Skift Take

Japan's most iconic peak is scaling new heights in tourism management. A new entry fee may be modest, but a daily cap on visitors should reduce overtourism on peak days.

This summer, tourists will no longer have free access to the popular Yoshida Trail that goes to the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan's most iconic peak. On Monday the trail became a testing ground for a new approach to containing overtourism — one that tries to balance access to natural wonders with the pressing need for conservation.

Authorities began charging a new mandatory fee of 2,000 yen (around $12) to climb Mount Fuji on the most popular trail, according to Yamanashi Prefecture, the local government. Authorities have also set up a new reservation system and an entry ga