Mt. Fuji climbing season opens with 2 trails, new fee kiosks ease crowds

KOFU, Japan - Mt. Fuji's climbing season commenced Wednesday as two of the four main hiking trails opened, with hikers making their way to the summit greeted by a clear sunrise breaking through clouds around 4:30 a.m. in fair weather.

Yamanashi Prefecture has set up two self-service payment kiosks for the 4,000 yen ($25) entrance fee at the 5th station on the most popular Yoshida Trail this year, to ease congestion for those who had not preregistered. The Subashiri Trail on the Shizuoka Prefecture side also opened on Wednesday, earlier than in past years.