Why is MOUNT FUJI temporarily closed to visitors for the rest of the year?⁠ ⁠ Local officials have lamented how the 12,388-foot UNESCO World Heritage site has faced escalating environmental challenges from a surge in visitors since the post-pandemic tourism boom. The fifth base station, known as “Gogome,” located halfway up the mountain, bears the brunt, receiving 90% of visitors. A mix of buses, taxis, and electric vehicles clog the Fuji Subaru Line, the main access route from Tokyo. ⁠ ⁠ The popularity of “bullet climbing,” where hikers ascend and descend within a day, has led to an increase in rescue requests, with non-Japanese tourists accounting for a significant share. Cleanup efforts, despite the dedication of janitors, businesses and volunteers, continue to struggle with soiled bathrooms and litter along the paths. ⁠ ⁠ Governor Kotaro Nagasaki of Yamanashi prefecture, elected in 2019 with a mandate to manage overcrowding, has proposed radical measures, including a ban on passeng...