Workers have finished setting up an entrance gate for a trail on Mount Fuji ahead of the start of the climbing season. It is intended to regulate the number of hikers who visit Japan's highest mountain.
The gate has been set up on the Yoshida Trail in Yamanashi Prefecture about halfway up the mountain.
Reckless climbing has been a problem on the trail. Some trekkers climb Mt. Fuji at night without taking a rest in mountain huts, while others have set up tents on the trail, creating a nuisance for their fellow hikers.
Starting on July 1, the daily number of climbers able to use the route will be limited to 4,000. The gate will be closed between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m.
Trekkers traveling on the route will be charged 2,000 yen, or around 13 dollars.
Construction work on the gate began on Thursday. On Monday, workers completed the gate after covering it with dark brown wooden boards to blend in with the landscape. The gate is about 8 meters wide and 1.8 meters tall.
The prefecture will conduct a trial on Wednesday to prepare for the opening of the climbing season. They are going to simulate their workflow, such as checking entrance fees have been paid when trekkers pass through the gate, and determine protocols, such as where to deploy security staff.
Otani Kazuo, an official of the Yamanashi Prefecture Mount Fuji Conservation and Tourism Ecosystem Promotion Group, notes rules on climbing Mt. Fuji will change significantly this year.
He says he hopes trekkers will follow the rules and enjoy a safe and comfortable mountain climbing experience.