More and more tourists flock to the sacred Mount Fuji in Japan every year. Over 220,000 hikers crowd the mountain’s steep, rocky slopes in the summer months. In order to cope with the rush, the authorities in Japan have now introduced a ticket system, as the Austrian newspaper “The standard“ reported.
Ticket season is scheduled to last from July to September
From now on, only 4,000 hikers per day are allowed to climb Mount Fuji via the most popular route, the Yoshida Trail. A ticket for the climb should cost the equivalent of around twelve euros. The tickets can be booked online from May 20th and at least 1,000 tickets per day should be reserved for daily bookings.
The season for climbing Mount Fuji lasts from July to September. The mountain’s 3,776-meter-high summit is covered in snow most of the year. Many people undertake the climb at night so they can witness the sunrise from the summit.
Authorities are planning protective measures
As the “Crown“ reports that the surrounding regions also suffer from the great popularity of the Japanese national symbol. Tourists, who often come from the summit just to take a photo, put an enormous strain on the mountain’s surroundings.
Local authorities are planning protective measures at a particularly popular photo spot, where the mountain rises behind a supermarket. A huge black privacy screen will in future block the view of the mountain. The plan is in response to complaints from residents who complain that tourists are trespassing and littering on their properties in search of the perfect photo.
Ticket system also in Venice
From 2024, day tourists will have to pay a fee of five euros to visit the lagoon city of Venice. According to the “mirrorThe fee is only charged for short visitors who do not spend the night in the city. The revenue from the fee, estimated at around six million euros, will be used to maintain Venice without further damage.
The reckless behavior of tourists is not just a concern for the Japanese. The Italians are also annoyed and complain about the disrespect of some visitors.