Mt. Fuji climbing fees could double, trail access may close earlier with new plan.

Alright, listen up! There's a new plan to charge hiking fees for all Mt. Fuji trails, and it's about to hit your wallet harder than a surprise bill. Yamanashi Prefecture kicked things off with a mandatory 2,000-yen fee for the Yoshida Trail not too long ago, and now Shizuoka’s jumping on the bandwagon, discussing entry fees that could reach up to 4,000 yen! They want to standardize entry times too, kicking hikers off the trails earlier—by 2 p.m. for all trails—unless you've got a mountain hut reservation. That means no more fun “bullet climbing” through the night just to catch that sunrise.

Now, news like this is coming right after Himeji Castle decided to double or triple ticket prices. For foreign tourists, the new fee might not sting much with the yen being weak, but for locals? Yeah, they’re gonna feel that pinch. Sure, fewer hikers and the revenue could help keep Mt. Fuji beautiful, but with 3,000 yen going to admin costs, it makes you wonder if this new fee plan is really efficient. The proposal’s up for assembly discussions soon, and if it flies, it kicks in by summer 2025. Buckle up for some changes, folks!

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