and meetups for like-minded digital nomads As a city located roughly 100km from Tokyo at the northern base of Mt Fuji Fujiyoshida is the perfect place to ditch your makeshift home office for stunning views of Japan’s most iconic peak You can get to the city within two hours by taking a bus bound for Fujikyu Highland from the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (alight at Fujisan Station).  Fujiyoshida city coined a new term for its unique programme, Shigotabi which is a combination of the Japanese words for ‘work’ and ‘travel’ you get to explore the best parts of Yamanashi prefecture without actually having to take time off work.  Upcoming events that Shigotabi participants can attend include guided mountain climbing tours photography workshops and a ‘creative city camp’ where international creatives and urbanists get together to discuss the future of infrastructure and lifestyles in cities.  You even get the option of working in a tatami mat room of Kichijoji Temple for a few hours (¥1,000 per session) which is sure to do wonders for your productivity.  Activities and accommodation must be booked separately. To see the full list of accommodation and activities scheduled in the coming months, see the official website Taxi drivers in Tokyo can now refuse customers without face masks You can now nap in these hibernation pods in a Karuizawa forest Pride House Tokyo Legacy is Japan’s first permanent LGBTQ centre – now open in Shinjuku These three Tokyo bars made it into the World's 50 Best Bars list for 2020 Tokyo is the fifth best city in the world according to the Best Cities global ranking 2022A Japanese Textile Town Celebrates its HeritageFujiyoshida hosts the first Fuji Textile Week Shinji Ohmaki's "The Shadow of Time" at the former Suruga Bank AD This month-long event features works by local textile manufacturers and ten contemporary artists and Asao Kodama can all be found at the Fujihimuro building a former ice factory converted into a gallery at the heart of Fujiyoshida This center is also used as a headquarters for initiatives to encourage people to move to Fujiyoshida Shunsuke Imai displays his "untitled" series of colorfully striped acrylic paintings and a matching polyester cloth which he designed in collaboration with local hataya "I wanted to explore the relationship between textiles and paintings," he says Maison 2,3 (pronounced "maison two comma three") is a two-person team formed by Koshiro Ebata and Hiroyuki Mizuno at the end of 2019 They create artworks and products with a focus on sustainable design "Eye" is a large sphere they made out of discarded T-shirts and styrofoam Its surface is covered in Japanese characters for common words like "sea" (うみ) and can be touched and rolled around by visitors Katsura Takasuka studied textile design in university His installation "Memory" comprises a group of sculptures that reflect on the ways people use objects to pass down knowledge The works are inspired by the mongami Jacquard cards once used for creating weaving patterns Fujiyoshida today is an interesting mix of old and new. Stylish restaurants and stores are popping up amid shuttered shops and centuries-old shrines. The cafe Kissa Lemon It also features an impressive wall mural of Mt Saruya Hostel graced the scene in 2015 In addition to welcoming guests with rooms outfitted in products made in collaborations with local businesses it hosts an artist residency program and regular art exhibitions the former storage house Kura no Ie is currently used as an exhibition space and music studio Yoriko Takabatake has installed her "Cave" paintings upstairs and downstairs in Kura no Ie's first building arranging them unceremoniously on the wooden walls and shelves next to old buckets and bowls Takabatake was interested in the canvas as a textile She worked with a Fujiyoshida weaving studio to produce her all-white works which use layers of plaster to highlight the texture of canvas Occupying three floors of a second building Yumi Kori's "Tsumugu" installation created with the Austrian composer Bernhard Gal manipulates light and sound to evoke memories of textile production in the past (”Tsumugu" means to spin or weave.) The first floor exhibits a shoji sliding door with eerie blue light shining in the darkness as the sound of working looms fills the space the same blue light wanes and brightens to reveal hundreds of balloons – bulbous forms representing silk cocoons Climb the narrow stairs up to the third story and you'll find laser-like lines of the blue light spread across the room Nikoru Kissaten was a bustling cafe some 40 years ago but vestiges of its wallpaper and round original windows offer glimpses of the past Here Katsura Takasuka has installed his "Species" sculptures These beings resemble bears or other hulking Their "fur" is in fact made with thousands of crimson kuttsuki-mushi burrs Takasuka wanted to shift the viewer's mindset away from a human-centric one toward the "cunning and fathomless power that nature possesses." Sumire Yosoten sold Western-style clothes for nearly seven decades before closing its doors a few years back Its 99-year-old proprietress has temporarily turned it over to the Berlin-based artist Aiko Tezuka who displays her own fabric pieces along with photos and objects from the shop-owner's past in the installation "Loosening Fabric #6 100 Years – The Seams of Memory." Tezuka has long been interested in weaving and embroidery as expressions of the pictoral arts The "rewinding of time" and ”contemplation of possibilities of not chosen" are themes in her works exploring how things are made and unmade One of the pieces in Tezuka's exhibition is an embroidered rendering of the word "Gachaman." The term is a nod to Fujiyoshida's moneyed past when each clack of a loom (the sound is called "gacha" in Japanese) was said to earn a single "man" (10,000 yen) Just across the street from Sumire Yosoten is the former Suruga Bank the building has been reopened as a key site for Fuji Textile Week Its first level exhibits the accomplished installation artist Shinji Ohmaki's "The Shadow of Time." This hypnotic work is composed simply of a black gauzy cloth that floats and shape shifts in the air as vents on the floor propel it upward The undulating fabric creates a meditative scene linking material and imagination The "Warp & Weft" exhibition by 16 Fujiyoshida textile makers was held upstairs from Ohmaki's installation from December 10 to December 12. It showcased 100 examples of weaving designs from the Taisho and Showa eras (early-to-late 1900s), plus merchandise by currently active local companies. You can learn more about Yamanashi textile makers and even order some of their products here The roof of the building features Yoshinari Nishio's installation "Uraji/Ura-Fuji" (Lining/The Other Side of Fuji) You can stick your head through one of the holes in the expansive fabric for a one-of-a-kind view of Mt Akihito Okunaka is an international artist with experience as a play-focused art instructor His "Inter-World/Sphere" is a giant inflatable dome made from polyethylene film Visitors are invited to crawl inside and spend time relaxing in the space which changes colors depending on the weather and light Okunaka wanted to create an environment where people could gather and "weave together" stories from their unique experiences and perspectives On December 9, 2021, an opening reception was held for participating artists, textile makers, and others involved with Fuji Textile Week. Director Fumio Nanjo and Fujiyoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi were among the attendees. The cafe/design lab FabCafe which plans to open a Fujiyoshida branch next year a fifteen-minute walk from the festival's center Please see Fuji Textile Weeks's official website for details Yamanashi Prefecture—After causing a string of injuries and being forced to suspend operations for two and a half years a popular looping roller coaster at an amusement park near Mount Fuji permanently closed on March 13 Transport ministry officials launched an investigation into the Do-Dodonpa roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland here in August 2021 following reports from the prefectural government of four injuries “After repeated discussions with the manufacturer we concluded that there’s no concrete way to completely eliminate the risks of injury or stopping in mid-ride,” Fuji-Q Highland Co said in an announcement released on March 13 The Do-Dodonpa attraction opened in 2017 to replace Dodonpa While most roller coasters ascend to a high position and then drop downward the roller coaster cars in Do-Dodonpa are propelled mechanically and hit a speed of 180 kph in just 1.56 seconds This rapid acceleration is believed to be the primary cause of the injuries the sudden strain on the body mimicking whiplash experienced in car accidents The company received multiple injury reports from riders between 2020 and 2021 Six of these cases involved serious injuries including cervical spine compression fractures Do-dodonpa and its predecessor had been iconic attractions at Fuji-Q Highland since Dodonpa opened in December 2001 The company apologized for disappointing the many customers who had requested the ride’s return JR East resorts to noise to prevent train collisions with animals Thrilling new ‘Zokkon’ ride at Fuji-Q Highland amusement park New offering at Tokyo DisneySea will have ‘Frozen’ water attraction Ghibli Park’s last area ‘Valley of Witches’ to open on March 16 one of the most popular spots to photograph mount fuji is the location of this café designed by spicy architects in collaboration with OFDA. in the japanese city of fujiyoshida many tourists flock to a shopping street called honcho-dori avenue where the snow-capped summit can be viewed from a perfect angle the city was known for its 1000 year history of producing high quality textiles the once-thriving honcho-dori avenue is almost deserted and dotted with closed shops and vacant houses this project called ‘kissa lemon’ aims to revitalize the local community stimulate other new activities and bring in additional investments kissa lemon was realized for tokyo-based designers lemon life their idea was to create a space where local leaders who are committed to the future of fujiyoshida city and tokyo’s creative talent can mingle spicy architects and OFDA inserted two stage-like structures into the vacant building the first structure is a concrete plinth to reinforce the building’s foundations on the street-facing elevation this façade also features a 7,280mm by 2,400mm timber frame on the elevated floor to make it look like a stage everyday activities happening inside the café are shown to passersby like a movie the raised plinth at the front provides a place for locals and tourists alike to take a seat the new café is situated on honcho-dori avenue in fujiyoshida the second ‘stage’ is the raised counter of the open plan kitchen which is designed to let guests see what’s happening inside the kitchen from every corner polycarbonate boards hung from a ceiling function like a reflector distributing light all around the space and supplying energy to the people in the kitchen the material and the shape of the counter are left simple to make the interaction between the chef and guests stand out ‘I hope these structures will bring out energies from the chef staff and guests and the vibrant teahouse will bring back liveliness on the street and to the area in the future,’  says ryo yamamoto of spicy architects.  passersby can watch what’s happening inside the teahouse the kitchen and cafeé spaces are completely open plan the project also features a mural of mount fuji architect: hirofumi nakagawa (OFDA) + ryo yamamoto (spicy architects) art direction: tetsuya chihara (lemonlife) project management: ayako nagaya structural consulting: takuya tsuji construction: fuji ecotope millennium (architecture) 
aoi naon (neon sign) collaborators: morio nakajima (mural of mount fuji) 
number of stories: 1  total floor area: 82.49 sqm AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Mount Fuji‘s Yoshida Trail will begin charging hikers an entrance fee starting in the next hiking season The announcement was made by Yamanashi Gov. Kotaro Nagasaki, with Japan Times reporting that hikers will need to pay a required entrance fee of ¥2,000 JPY (approximately $13 USD) on top of the voluntary ¥1,000 JPY (approximately $6 USD) conservation fee that is used to maintain Mount Fuji The entrance fee will help control foot traffic and finance additional safety measures such as the construction of a safety shelter in the event of an eruption Hikers will need to pay at the trail’s fifth station by the mountain’s Yamanashi Prefecture area Fuji from the observation deck at Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida City Yamanashi Prefecture has recently come to international prominence No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form Fuji viewing spot in central Japan was crowded with visitors Sunday allowing them to take photos of cherry blossoms in bloom around a five-story pagoda with the mountain in the background The around 650 Someiyoshino cherry trees at Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida are likely to fully bloom soon following sunny weather Entry to the observation deck halfway up Mt Arakura was restricted as many tourists were visiting the area "I was really moved as I wanted to see the beautiful view that represents Japan which is admired by people around the world cherry blossoms and the five-story pagoda," said Yoko Yamane a 69-year-old woman who came to the park from Saitama Prefecture with her husband To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Fuji climbing route is set to be restored in a bid to revive the mountain’s reputation as a “sacred” location Most climbers who visit Japan’s tallest peak take the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side where there are shops and midway parking areas the trail actually starts at the foot of the 3,776-meter mountain But this section of the route has fallen out of favor over the years and its name has started to fade from collective memory concerned locals and related entities plan to research the old path and improve its facilities such as by repairing a run-down lodge and installing new lavatories Fuji will become more pleasant and climbers will be able to appreciate anew the mountain’s cultural and historical importance Fuji will mark its 10th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage site in June The research – set to begin in the next fiscal year – will be led by the city government of Fujiyoshida one of the localities at the foot of the mountain There are four major climbing routes on Mt The only route that starts at the foot of the mountain is the full Yoshida Trail which runs 15-kilometers from the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja shrine – 864 meters above sea level – to the peak were among the factors that helped secure UNESCO status Fuji-ko members – primarily commoners – believed Mt The pilgrimages were most popular from the Edo period (1603-1867) to the Taisho era (1912-1926) and people from the Kanto region would frequently use the old route Fuji became a subject of worship partly because of its stately appearance and its repeated large-scale eruptions were singled out when the mountain was registered as a World Heritage location lodges and teahouses lined the routes from the mountain foot to the midpoint – an about 10-kilometer distance But after the 1964 opening of the Fuji-Subaru Line toll road which runs up the lower part of the mountain to the fifth station it became common for climbers to start their ascent from the midpoint It is still possible to ascend Fuji starting from its foot but the city government found that only about 7,000 people passed Umagaeshi – near the foot of the mountain – during its opening period last year This figure represents 6% of the climbers who passed the sixth station many of the old route’s shrines and lodges became run-down and fell out of use the Suzuhara-sha shrine building near the start of the trail which enshrines the Dainichi Nyorai Buddhism deity while the Inoue-goya mountain lodge near the midpoint the route boasted about 20 lodges where climbers could spend the night “It’s difficult for us to encourage people to come,” a local government official said The city government plans to research the old shrines and lodges consult with their owners and compile an improvement plan in a two-year period from fiscal 2023 The area around the trail is a national park and the trail is managed by the Yamanashi prefectural government the city government will coordinate with the central and prefectural governments and consider such measures as reinforcing the buildings establishing environment-friendly lavatories and building shelters for climbers to use when bad weather strikes With an eye on recapturing the look of bygone days the city government intends to check whether it is possible to prune or fell certain trees along the route The Fujiyoshida city government hopes that its efforts will attract school excursions and foreign tourists and plans to install signboards in shrines and other locations explaining the history behind the worshiping of Mt The city government intends to begin its improvement work as early as fiscal 2024 it will utilize 50 million yen collected in donations and raise a further 200 million yen through a crowdfunding program under the Furusato Nozei framework which allows people to make tax deductions in return for making donations to local governments “The improvements will allow people to rediscover Mt Fuji’s value as a world-class mountain of faith and help increase its appeal,” said 60-year-old Atsushi Jomonji chief priest at Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja shrine Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy the visitors are provided with desks along the panoramic windows overlooking mount fuji and a multifunctional unit in the center of the space featuring a reception and break areas the desks by the windows feature vertical wooden screens with small sliding doors — thus the users can choose whether they want to enjoy the view or close the screen and hide from the sunlight this area adds a little bit of color in the minimalist interior — the doors and legs of the tables are painted in blue the architects have elevated the break area in the center of the room by 900 mm to create a separate space where visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of mount fuji and its surroundings without other elements of the interior interrupting the rest of the unit is elevated by additional 1.100 mm and various functional spaces architects: taku sakaushi (O.F.D.A.) collaborators: tokyo university of science  photography: rino kawasaki designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. Yamanashi — Around 420 first- and second-year students taking a Mt Fuji Studies class at a Yamanashi Prefecture high school presented their findings on Jan Yoshida High School in Fujiyoshida City started the course in 2002 to allow students to learn about the history and culture of the area around the foot of Japan’s highest mountain The school — which last year signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with the city — teaches students to devise practical solutions to local problems to help them become productive members of society The first-year students in each class chose five themes for their presentations including “disaster preparedness” and “local industry,” while the second-year students chose eight themes including “food” and “the natural environment.” Fieldwork was conducted in groups of two to six students A group that chose “locally produced foodstuffs” as a theme discussed the Beniharuka sweet potato The students presented their research and achievements which included the establishment of a website featuring a Beniharuka-based recipe Another group that looked into disaster preparedness measures presented a social-media-based quiz with the theme of “reminding tourists about disaster preparedness,” and explained a proposal to produce postcards on disaster preparedness and place them at the fifth station of Mt a second-year student who gave a presentation said: “The research taught me many things I didn’t know about such as local specialties and agricultural products [growing] at the foot of Mt I feel even more attached to my hometown now.” Yamanashi Prefecture--Situated at the foot of majestic Mount Fuji this popular city is being flooded with a growing number of non-Japanese tourists The landscape has recently drawn considerable attention on social media Hordes of travelers from outside Japan are flocking to the street even on weekdays taking photos of the magnificent mountain behind it Honcho Street is particularly famed for its stunning view of Japan's tallest peak which can be glimpsed from the shopping zone tourists are often at a loss when it comes to satisfying their appetites High school students here asked foreign visitors where they wanted to have lunch and discovered that most had no specific destination in mind Coming up with the idea of developing a local specialty for lunch seekers the students contacted a regional supermarket chain for help to work together on a recipe that could provide the solution Cooperating with a nonprofit organization in Fuji-Yoshida the seven high school students were looking for something that is not connected to Mount Fuji but is still unique to Fuji-Yoshida for leaving an impression on foreign sightseers’ minds They conducted a questionnaire survey earlier this year on more than 40 tourists from Europe The findings indicated respondents knew little about Fuji-Yoshida’s attractions other than Mount Fuji Sightseers stayed in the city for a limited period of time What was found helpful by the high schoolers was the Yoshida-style “udon” noodle The local delicacy boasts a surprisingly high level of elasticity--a feature that makes it as famed as the “hoto” noodle dish among other specialties from Yamanashi Prefecture They sought a way to convert the noodle meal into a form that can be easily consumed while walking along the streets The students reached out to the Selva supermarket operator because its flagship store sits in Fuji-Yoshida A project got under way in July in a quest to realize a new delicacy based on Yoshida udon A doughnut was considered to reproduce the noodle meal But they ended up deciding to rely on the onigiri style as that kind of Japanese food is especially renowned Rice cooked with soup for udon was mixed with the “kinpira” vegetable and the crunchy “tenkasu” bits of deep-fried batter A traditional spice there called “suridane” is added before shaping rice into balls the amounts of suridane and water for rice were carefully adjusted the students unveiled their brainchild in front of Fuji-Yoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi and other attendees at a presentation in the city a third-year student of Fuji Hokuryo High School touted the onigiri as being “full of ingredients for Yoshida udon.” The presentation received a good response from participants who praised the rice ball for being “tasty” and “really filling.” Many of the students had previously been “unaware of how appealing our hometown is.” However they currently know the “great power of Fuji-Yoshida” and the “formerly hidden attraction of this city.” The rice ball product was made commercially available on Oct “My hope is many visitors will find our offering satisfactory,” said Nanako Fujii a third-year student at Yoshida High School The onigiri carries a price tag of 195 yen ($1.30) Fuji climbers will be asked to wait when trails become crowded ‘bullet climbing’ raise concerns on Mount Fuji Fujisan Express tourist train to run for first time in two years VOX POPULI: My dream to declare victory over COVID-19 from Mt By Masato Takamura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Yamanashi — A deluge of climbers is expected at Mt Fuji this year as the national icon marks its 10th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage site and officials who will be in the thick of things once routes to the summit open July 1 are rightfully concerned The increase in visitors is fully expected following the downgrading of COVID-19 to Category V under the Infectious Diseases Law in early May making it easier to travel after years of restrictions “We have to consider limiting the number of climbers to the mountain We want to ask the prefectural government to take the measures in cooperation with us,” said Shigeru Horiuchi which manages the mountain’s Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side believes that it would be difficult to restrict the entry of climbers to the trail attention is being focused on how the city and prefecture will deal with the issue especially when it is feared that there may be more injuries due to crowding on the mountain Fuji are already fully booked after being flooded with reservation requests a Fujiyoshida association of mountain lodges and other accommodation facilities wrote to the prefectural and municipal governments to request that measures be taken to restrict people from climbing and descending the mountain overnight without taking any rest and to optimize the number of climbers “It is important to prevent people from attempting reckless overnight climbs while ensuring that an appropriate number of climbers can enjoy the activity,” Horiuchi said at the general meeting of the management council of the Mt He made the remarks apparently with the written request in mind The meeting was also attended by Fujiyoshida association and prefectural representatives “We will do everything we can as we expect an unprecedented number of climbers will come to the mountain.” He expressed his desire to discuss with the prefectural government to optimize the number of climbers The Yoshida Trail is a prefectural road and is defined under the Road Law as a “path for general traffic.” Therefore the prefectural government’s section working on the preservation of Mt Fuji as a World Heritage site regards the trail as something anybody can freely pass “It is difficult [to restrict the entry of climbers to the mountain there],” said Toshiaki Kasai While calling for the restriction of the entry of climbers to Mt Horiuchi expressed his intention to strengthen the medical system to accommodate the increasing number of climbers The increased number of climbers is expected to lead to a rise in the number of people injured in accidents due to crowding on the mountain as well as those suffering from hypothermia The city is considering extending the operation of the first-aid station at the eighth station of the mountain The city said it will do what it can with the limited available time while making necessary coordination with related organizations The prefecture manages first-aid stations on the fifth and seventh stations The prefectural government’s section for the preservation of Mt Fuji said it will “coordinate and discuss with the city of Fujiyoshida how to strengthen the medical system.” Japanese version Japanese version Yamanashi Prefecture--Local authorities have failed to take effective measures to curb the hordes of hikers climbing Mount Fuji which was named a World Heritage site a decade ago despite a formal recommendation from UNESCO advisers They also have rushed to take safety measures in the event of a sudden eruption as occurred on Mount Ontake in 2014 ahead of the start of climbing season in July arrived at the fifth station of Mount Fuji here along the Fuji Subaru Line toll road attracted more than 200,000 tourists annually before the novel coronavirus pandemic Mountain huts have already been fully booked for climbing season partly because admissions are still limited as part of COVID-19 restrictions The International Council on Monuments and Sites called for “visitor management,” such as reducing the number of hikers when Mount Fuji was added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list on June 22 But local authorities have been unable to introduce a mandatory admission fee for hikers hikers are only asked to voluntarily pay 1,000 yen ($7.05) toward the environmental preservation of the mountain The system was fully introduced in 2014 by the Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Council which is organized by the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectural governments and other entities “We must start collecting a mandatory charge to ensure safety and security which hosts the entry point of the Yoshida trail to the mountaintop skeptics said compulsory payments would adversely affect the local economy An expert panel under the Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Council in 2021 began considering collecting an admission fee in the form of a special tax for a specific purpose as well as a commission from those entering a designated area on Mount Fuji But officials decided not to introduce the system from this summer saying certain issues remain to be resolved A challenge that has taken on a greater urgency than before the World Heritage listing is disaster prevention at Mount Fuji which straddles Nagano and Gifu prefectures brought home the risk of a volcanic eruption The sudden eruption left 58 climbers dead and five missing Yamanashi Prefecture and Fuji-Yoshida city made 2,500 helmets available at Mount Fuji's fifth station and along climbing trails the following year The safety guidance center at the sixth station began renting helmets in 2017 A new basic evacuation plan was compiled in March by the Mount Fuji volcano disaster management conference hikers and others at the fifth station and above will be told to descend the mountain as soon as signs of an eruption are detected an advisory for a descent was planned only after the volcanic alert level is raised to 3 which calls for no entry to areas around the mountain about 20 people working at mountain huts and stores at the fifth station on the Yoshida trail set up a voluntary fire company called Fujisan-tai to help hikers evacuate in the event of disasters After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 those from mountain huts and stores formed a voluntary disaster prevention council and conducted evacuation drills a drill started based on the scenario that Mount Fuji erupted the drill was held for the first time in four years and in accordance with the new basic evacuation plan who heads both the disaster prevention council and the fire company said the eruption of Mount Ontake was an eye-opener “Volcanic plumes from Mount Ontake could be seen even from here,” said Osano “We were confronted in an unmistakable manner by the reality that Mount Fuji could erupt at any time “We want to repeatedly hold effective training,” he said (This article was written by Takuya Ikeda and Koichi Tokonami.) Fuji evacuation plan warns hikers if eruption possible Officials OK plan to make climbers pay mandatory Mt Japanese version Japanese version Fuji got its first full snowcap of the season on Oct according to the city of Fujiyoshida in central Japan The announcement came three days after the Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory confirmed that the 3,776-meter mountain had snow on its peak The city in Yamanashi Prefecture withheld the announcement then deeming the snow was too sparse by its standards to call the peak covered The city has been announcing the first full snow cap separately from the observatory since 2006 as sometimes clouds or fog obstruct views from the observatory located about 40 kilometers away from Mt GALLERY: The school that saved 320 from Japan's March 2011 tsunami GALLERY: Otters take Tokyo cafe by storm GALLERY: As international tensions mount, life goes on for N. Koreans galleries and museums around Japan that non-Japanese readers and first-time visitors may find of particular interest just a subjective viewpoint acquired over many years' residence in Japan The page you are looking for may have been moved or expired.