Author: Benkei

The 2025 Mount Fuji climbing season concluded on September 10, 2025, for four main trails, the Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya trails.

Key details for the 2025 climbing season:

Yoshida Trail in Yamanashi Prefecture: Opened on July 1 and closed on September 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya Trails in Shizuoka Prefecture: Opened on July 10 and closed on September 10 at 5:00 p.m.

Problem: A surge in climbers, particularly international tourists, caused overcrowding, litter, and strain on facilities.  The majority of them are those who choose it for their first climbing experience.

Safety Concerns: Climbing during the closed season is dangerous due to extremely low temperatures and the closure of mountain huts and toilets. 

New for 2025: In addition to the traditional closures, new climbing restrictions, registration requirements, and a 4,000-yen toll fee were implemented for all routes to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety.

A new permanent torii-style gate has been installed on the Yoshida Trail to monitor climbers and ensure the fee is paid.

Environmental and Cultural Preservation: New rules in 2025 aim to protect the mountain’s fragile environment and cultural integrity by ensuring climbers are prepared and aware of trail etiquette.

Yet, numerous incidents, including accidents and near-misses, occurred during the climbing season, with a significant number attributed to a lack of experience and preparedness among climbers, especially beginners. Key causes included getting lost, falls, altitude sickness, and hypothermia, all exacerbated by insufficient planning and inadequate gear. Authorities implemented new safety measures, such as mandatory safety studies and online reservations, but many climbers continued to face dangers due to a lack of fundamental climbing knowledge and failure to submit climbing plans. 

A guide to climbing Mount Fuji:

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6901.html

https://www.fujisan-climb.jp/en/index.html

https://www.fujisan-climb.jp/en/climbing-season/climbing-season.html

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/talks-global-plastic-pollution-treaty-adjourn-without-consensus; https://www.globalplasticaction.org/inc52; https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250814_09/; https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2025/08/20/plastics-treaty-talks-end-without-consensus-or-a-plan/; https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/15/plastic-pollution-talks-geneva-treaty

The international community is struggling to reach a consensus on the treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution.

The European Union and other stakeholders, such as Pacific Island nations, argue that plastic production must be restricted. However, oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, oppose such regulations. The US delegation has also shown reluctance to accept restrictions. Japan’s stance is ambiguous.

It is apparent that the earth has been choked by plastic wastes caused by human activities. Yet, it seems that the most major states do not likely to restrict plastic production and continue to accumulate plastic waste in oceans, rivers, and land causing habitat disruption for a vast number of species, from tiny plankton to large mammals. We know the problem but we do not know how to solve the problem.

Also, please refer to the following articles: Our Nature Has Been Threatened By Our Activities on July 18, 2025: https://yamanashietsuo.net/our-nature-has-been-threatened-by-our-activiies/ and Plastic Waste And Microplastics In The Ocean on July 7, 2023: https://yamanashietsuo.net/plastic-waste-and-microplastics-in-the-ocean/.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6367.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sengen_shrine

https://www.shizuoka-tour.com/the-tourists-attractions/fujisan-hongu-sengen-shrine/

Wakutama Pond, Mount Fuji Head Sengen Shrine, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, 9/02/2025

Also, please visit the site of Mount Fuji Hongu Sengen Shrine on April 4, 2024 https://yamanashietsuo.net/mount-fuji-hongu-sengen-shrine/

Cedar Ball, Mount Fuji Head Sengen Shrine, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, 9/02/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugidama; https://en.sakeworld.jp/trivia/2411-nihonshu-sugitama/

An exhibition titled “Transition III — Monochrome Landscape of Mount Fuji and Its Foothills” (translated from the Japanese title) by Hideki Watanabe has been held at the Koichiro-Kondo Memorial Nanbu Town Museum of Art in the town of Nanbu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan during August 3 through September 23, 2025.

(In Japanese) https://www.town.nanbu.yamanashi.jp/kakuka/arkadia-museum/news/files/BunkakanEvent202508_Info.pdf

Pieris rapae and Odonata by Hideki Watanabe, Koichiro-Kondo Memorial Nanbu Town Museum of Art, Nanbu, Yamanashi, 8/31/2025

Papilio protenor and Papilio dehaanii by Hideki Watanabe, Koichiro-Kondo Memorial Nanbu Town Museum of Art, Nanbu, Yamanashi, 8/31/2025

Mayflies by Hideki Watanabe, Koichiro-Kondo Memorial Nanbu Town Museum of Art, Nanbu, Yamanashi, 8/31/2025

An insect and Mount Fuji and Papilio xuthus on a Japanese snake gourd by Hideki Watanabe, Koichiro-Kondo Memorial Nanbu Town Museum of Art, Nanbu, Yamanashi, 8/31/2025

(In Japanese) https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/kankou/spot/p1_8030.html; https://www.town.nanbu.yamanashi.jp/

FYI

Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty-Six Views of Mt.Fuji: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty-six_Views_of_Mount_Fuji; https://www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp/hokusai-fugaku-eng/

Choju jinbutsu giga (literally means “Animal-person Caricatures”), commonly shortened to Choju giga (literally “Animal Caricatures”), is a set of four picture scrolls, or emakimono, belonging to Kōzan temple in Kyoto, Japan. The Choju jinbutsu giga scrolls are also referred to as Scrolls of Frolicking Animals and Humans and Scrolls of Frolicking Animals in English. 

The  first and second scrolls of Choju jinbutsu giga are usually thought to have been painted in the mid-12th century, whereas the third and fourth scrolls may date in the 13th century. They seemed to be writtten by several artists. Choju jinbutsu giga is frequently described as the first manga (Japanese-style commics or graphic novels) in Japan. Manga and anime (Japanese animation) are deeply ingrained in Japanese society.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%8Dj%C5%AB-jinbutsu-giga

https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/en/R1-00419.html

https://kyoto-kosanji.jp/en/treasure/06/; (In Japanese) https://kosanji.com/chojujinbutsugiga/

Anime and manga: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime_and_manga; https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2070.html; https://www.japantravelpros.com/blog/japan-travel-anime-manga; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_manga

Also, please refer to the article of Enjoy Pop Art in Yamanashi on August 24, 2025: https://yamanashietsuo.net/enjoy-pop-art-in-yamanashi/

Tsuboniwa Nature Park is a natural garden located on a lava plateau around Tsuboniwa Station, the last stop of the Kita-Yatsugatake ropeway (2,237m above sea level), about 7 minutes from Sanroku Station, and is also the gateway to climbing Kita-Yokodake and other mountains. Tsuboniwa Nature Park, which originated from a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, looks like a traditional Japanese garden (thus the name “tsuboniwa”).

https://navi.chinotabi.jp/en/spot/3057/; https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/spot/02301-14421676/

https://www.kitayatu.jp/en/; https://navi.chinotabi.jp/en/spot/1427/; https://db.go-nagano.net/en/topics_detail6/id=12326

Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 2025/08/30

Tsuboniwa Nature Park, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 2025/08/30

A fir wave is a set of alternating bands of fir trees in sequential stages of development, observed in forests on exposed mountain slopes in several areas, including northeastern North America and Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fir_wave; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abies_veitchii

Fir waves are mostly seen in Veitch’s fir (Abies veitchii) forests in Japan.

Dead trees possibly form a fir wave, Tsuboniwa Nature Park, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 2025/08/30

Peacock butterfly (Aglais io) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglais_io

Tsuboniwa Nature Park, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 2025/08/30

https://www.fujigokokisen.jp/contents/en/; (In Japanese) https://www.fujigokokisen.jp/

Lake Kawaguchi Sightseeing Boat “Appare,” Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 8/27/2025

Some more pictures of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi https://yamanashietsuo.net/from-a-tour-of-mount-fuji-5th-waypoint-and-lake-kawaguchi/; https://etsuo.tokyo/2023/04/

New Orleans Jazz Festival at Kobuchisawa 2025 featuring Thomas Fischer & New Orleans Jazz All Stars was conducted at the town of Kobuchisawa in the city of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan on August 26, 2025. An opening act was performed by Risa Wanibuchi (soprano).

New Orleans Jazz Festival at Kobuchisawa 2025, Kobuchisawa, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 8/26/2025

ARSOA Goddess of the Forest Symphonia Hall Garden, Kobuchisawa, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 8/26/2025

THOMAS FISCHER & NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ALL STARS (a jazz session formed for Japan tours):

Thomas Fisher (clarinet & leader), Richard Moten (bass), Thomas Hook (piano), Charles Fardella (trumpet), Caleb Windsay (trombone), Gerald French (drums) was substituted, and Yolanda Robinson (singer).

Yamanashi is hot in Pop Art this summer. An exhibition of POP ART: THE FAB 4! & 4 SPECIAL GUESTS has been held at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art during July 12 through August 24, 2025. https://www.art-museum.pref.yamanashi.jp/exhibition/2025/1627.html. The same exhibition will be held at the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design from September 6 to October 26, 2025. https://tad-toyama.jp/en/exhibition-event/category/exhibition.

THE FAB 4!, four fabulous artists, are Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008), and Jasper Johns (1930-) who led the pop art movement in the United States of America in the 1960s.

In the NAKAMURA KEITH HARING COLLECTION in the city of Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, an exhibition titled Keith Haring: Arching Lines has been held during June 07, 2025 through May 17, 2026. https://www.nakamura-haring.com/; https://www.nakamura-haring.com/en/exhibition/14638/. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Keith Haring’s passing (1958–1990). His artwork and merchandise continue to inspire, delight, and empower people around the world.

FYI

Pop art: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_art.

A Guide to Japanese Pop & Contemporary Art: Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, and Yoshitomo Nara, https://www.myartbroker.com/all/articles/guide-to-japanese-pop-and-contemporary-art.

What has Japanese Pop Art ever done for the World?: https://www.japan-zone.com/features/032_japanese_pop_art.shtml.

An Introduction to Japanese Pop Art: Origins, Superflat and Global Impact, https://www.customcanvascollective.com/blogs/blog/an-introduction-to-japanese-pop-art-origins-superflat-and-global-impact?srsltid=AfmBOooCmY4nYfPPIOdkbXLNGqbs254jddsUywo36CglwPy1fQhhyGer; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superflat.

Anime and Manga: The Global Influence of Japanese Pop Culture, https://akjapanimports.com/2024/05/15/anime-and-manga-the-global-influence-of-japanese-pop-culture/.

Apple trees and grape vines in Akeno district in the city of Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Apple and grape fields, Akeno, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 8/20, 2025