Tourists visiting Japan, undoubtedly have Mount Fuji as an integral part of their travel itinerary. Nestled 100 km away from Tokyo, Japan’s tallest peak is actually an active volcano. Revered by the locals as a sacred mountain and the tourists for its spellbinding beauty, Mount Fuji is facing a crisis of overtourism and pollution.
Mount Fuji Faces Overtourism & Increase In Pollution
According to a report by Hindustan Times, Mount Fuji in Japan is no longer the sacred, peaceful pilgrimage site it once was. Today, it’s clogged by overtourism and an increase in pollution. Authorities call this over tourism in Mount Fuji, dangerous and an ecological embarrassment. The governor of the region even said that the UNESCO World Heritage Site is “screaming”.
Infact visitors have doubled between 2012 to 2019 to 5.1 million. During the day and night, people trek up the 12,388-foot high mountain. At night, people trek up the mountain to witness the sunrise, wearing torches on their heads. To greet visitors, there are a large number of restaurants and shops serving hot noodles, snacks, drinks and even souvenirs. These shops are powered by diesel generators. Trucks carry thousands of litres of water every day and then carry the rubbish down.
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Moreover, it’s also leading to hospitals and clinics being unable to handle sick tourists from Mount Fuji. Overtourism has lead to an increase in people needing first aid. From hikers twisting their ankles to facing breathlessness up the mountains, they need to be treated for their issues immediately.
How Authorities Plan To Tackle This Issue?
With tourist numbers on Mount Fuji back to pre-pandemic levels, local authorities in Japan are worried. So, how are they planning to curb overtourism at Mount Fuji? Firstly, authorities are planning to impose crowd control measures for the first time. Next, they plan to construct a light rail system to ferry passengers to the starting point for hikers instead of main roads. There will be a focus on quality tourism rather than quantity tourism.
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Overtourism has indeed caused a lot of issues for Mount Fuji. Meanwhile, what do you think about this issue and do you follow responsible tourism while you are at it?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva