MT FUJI HIKERS MUST WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING, SAY AUTHORITIES

KOFU (Japan), April 18 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- People planning to visit Mt Fuji will be required to wear appropriate climbing gear, the local government hosting the mountain’s most popular trail said, as it begins accepting reservations next week, Kyodo News Agency reported.

As part of the online reservation process set to begin Thursday, visitors must agree to terms including wearing warm clothing and appropriate footwear, Yamanashi Prefecture said, adding that access to the Yoshida Trail may be denied for non-compliance.

The new measure comes amid a rise in foreign visitors and growing concerns about overcrowding, with many lightly dressed climbers seen on the mountain last year. Local governments are seeking to address these issues ahead of the climbing season starting in early July.

Climbers of the 3,776-metre peak will also be required to agree to rules such as not littering and not straying from designated trails, the prefecture said Thursday.

Reservations can be made on the official website with an advance payment of 4,000 yen (US$ 28).

Shizuoka Prefecture, which manages the other three trails, will require climbers to review rules and etiquette through its registration system, with the process set to begin in early May.

The local government will also start collecting a 4,000 yen fee this summer.

Mt Fuji was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013. It attracts hundreds of thousands of climbers yearly during its official climbing season through September.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO