Mount Fuji, one of Japan’s sacred mountains and a popular pilgrimage site, is facing a crisis due to an uncontrollable flow of tourists, warns the local authorities. Masatake Izumi, a Yamanashi prefectural government official, expressed his concerns during a tour for foreign media, stating that urgent action is needed to tackle the issue of “overtourism.” He emphasized that Mount Fuji is suffering and waiting for improvement is not an option.
Reuters quoted Izumi as saying, “Fuji faces a real crisis,” as the influx of tourists is causing significant environmental damage and placing additional pressure on first aid services. He further stated, “We fear that Mount Fuji will soon become so unattractive that nobody would want to climb it.”
Government officials have noted that the post-Covid tourism boom has led to thousands of hikers flocking to the mountain. However, this surge in visitors has resulted in overcrowding, littering, and other breaches of etiquette. Despite the introduction of a campaign urging visitors not to litter and the efforts of volunteers to remove tons of trash each year, the issue persists.
Mount Fuji ranger Miho Sakurai highlighted the overcrowding problem, stating that there are “way too many people on Mount Fuji at the moment.” Many of these visitors are inexperienced “first timers,” who are often ill-prepared, underdressed, and prone to hypothermia or altitude sickness. As a consequence, rescue requests have increased by 50% compared to last year, and there has already been a climbing accident resulting in one fatality in April.
Mount Fuji is an active volcano known for its picturesque snowcap and is considered one of Japan’s national symbols. In 2013, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. However, the number of visitors to Fuji has more than doubled between 2012 and 2019, reaching 5.1 million, according to the CNA news agency.
Recognizing the urgent need to address overcrowding and breaches of etiquette at high-traffic tourist spots, government officials recently held a meeting. Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki proposed the construction of a light railway to control the number of people accessing Mount Fuji. Nagasaki emphasized the importance of shifting from quantity to quality in terms of tourism on the mountain. Local rangers expressed their concern over the potential loss of Mount Fuji’s heritage status, considering it “devastating.”
In conclusion, Mount Fuji’s popularity as a tourist destination has reached alarming levels, leading to overcrowding, environmental damage, and safety concerns. Urgent measures are required to address the issue of overtourism and preserve the beauty and cultural significance of this revered mountain.
Source link
