Tag - yamanashi

 
 

YAMANASHI

Aokigahara Forest in Yamanashi Prefecture. A man wanted by police in relation to the death of his father and the attempted murder of his mother at their luxury condominium in Shiga Prefecture earlier this year was found dead in Aokigahara Forest on May 11.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 3, 2025
Son of Shiga couple attacked in condo found dead in forest
Police identified the deceased as Makoto Iwasaki, a 50-year-old man wanted in relation to the death of his father and attempted murder of his mother in February.
A gate to check climbers at Mount Fuji's fifth station in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, on June 13. Climbers who do not have the necessary climbing equipment may be barred from using the trails.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 30, 2025
Mount Fuji’s ¥4,000 entrance fee kicks in for all routes
Climbers paid ¥2,000 to scale the mountain via the popular Yoshida trail last year, while those who made the journey through other routes did not have to pay anything.
Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Jun 30, 2025
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji’s deadliest weekend still echoes today. Luckily, area rescue squads have leveled up their game.
A sign by a group working to stop people from killing themselves is seen at Aokigahara Jukai forest in Yamanashi Prefecture.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 23, 2025
Man arrested over abduction of high school girl found dead in Aokigahara forest
Yuto Kakuma has admitted to the allegations, telling investigators, “I took her with me so we could commit suicide together.”
People walk under the scorching sun in Tokyo's Omotesando area on Tuesday as temperatures rise above 35 degrees Celsius in much of eastern Japan.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 17, 2025
Japan sweats under extreme heat despite ongoing rainy season
The weather agency warned of heat waves throughout the week as a high-pressure system stretches across eastern and northern Japan.
Since moving to Tokyo from New York City in 2014, Hiraku Morilla has been promoting Keith Haring’s legacy in his professional life and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jun 6, 2025
Hiraku Morilla: ‘Pride means respect for those who walked so we could run’
The New York-raised director of the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection reflects on his queer, multiracial identity and LGBTQ+ rights in Japan.
Some of the photos related to Aum Shinrikyo, taken by Seiichi Takeuchi, are displayed at an educational facility in Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture.
JAPAN
May 18, 2025
1,400 photos donated to remember horrors of Aum Shinrikyo cult
Kamikuishiki resident Seiichi Takeuchi, 97, waged a battle against the group from the time the cult set up the base in the village's Fujigane district in 1989.
Mount Fuji fills the skyline above a bridge connecting stores at a popular outlet shopping center in the city of Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in November 2024.
JAPAN / Society
May 15, 2025
Irresponsible climbing prompts debate over who should pay for Mount Fuji rescues
Rescue teams put themselves in grave danger, and the cost of flying a helicopter for a rescue can be up to between ¥600,000 and ¥800,000.
The reservation system is aimed at reducing congestion and preventing people from climbing Japan's tallest mountain in casual clothes.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2025
Bookings for climbing Mount Fuji this season to begin April 24
To make reservations to enter the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi side of the mountain, climbers are required to pay an entrance fee of ¥4,000 per person in advance.
Three Japanese banks are teaming up to combat the enduring challenge of a dwindling population.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2025
Three Japanese banks form alliance to fight population slump
Shizuoka Bank, Hachijuni Bank and Yamanashi Chuo Bank will work together to draw outside talent and funding into central Japan.
Tourists gather at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th station, which leads to the popular Yoshida Trail for hikers climbing Mount Fuji, ahead of its reopening for the season in Narusawa, Yamanashi Prefecture in June 2024.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 17, 2025
Mount Fuji hikers to be charged ¥4,000 on all trails
Yamanashi Prefecture is doubling its ¥2,000 ($14) entry fee for the Yoshida Trail, while Shizuoka Prefecture will charge the same amount for its three trails.
Visitors line up to take photos in front of a convenience store with Mount Fuji in the background at the town of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Jan. 29.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 25, 2025
Japan’s ‘hidden gems’ overwhelmed as social media drives influx of tourists
Local stakeholders struggle to cope with the surge in visitor numbers whenever a location suddenly goes viral.
With abundant rains and formidable humidity in summer, Japan does not seem to be an ideal land for wine, but winegrowers in Yamanashi Prefecture have gradually been able to adapt.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 26, 2025
Of sake and spirits: Indulging in Yamanashi’s best
Visits to Grace Wine’s vineyard and the Suntory Hakushu Distillery turn a tour of the mountainous prefecture into a gourmet treat.
New fencing was installed along the sidewalk near a convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Monday to prevent tourists from jaywalking and to improve safety.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2024
New fencing installed to help manage tourists at Mount Fuji photo spot
The area in Fujikawaguchiko, a popular photography spot because of how Mount Fuji rises behind the convenience store, has gained traction on social media.
Bereaved family members are seen shedding tears at a memorial ceremony held near the Sasago Tunnel in Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Monday.
JAPAN
Dec 2, 2024
Victims remembered on 12th anniversary of Sasago Tunnel disaster
The memorial ceremony was attended by 60 people, including executives of the company and officials of the transport ministry as well as people who lost their loved ones.
Mount Fuji, as seen from Saiko Lake in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Nov. 7
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2024
Yamanashi Prefecture plans to raise entry fee for Mount Fuji climbers
The prefectural government of Yamanashi plans to raise the entry fee for Mount Fuji climbers from the current ¥2,000 to between ¥3,000 and ¥5,000, sources said Monday.
Best known as the home of Kuon Temple, Minobu, Yamanashi Prefecture, is a charming day trip from Tokyo with the potential for cultural verisimilitude.
LIFE / Travel
Nov 23, 2024
In rugged Yamanashi, a wild-goose chase for ‘real Japan’
Japan’s countryside certainly offers a different experience than its cities, but whether that makes it categorically superior is up for debate.
A sign with a photo of Mount Fuji covered in snow is seen at a view point as the mountain looms in the background in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Oct. 31.
JAPAN
Nov 22, 2024
Shizuoka considers charging each Mount Fuji climber up to ¥5,000
The fees is designed to prevent overcrowding on trails and discourage dangerous overnight attempts to scale the mountain.
A rubber-tired tram system, tentatively called the “Fuji Tram,” would run along magnetic markers, reducing environmental damage, according to the Yamanashi Prefectural Government.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 19, 2024
Why Yamanashi gave up building a light-rail system on Mount Fuji
As an alternative, the governor proposed a new plan to use a rubber-tired tram system.
The number of visitors to Mount Fuji has exploded in recent years and authorities have struggled to reduce the environmental impact.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2024
Yamanashi officially scraps Fuji railway plan as it looks to Chinese tram
Authorities are eyeing a transport system developed by China's state-owned railway company CRRC, as well as alternatives from Japanese firms.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji