On the pros and cons of the Mt. Fuji mountain railway plan - The governor of Yamanashi Prefecture takes the stage at a briefing session for residents of Fujiyoshida City, a stronghold of the opposition

2023.12.06

In late November 2023, a briefing session was held for residents at Fujisan Hall in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, regarding the "Fuji Tozan Railway Concept" proposed by the prefecture to eliminate overtourism (tourism pollution) on Mt. Fuji. (Photo: Mt. Fuji summit in the early morning of August 2023 / Courtesy of Yamanashi Prefecture)

The briefing session will be held directly by the Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, Kotaro Nagasaki, who is the initiator of the concept, to residents and related parties, and will be the second time in the prefecture after Yamanakako Village. Fujiyoshida City is known as a stronghold of the opposition, including Mayor Horiuchi. The Parliament also just passed a vote opposing the mountain railway concept in September this year. It was also noted that Mayor Horiuchi, the leader of the opposition group, was present at the venue of the briefing.

It remains to be seen whether the concept will actually go ahead. Even if the commercialization is officially decided, there is no idea when the railway will actually start running. On the contrary, there is even a possibility that a different business will be developed than the railway. Although it is at such a stage, it has become a hot topic in Yamanashi Prefecture, involving not only the government, but also companies, organizations, residents, and local media. From the perspective of tourism media outside the prefecture, this situation is unique and interesting.

What is the Mt. Fuji Mountain Railway Concept?

In a concept announced by Yamanashi Prefecture in February 2021, in order to promote the preservation and appropriate use of the value of Mt. Fuji as a World Cultural Heritage Site, the plan is to consider laying LRT (next-generation tramway) on the Mt. Fuji toll road (Fuji Subaru Line) from Mt. Fuji Kawaguchiko Town to Fujiyoshidaguchi 5th Station. In FY2023, a department called the "Mt. Fuji Mountain Railway Concept Promotion Group" under the direct control of the Governor's Policy Bureau was established in the prefecture, and full-scale consideration of commercialization began. The governor of Nagasaki was re-elected in the gubernatorial election in January this year and is currently serving his second term.

富士山登山鉄道 — Image of Mt. Fuji Mountain Railway (courtesy of Yamanashi Prefecture)

Fuji Hokuroku, pros and cons of 6 municipalities and residents

As for the pros and cons of the Mt. Fuji Mountain Railway Concept in the six municipalities in the Fuji Hokuroku area, Fujikawaguchiko Town, Narusawa Village, Nishikatsura Town, Oshino Village, and Yamanakako Village have expressed their "yes" to the project, but only Fujiyoshida City has taken a "no" position. However, these opinions are mainly from the heads of each municipality and cannot be said to reflect the will of the entire population of the region. Even if you are an elected mayor, there are differences of opinion between the government and local residents, and there are gaps in the information they know about the initiative. Therefore, it is significant that the governor will visit each municipality and explain the concept directly to the residents.

富士北麓地域 — The center of 6 municipalities in the Fuji Hokuroku region

Effects of lack of explanation? The venue was packed

When I entered the venue just before the briefing began, the seats were packed and some participants were standing. The venue is a large hall with a capacity of 800 people, which shows the high level of interest of the residents. A cursory glance at the participants showed that many of them were elderly. In the tone reported by local newspapers and other sources, it was pointed out that "the explanation from the prefecture to the residents was insufficient," but from the enthusiasm at the venue on the day of the event, it seems that the lack of explanation so far has actually increased the interest of the residents. As a result, it became a topic that attracted quite a lot of attention.

Speech by the Governor of Nagasaki

In his opening remarks, the Governor of Nagasaki explained that Mt. Fuji is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a World Cultural Heritage Site this year, and is attracting the world's attention. However, the attention was not positive, and he explained it by referring to reports in foreign media such as CNN and Reuters, which pointed out the problems of overtourism and bullet mountaineering. This summer, the governor will Japan at the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCCJ) press conference Information on the crisis of Mt. Fuji was disseminated both in Japan and abroad.

After that, the Governor of Nagasaki introduced three assignments as homework that he had received from ICOMOS, an advisory body under UNESCO, when Mt. Fuji was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2013. Specifically, he cited three issues: "controlling the number of visitors due to the large number of people," "making the landscape suitable for a place of worship due to the conspicuous artificial landscape," and "controlling the exhaust gas emissions of automobiles and buses as an environmental burden," and stressed that there is no guarantee that Mt. Fuji will be maintained as a World Heritage Site unless these issues are resolved quickly. He emphasized that Yamanashi Prefecture has a responsibility and obligation to protect Mt. Fuji, a treasure of the world.

Definition of World Heritage

According to the World Heritage Convention established by UNESCO, "it is important to protect and preserve cultural and natural heritage from the threat of damage and destruction as a world heritage for the benefit of humanity as a whole," and regions and cultures that are recognized as having such value are registered as World Heritage Sites. As of October 2023, a total of 25 cultural heritage sites and 5 natural heritage sites have been registered in Japan.
Agency for Cultural Affairs World Heritage Site: https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/sekai_isan/

When the editorial department contacted the Agency for Cultural Affairs and asked, "Do you pay a registration fee to UNESCO when registering it as a World Heritage Site?", they replied that no such payment was made. However, Japan, as a member state, was paid a contribution of about 3 billion yen annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to UNESCO. It is used in all of UNESCO's scientific and technological activities.

What kind of World Heritage Site is Mt. Fuji registered on?

Mt. Fuji has been recognized for its historical and cultural value as an "object of worship and a source of art" and has been registered as a "World Cultural Heritage Site". Many people regard Mt. Fuji as a tourist attraction with the highest mountain in Japan and spectacular views, but the World Heritage Site recognition recognizes its historical and cultural value that focuses on faith and art in the region. Japan people should understand this background.
Agency for Cultural Affairs Cultural Heritage Online: https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/

The Governor of Nagasaki explained that the number of visitors to Mt. Fuji's 5th Station has increased sharply from 2.31 million in 2012, before it was registered as a World Heritage Site, and reached 5.06 million in 2019. And this year, after the Corona disaster, the problem of overtourism on Mt. Fuji has come to the fore.

What I noticed is that even after 10 years since ICOMOS was registered as a World Heritage Site, not one of the three homework assignments given by ICOMOS has been resolved. This is at odds with the Mt. Fuji Mountain Railway concept, but the locus of these responsibilities has not been discussed so far.

At the time of the World Heritage registration, in addition to the system of Yamanashi Prefecture and the national government (Agency for Cultural Affairs), there is also the question of whether ICOMOS's outlook was naïve. In addition, on the Japan side, there is a one-year project and a change of governor, and after 10 years, the location of responsibility passes through ambiguity and disappears. And now, Mt. Fuji is making an uproar about "overtourism is a problem."

The governor of Nagasaki says it was not without action. Yamanashi Prefecture has taken measures such as restricting private cars and shortening business hours, but more than that, the number of visitors to Mt. Fuji continues to increase due to the increase in bus traffic.

However, it can be said that the increase in the number of visitors is good for those who do business around Mt. Fuji. While the reporter said that "it would be a problem if too many people came" at various tourist destinations, he had seen tourism operators who put profits first. At a tourist attraction, the owner of a souvenir shop said, "It's useless because it's all Japan today." If the government takes measures to reduce visitors, some businesses will resist because they will be affected.

Explanation of the Mt. Fuji Mountain Railway Concept

When the Governor of Nagasaki asked, "I think the feeling that Mt. Fuji, which has become a treasure of the world, Japan, and Yamanashi Prefecture, must be passed on to future generations is shared by the people in the hall. He said, "I would like to talk to you on the premise that we are friends who share the same values," and proceeded to the presentation, stating that the Mt. Fuji Mountain Railway concept is just one proposal from the prefecture.

富士山登山鉄道構想の概要 — Handout (provided by Yamanashi Prefecture)

First of all, it was shown that the railway will not develop with the destruction of nature by embedding the tram track in the Fuji Subaru Line, which is currently an automobile road, and running it from the ground with wireless power transfer. On the other hand, Mayor Horiuchi points out that the construction will lead to the destruction of nature.

Next, as a solution to the artificial landscape of the 5th station, an image was presented as a way to backfill the parking lot created by carving out the mountainside and create a space in harmony with nature and a building that houses souvenir shops, restaurants, and accommodation facilities that are currently in operation. The illustration was in a familiar tone and was by architect Kengo Kuma.

My feeling is that 10 years ago, his participation might have been a person who would have convinced even the opposition, but what about the Reiwa era? Due to my work, I sometimes hear his name in various regions, so I personally wonder if it is again. How will it be viewed by the opposition?

In addition, a table comparing LRT (tram) with electric buses, ropeways, cable cars, monorails, and railways was presented as a means of transportation to the 5th station of Mt. Fuji, and it was evaluated for its high quality, barrier-free, safe and secure operation, symbolism, and operation of goods and waste. The chart was created by the Fuji Five Lakes Tourism Federation in 2025. He also compared the LRT and electric buses to transport the number of people, and explained that LRT has an advantage because the number of buses is larger, the number of departures and arrivals is frequent, and there are standing passengers. The Fuji Five Lakes Tourism Federation proposed to Yamanashi Prefecture and Fujiyoshida City that railways were superior due to the situation at the time, but later withdrew the idea.

In addition, he cited the elimination of the problem of microplastic waste caused by friction in automobile tires, the energy efficiency of LRT, and the fact that cars cannot travel in normal times due to the application of the Track Law from the Road Traffic Law.

Regarding the project budget of 140 billion yen, which has been pointed out by opponents as a particular problem, the governor expects investment not only from Yamanashi Prefecture but also from government subsidies and private companies. He said that the prefectural government's investment will be recovered through dividends, and he wants people to be reassured. He also explained that the Fuji Subaru Line is on prefectural land, so it can expect rental income from railway companies. Furthermore, he says that a business that only drips losses will not be viable in Yamanashi Prefecture today. The phrase "In Yamanashi Prefecture..." is, on the contrary, true. Later, I found out that the local government's Fiscal Strength Index (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) Yamanashi Prefecture ranks 30th out of 47 prefectures every year, below the national average. The concept can be taken as a statement based on the financial strength of the prefecture.

After a brief explanation of the concept, he concluded, "We would like to create a world-class tourist destination that will not only respond to overtourism and solve the problems of ICOMOS, but also add great value for the future."

In addition, he suggested the possibility of a new LRT secondary transportation, and said that it would be possible to connect it to Kawaguchiko Station and Mt. Fuji Station on the Fujikyuko Line and go around Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka.
He went on to come up with the idea that small self-driving EV buses could be used in places where LRTs cannot enter. Incidentally, the city of Fujiyoshida is currently promoting demonstration tests of self-driving EV buses.

He also emphasized that these stories were just ideas, and that he would like to exchange opinions in the future, and that he did not have a "mountaineering plan." In addition, the Governor of Nagasaki repeated many times that he wanted everyone to come up with ideas and come up with solutions, even more than he would explain in this article.

After the Governor of Nagasaki explained the concept, a question-and-answer session was held with the participants. The following are the main exchanges between Q (questioner) and A (Governor of Nagasaki).

I hear that the fare is 10,000 yen, but is it a price that can be ridden by a family?: The people of the prefecture think that it is okay to be free. On the other hand, I want to create a place that people want to go to even if they pay 10,000 yen.

Few citizens of Fujiyoshida actually know much about the railway, and many are emotionally opposed to it. It's good to start the discussion based on the governor's explanation.: This briefing session is the beginning of the beginning. The mountain railway concept is an idea. Based on the points raised, I would like to evolve my way of thinking.

There are other trailheads on Mt. Fuji. Isn't it necessary to cooperate with Shizuoka Prefecture?: Now the discussion is starting. Discussions are also taking place in Shizuoka Prefecture.

What are the consequences of the cancellation of the World Cultural Heritage List?: It's hard to imagine what kind of harm it will cause. However, when people say that Mt. Fuji is no longer a treasure, what do Japan think? I would like to research and sort out what kind of impact it will have.

What will be the evacuation method in the event of an eruption of Mt. Fuji? (Compared to the current situation): At the 5th station, stop the emergency evacuation vehicle (drive in case of emergency). If the LRT moves, the transport capacity will be higher than that of the car. In addition to railway problems, we will consider measures to ensure safety in various cases.

Can the LRT run on a continuous gradient of more than 20 km?: We are currently discussing technical issues with experts.

What is the compensation for lost work during the construction start period and construction period? (5th station, Subaru Line, surrounding accommodation companies): It won't take 10 years. I think it's natural to compensate for lost work.

The LRT at Utsunomiya on flat land took five years. Doesn't it take a long time to climb Mt. Fuji on the slopes?: What takes time is the acquisition of the site, and the construction of the Subaru Line will proceed at once because it is prefectural land.

Today's briefing was meaningful. There were also issues that needed to be discussed. I hope that we will continue to discuss and reach consensus over a number of meetings as we move forward with the concept.: I would like to hold another briefing session when the discussion has progressed. I was too nervous to tell you at the beginning, but I would like to express my gratitude to the Fujiyoshida City officials who arranged the venue today.

Wouldn't it be better to regulate the Fuji Subaru Line for private cars and make it only a shuttle bus?: For next year, we are considering an ordinance to correct overtourism from the 5th station up. Even if the 5th station from the foot of the hill is restricted for private cars (proven), the number of buses will increase and the effect will not be obtained.

Is it possible to clear the limit on the number of people pointed out by ICOMOS?: If it becomes year-round tourism, we will be able to normalize the number of targets, and we will be able to discuss with ICOMOS.

With avalanches every year, is it possible to operate all year round?: The place where the avalanche will occur is expected, and the cave gate is built.

(belonging to the Fuji Five Lakes Tourism Federation) There are doubts about the way the materials are used. Seven items are indicated, but at that time there were 18 items (*). The evaluation changes depending on the items to be picked up. Shouldn't we do new research?: I hope you will join us in our research.

* Later, when I checked with the Fuji Five Lakes Tourism Federation about the number of items, there were 25 items in the original document, and they said that they made a mistake at the briefing. Report of the Study Group on the Environment and Tourism of Mt. Fuji 」。 He also said that the reason for withdrawing the proposal at that time was that the background of the consideration of the item changed due to the practical application of EV buses and the avalanche problem.

During the Q&A session, some of the questioners talked about their emotional feelings, but for the most part, the exchange between the questioner and the governor of Nagasaki was established. The applause directed at the Governor of Nagasaki and the questioners who oppose the plan was 5:5, or I think the applause for the Governor was surprisingly large. It may depend on the seat, but the local media was actively reporting on the confrontation between Mayor Horiuchi and the governor of Nagasaki Prefecture, so I thought that the whole venue would be enveloped in that mood, but I felt that it was not that much.

At this point, it doesn't seem like there will be any change in opinion for those who disagree and vice versa. A neutral person may be able to judge one or the other. While sharing the same values of protecting Mt. Fuji, in the end, residents decide based on their personal values and whether or not they are in line with their own wishes. On top of that, there will be vote-getting activities for stakeholders who are divided into those who agree and those who disagree.

Effects of Citizen Participation Discussions

From the standpoint of media outside the prefecture who are exposed to information from various regions, the confrontation between Yamanashi Prefecture's concept and Fujiyoshida City's opposition to it provides a format for discussion, and it seems that they are working together with residents' participation. I don't know what the outcome will be, but more than that, the sight of residents actively participating in lively discussions on the theme of concepts in declining rural areas of Japan will eventually energize the residents and revitalize the region.
For a while, no decision was reached, and I had the impression that it would be good for the local community to continue discussions on the initiative of residents, as well as public participation.

Mayor Horiuchi's comments and gratitude

When the briefing was over and I left the venue, the local media were interviewing Mayor Horiuchi. The mayor's participation was the highlight of today's event, but I had completely forgotten about it because there was a lot of interaction between the governor and citizens at the venue. When asked by a reporter what he thought of the governor's explanation, the mayor said, "It's the same as what I've heard before." When asked about the problems, he expressed his opinion that "there is almost no provision of disaster countermeasures, new grounds are needed instead of old data, and the rationale for construction funding is unclear."

When the question was over and the reporter was about to end the interview, the mayor added, "I am really grateful that the governor took the time to discuss the matter today," and "I am also grateful that he said that he would like to come to Yoshida in the future to discuss the matter." His behavior was gentlemanly.

Fujiyoshida City publishes opposing opinions in a public relations magazine

After the residents' briefing, Fujiyoshida City 広報ふじよしだPremium issued. In this PR magazine, in the form of an interview with the mayor of Horiuchi, he describes his thoughts on the Mt. Fuji Tozan Railway. Specifically, the superiority of electric buses for the environment and nature, and the proposal to climb Mt. Fuji from the foothills. He also criticized the opposition to the Mt. Fuji mountain railway plan and the strategic nature of Yamanashi Prefecture. In addition, the results of a survey of climbers by a local newspaper were cited, and it was explained that about one-third of the people answered that they did not know about the concept, and that it was necessary to inform and discuss the situation locally and nationwide. It is possible that the PR magazine was produced before the residents' briefing, but there is no change in what Fujiyoshida City is asking the prefecture to do.

In addition, the only thing in common between Fujiyoshida City and Yamanashi Prefecture that could be confirmed in the PR magazine was the " To protect Mt. Fuji and pass it on to future generations It was the word.

As a future trend, Yamanashi Prefecture will hold a briefing session for residents at the remaining municipalities in the northern foothills of Fuji in December. On the other hand, Fujiyoshida City is likely to announce the results of an online questionnaire conducted from September to the end of November asking whether or not the Mt. Fuji mountain railway concept should be implemented, which is attracting attention.

The most important thing is...

Depending on the developments of the end of the year, the contents of the prayers of the Governor of Nagasaki, Mayor Horiuchi, and other officials at the beginning of the new year may change. However, what is more important is that many residents and fans of Mt. Fuji not only in Japan but also around the world think about the issue of the Mt. Fuji mountain railway concept as they welcome the first sunrise of 2024. This is what the Governor of Nagasaki and Mayor Horiuchi share, "the power to pass on Mt. Fuji to the future" (Editorial Department).