Japan's iconic Mount Fuji has temporarily closed its trails to visitors for the rest of the year as authorities grapple with an onslaught of tourists defiling the revered mountain. Too many tourists: Local officials have lamented how the 12,388-foot UNESCO World Heritage site has faced escalating environmental challenges from a surge in visitors since the post-pandemic tourism boom. The fifth base station, known as "Gogome," located halfway up the mountain, bears the brunt, receiving 90% of visitors.
With 2023 marking the 10th anniversary of Mount Fuji’s designation as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, authorities are debating how to curb the number of tourists on Japan’s highest mountain and ease the environmental burden tourists create.