The Japanese government introduces restrictions on Mount Fuji climbers to address overcrowding and curb tourists’ bad behavior.

New fees and visitor limits for climbing Japan’s Mount Fuji have taken effect as part of measures to protect the nation’s sacred sites from tourism-induced damage.

On the first day of this year’s climbing season, locals and visitors flocked to the Yoshida Trail, the summit’s most popular route, but encountered a new 2,000 yen ($20) fee and a cap of 4,000 hikers per day.

Climbers were processed through a newly opened gate at the “fifth station,” just over halfway up the 3,776-meter peak, where four trails to the top begin: Yoshida, Fujinomiya, Subashiri, and Gotemba.

Japanese officials introduced the rules in May following complaints of litter, pollution, and dangerously crowded trails last year.

Yamanashi governor Kotaro Nagasaki said the new trail curbs were necessary to prevent accidents and incidents of altitude sickness, particularly among foreign “bullet climbers” racing to the top.

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