Tourism surge creates 'new challenge' as visitors transform Mt. Fuji into 'trash mountain'

Japan broke a record for tourism successful 2024, with radical from each implicit the satellite visiting the land nation. But the state has adjacent bigger tourer goals for the years ahead. 

Hokuto Asano, archetypal caput astatine the Embassy of Japan successful Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital successful an interrogation that with the influx of tourists, the state is moving to conscionable demand. (See the video astatine the apical of this article.) 

"Overtourism is simply a new challenge for the Japanese community," said Asano. "So we request to prosecute however to make a win-win narration [between] Japanese section radical and overseas tourists."

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News outlets person reported connected a "two-tier" pricing strategy at restaurants, taxable parks and different attractions, with tourists charged much for services and experiences than Japanese citizens are charged. 

"The terms of the restaurant, sushi restaurant successful Japan, adjacent edifice — the terms is besides increasing," Asano said. "So Japanese radical sometimes accidental [that] Japanese radical cannot bask the home tourism."

Nearly 3 cardinal Americans visited Japan successful 2024, according to recorsd.  (iStock)

He added, "But determination should beryllium a quality successful the sensation oregon penchant betwixt Japan and Japanese radical and planetary tourists. There should beryllium a quality successful the terms and besides merchandise oregon work toward the planetary tourists."

Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, astir 33.4 cardinal travelers visited Japan, according to the country’s authorities tract projections. Nearly 3 cardinal Americans visited the state successful 2024.

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Asano said the fig of visitors past twelvemonth ended up reaching 36 cardinal and that Japan has a program to astir treble the fig of visitors successful the adjacent 5 years.

"In 2030, we privation [to reach] the extremity of 60 cardinal people," said Asano.

The shadiness of Mount Fuji is formed connected clouds hanging beneath the acme successful August 2019 successful Japan.  (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The ineffable Mount Fuji is climbed by 200,000 to 300,000 radical each summer, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. 

Lately, however, Mt. Fuji has been pegged "trash mountain" owed to superior overcrowding and garbage atop the world-famous landmark.

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Asano said tourists person reported that determination are not galore trashcans successful Japan — but helium pointed to the constricted fig arsenic a information measurement to "counter terrorism."

"We request to stock our manner[s] [with those who] sojourn tourer destinations," said Asano. 

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"So we would similar [them to] recognize [about] bringing backmost his oregon her ain trash," helium said.

Asano suggested that tourists request to beryllium much respectful erstwhile visiting Japan.

A radical of friends visits a Japanese shrine and takes selfies with a smartphone.

"We request to stock our values with planetary tourists," helium said. 

When it comes to tourists successful Japan, it's not conscionable astir "the trip," helium said. 

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"It's a bully means to stock civilization and values. We would similar international tourists to cognize much [about] Japan successful presumption of civilization oregon ineffable places oregon circumstantial places," helium said.

Asano added, "Maybe we tin stock however to bask those ineffable places oregon stock our tradition."