Shizuoka Prefecture aims to collect toll from Mt. Fuji trekkers from next season

To curb dangerous conduct by certain hikers, Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan intends to impose a toll on Mountain Fuji climbers beginning the next season.

Shizuoka follows a step taken by Yamanashi Prefecture, which also has a trail on the country's highest peak.

Yamanashi began charging 2,000 yen, or about 13 dollars, per trekker this past season to prevent accidents and address dangerous behavior by some climbers such as attempting nighttime treks.

Shizuoka has asked trekkers to pay 1,000 yen or about 6.5 dollars on a voluntary basis to preserve the environment. But it will scrap this scheme and charge between 3,000 yen and 5,000 yen per person, about 20 to 32 dollars, as an entry control fee.

Officials will set up toll gates at the 5th station of the three trails in the Shizuoka prefecture. The most popular Fujinomiya Trail will be closed between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m.

Officials will brief municipal authorities and organizations concerned on their plan in the near future.

They aim to submit a draft ordinance to the prefectural assembly in February in order to introduce the toll from the next season that begins in July.

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