Tourism Overload: Japan's Sacred Mt Fuji Under Threat
The surge in inbound tourists to Japan has led to extreme levels of pollution and overcrowding at Mount Fuji, a sacred and popular tourist destination. Authorities are considering drastic measures, such as restricting the number of visitors and making the mountain only accessible by a tram system, to address the issue. Despite efforts to clean up the area, social media is filled with complaints about soiled bathrooms and litter along the climbing path. The growing trend of "bullet climbing," where climbers attempt to scale the peak for sunrise and descend on the same day, has also become a concern, with an increase in rescue requests. Restrictions on visitor numbers may become inevitable to preserve the mountain's appeal.