Mount Fuji climbing season begins with new rules to reduce crowding

The Mount Fuji climbing season opened on Monday, with new measures in place to regulate the number of visitors to Japan’s highest mountain.The first trekkers began climbing a trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side in rainy and windy weather.

An entrance gate for the trail was recently set up at the 5th station. The new rules were put in place to ease congestion around the peak and address problematic behavior by some climbers, such as attempting overnight treks.Climbers were given wristbands to pass through the gate after paying the entry charge.