YAMANASHI - The measures were introduced in response to concerns over reckless climbing, including attempts to reach the summit without staying overnight at a mountain hut or taking sufficient rest. Under the current system, climbers who do not have reservations are restricted from beginning their ascent after 2 p.m., helping discourage people from climbing through the night without adequate preparation.
One person working on the mountain said so-called bullet climbing has steadily disappeared since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and estimated that it has now been almost completely eliminated.
Foreign visitors make up a large share of climbers, including many from Southeast Asia, while the number of European visitors has also been increasing.
Although some foreign climbers still fail to follow mountain rules, the official said such cases account for only about one in 10 visitors and that overall manners have improved considerably compared with the past.
Crowding has also changed markedly.
Before the pandemic, as many as about 8,000 climbers could be on the mountain on Saturdays, with people continuing to ascend throughout the night.
Now, the flow of climbers drops sharply in the evening, with only tour participants and others holding reservations continuing upward later in the day.
"After 7 p.m., they suddenly stop coming," the official said, describing the situation as completely different from the past.
The official said the goal for the future is for people to put safety first while enjoying their climb on Mount Fuji.
Source: 産経ニュース
