Will it work?　Fuji,” which is finally going to restrict entry to the mountain… and the problems that are now feared.

Last year, the maximum number of climbers per day on the Yoshida Route was 3,974… Is the “4,000 person” restriction sufficient?

There are four routes to Mt. Fuji: the Yoshida Route from Yamanashi Prefecture, the Subara Route from Shizuoka Prefecture, the Gotemba Route, and the Fujinomiya Route. Of these, the Yoshida Route is the most popular with climbers. Fuji in 2011, about 220,000 climbers took the Yoshida Route, of which about 140,000, or about 60%, used the Yoshida Route.

Starting this year, the Yoshida Route will allow 4,000 climbers per day, charge an entrance fee of 2,000 yen, close the ascent and descent paths from 16:00 to 3:00 the following day, and close the Subaru Line gate to the Yoshida Route from 18:00 to 6:00 the following day.

There are fears that too many climbers will one day cause a major accident when climbing Mt. Will this make the situation a little safer?

I think it will improve the climbing from the Yoshida route quite a bit.”

Mr. A, who has been guiding Mt.

However, although the plan is to limit the number of climbers to 4,000 a day, according to a survey by the Ministry of the Environment, the largest number of climbers using the Yoshida route in 2011 was 3,974 on July 16, 2011.

The number of climbers on the Yoshida Route is probably 4,000 too many.

Gates will also be closed from 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. the next day… “Bullet climbing” is likely to disappear.

According to the person in charge in Yamanashi Prefecture, they decided on the number of “4,000” after asking climbers to wear GPS and surveying the level of crowding to determine the level of danger.

It is true that in 2011, after the COVID-19 crisis, the number of climbers is said to have returned, but looking at the last 10 years, about 220,000 climbers is not a large number. In ’17, about 285,000 people climbed the mountain, and in ’14, about 277,000 people climbed the mountain. In ’19, before Corona, the number was about 236,000, but the largest number of climbers at that time was 5,033 on August 11. Considering that the number of climbers will return to the pre-Corona level, the number of 4,000 climbers may make sense.

What makes more sense is that they decided to close the gates, which had been open 24 hours a day, from 4:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. the next day. This has made it impossible for climbers to enter the mountain at night and climb bullets to the summit without spending the night in a lodge.”

Of course, this does not mean that all is well.

According to Mr. A, the problem is that there is a “difference” between the closing time of the gate of the mountain trail and that of the Subaru Line.

Those who arrive by car at 18:00, not knowing that the gate closes at 16:00, will not be able to enter the mountain and may end up losing their way. Also, there will be a long line of buses and cabs when the gate opens at 6:00 a.m., so we can expect a lot of confusion. We can expect considerable confusion.

There are no restrictions, but the “Shizuoka side route” is difficult for beginners… Huts are already fully booked!

However, with thorough publicity and good management, these problems could be solved. The problem, according to Mr. A, is the Shizuoka side route.

In 2011, about 19,000 climbers took the Susugi route, 15,000 took the Gotemba route, and 50,000 took the Fujinomiya route, which are far fewer than the Yoshida route. Perhaps for this reason, the Shizuoka route is open 24 hours a day to any number of climbers, with no restrictions on access to the mountain.

Why is the route on the Shizuoka side not popular?

Because it is difficult for beginners. The Yoshida route is a circuitous ascent, but the Shizuoka route is almost a straight climb. The Yoshida route is 16.4 km round trip, while the Fujinomiya route is 11.3 km. The shorter distance means that the route is steeper. Especially dangerous is the descent. Beginners are prone to cramps and injuries. If you haven’t climbed a mountain recently, I urge you to avoid this route.

Despite the cries of the guides, the lodges on the Shizuoka side of the route were already almost fully booked as of the end of May, as they avoided the Yoshida route, which is restricted.

I am now worried that the rescue teams will be in full swing.”

We can only hope that no serious accidents will occur.