TOKYO, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Local officials are considering a fee for climbers ascending Mount Fuji, the highest peak in Japan, at least on the most popular route.
Local officials say the number of people climbing the mountain has more than doubled in recent years, Yomiuri Shimbun reports. Between 2000 and 2006, there were an average of 200,000 a year, which hit 430,000 in 2008.
By the end of August, a quarter of a million people had begun the climb from Yoshidaguchi in Fujiyoshida, starting point for the busiest route.
The ascent has become more comfortable, a Fujiyoshida official said. More toilets have been installed on the mountain and women's changing areas created in lodges.
This comfort comes at a price. The national government shares the cost with municipalities around the mountain, and local officials are also responsible for rescuing stranded climbers.
UPI
