"Wearing Shorts and Sandals to Climb Mt. Fuji?"

Admission Fee Increase and Capacity Limits from July
3 Deaths in Two Days Since Mt. Fuji Opening
Hypothermia Caused by Shorts and Sandals

As the hiking season begins, a series of fatal accidents have occurred on Japan's famous Mount Fuji. Despite raising entrance fees and limiting the number of visitors to prevent reckless hiking, forest damage, and accidents, these measures have proven ineffective.

On the 14th, TV Asahi reported that three people died within two days since Mount Fuji opened on the 10th. Two hikers died between July and September last year, but in less than a week this year, the death toll has already surpassed last year's number. The Mount Fuji hiking trails opened on the 10th (the Yoshida Trail opened on July 1) and will close on September 10. A Chinese national also died on the Yoshida Trail on the 1st. On the 13th, a man in his 50s was rescued by police after complaining of distress while hiking. Locals point out that tourists are not equipped with safety gear, hiking clothes, or hiking boots. Three men, believed to be Chinese tourists, were criticized for wearing short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and sandals. One official said, "The summit of Mount Fuji has an Arctic climate," adding, "It's like going to the Arctic in summer." Even in summer, the temperature at the summit of Mount Fuji is between 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, so hikers need to wear multiple thin layers and prepare warm clothing.

Previously, Mount Fuji collected a voluntary "Mount Fuji Conservation Cooperation Fee" of 1,000 yen (about 9,000 won) from hikers, but starting in July, a toll of 2,000 yen (about 18,000 won) was introduced. As a result, the total fee per person, including the toll and cooperation fee, is 3,000 yen (about 27,000 won). Additionally, the number of hikers per day is limited to 4,000. This measure has reportedly led to a sharp decline in "bullet hiking," where hikers climb overnight. TV Asahi stated, "From the 1st of this month, Yamanashi authorities closed the gates between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m.," adding, "The number of hikers passing the 6th station between 5 p.m. and 3 a.m. is about one-third of last year's."