Luxury hotel, railway plan for Japan’s Mount Fuji triggers backlash

The Yamanashi prefectural government unveiled plans late last month to enhance access to the 3,776-metre (12,388-foot) peak, projecting that the rail link to the so-called Fifth Station – located about halfway up the mountain – could generate around 1.56 trillion yen (US$10.5 billion) in revenue over the next four decades.

Officials outlined their vision, which includes a high-end hotel and an international conference centre near the Fifth Station, during a press conference on September 20. Hikers typically begin their ascent at the station, where the existing road up the mountain ends. The government proposes charging 10,000 yen (US$67.50) for a round-trip ticket on the railway.

“Currently, we are in the midst of discussions with many people, including residents, about what kind of transport is suitable for Mount Fuji,” said Katsuhiro Iwama, the Yamanashi government’s Fuji-san conservation and tourism ecosystem promotion director.

“There is no clear timeline for when construction will start, however, as the number of visitors to Mount Fuji continues to increase, we consider it to be an issue that needs to be resolved promptly,” he told This Week in Asia.

The 40-room luxury hotel planned for the Fifth Station aims to address a shortage of accommodation, Iwama said, allowing visitors to “fully enjoy” their stay.