Is a 'Conservation Cooperation Fee' required to climb Mount Fuji? What is this fee used for?

Hallo! Regarding the cost of climbing Mount Fuji, let me lay it out clearly for you to understand perfectly.

Is there a "Conservation Cooperation Donation" required to climb Mount Fuji?

Simply put: Officially strongly recommended, but NOT mandatory.

Think of it like an optional donation. When you prepare to start from the trailhead (like the popular Yoshida Trail's 5th Station), you'll see a collection station where staff will politely suggest you pay.

Amount: Usually ¥1000 per person.
Nature: Voluntary donation. If you pay, they'll thank you and give you a small souvenir, often a wooden token or badge, which is a meaningful keepsake. If you don't pay, they won't stop you from ascending.
My Advice: Almost all climbers pay. It's not just about the money; it's an act of support for Mount Fuji's environmental protection and climbing safety.

Mount Fuji Conservation Cooperation Token (Image: Souvenir wooden token typically received after payment)

Where does this "Conservation Cooperation Donation" go?

This ¥1000 isn't collected randomly. It's primarily used in three key areas directly related to every climber's experience:

Environmental Conservation (The biggest part!)
- Toilet Maintenance: Mount Fuji lacks a sewage system. The mountain toilets are eco-friendly bio-toilets, and their upkeep and cleaning costs are extremely high. A large portion of your donation ensures you have clean toilets on the mountain.
- Trash Management: Handling waste left by visitors, purifying wastewater, and keeping Mount Fuji clean.
- Ecological Protection: Maintaining trails to prevent erosion and protecting Mount Fuji's unique flora and fauna.
Climber Safety Measures
- First Aid Station Operation: Temporary first aid stations are set up during the climbing season to help climbers feeling ill or injured.
- Safety Guidance: Safety staff patrol the mountain, offering advice and discouraging dangerous practices (like "bullet climbing" - climbing non-stop through the night), many of whom speak foreign languages.
- Trail Markers & Safety Features: Maintaining clear signs, markers, and safety railings, especially crucial at night or in bad weather.
Providing Climbing Information
- Producing multilingual maps, safety manuals, and sharing up-to-date weather and trail conditions via websites and social media.

⚠️ Important Update: New Rule Starting Summer 2024!

From summer 2024 onwards, in addition to the voluntary ¥1000 Conservation Cooperation Donation, if you choose the most popular Yoshida Trail, you will be required to pay a new fee.

Fee Name: Toll
Applicable Trail: Only the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side
Amount: ¥2000 per person
Nature: Mandatory fee. Gates will be installed at the Yoshida Trail 5th Station trailhead, and you must pay to enter.
Purpose: Primarily aims to control the number of climbers (daily cap of 4,000) to reduce severe overcrowding and further enhance safety management.

Summary:

So, starting summer 2024, the climbing costs for Mount Fuji are:

Using the Yoshida Trail:
- ¥2000 (Mandatory Toll) + ¥1000 (Voluntary Conservation Donation) = Be prepared with ¥3000.
Using the other Three Trails (Subashiri, Gotemba, Fujinomiya Trails):
- Currently only the ¥1000 (Voluntary Conservation Donation).

Hopefully, this explanation is clear! While it costs money, knowing it helps preserve Mount Fuji's beauty and safety for everyone, including future generations, feels like a worthy contribution, doesn't it?

Wishing you a smooth and safe climb! Safety first!