Yamanashi picks magnetic-marker transit system for ‘Fuji Tram'
KOFU--A rubber-tired tramway guided by magnetic markers embedded in the road has emerged as the likely new transit system for climbers and visitors on Mount Fuji, the Yamanashi prefectural government here said.
The prefecture said June 5 that it had comprehensively evaluated multiple options based on safety, cost, emergency response capabilities and visitor management potential for the tentatively named 'Fuji Tram.'
It concluded the magnetic guidance system offers the greatest advantages in managing visitor flow and addressing overtourism concerns at Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The proposed Fuji Tram will connect the base of Mount Fuji with the 5th Station, a key waypoint for climbers and tourists located at an elevation of 2,300 meters on the 3,776-meter mountain.
This transit service will operate on the Fuji Subaru Line, a scenic 30-kilometer toll road ascending the mountain's northern slopes from Lake Kawaguchiko to the 5th Station.
Once the Fuji Tram is operational, general vehicles will, in principle, be banned from using the Fuji Subaru Line.
This measure aims to manage visitor numbers on Japan's highest peak, which has been overwhelmed by crowds in recent years.
To safeguard Mount Fuji's environment and scenic landscape, the prefectural government set four key criteria for the transit system: (1) the ability to navigate sharp curves and steep gradients; (2) access for emergency vehicles; (3) absence of overhead wires to preserve the natural scenery; and (4) zero exhaust emissions.
The administration evaluated five candidate transportation systems: a magnetic guidance system for rubber-tired tram-like vehicles; an optical guidance system that follows painted white lines on the road; a next-generation light rail transit (LRT) system; Translohr, a rubber-tired tram guided by a single central steel rail embedded in the road; and conventional buses.
The magnetic guidance tram was judged the superior option.
The white-line guidance system was rejected due to its vulnerability to adverse weather and snowy conditions in Mount Fuji's environment.
Because the magnetic guidance system does not require conventional railroad tracks, its estimated implementation cost is 61.8 billion yen ($430 million), less than half the 134 billion yen projected for the LRT system. The prefecture abandoned the LRT option last fall
The Fuji Tram is also envisioned to function as a secondary transit link connecting a planned new station in Kofu for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, a high-speed magnetic levitation railway currently under construction, with Mount Fuji and other locations throughout Yamanashi Prefecture.
'We want to advance the plan as swiftly as possible,' Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said at a news conference on June 5. 'We will promptly clarify the type of business entity and business model to pursue.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SoraNews24
2 days ago
- SoraNews24
Here are all of the reasons why you should go to Kumano, Mie Prefecture, for summer sightseeing
Spectacular fireworks, ancient pilgrimage routes, water excursions, and local cuisine are all definitive reasons to visit Kumano this summer season. Our team of SoraNews24 writers love visiting off-the-beaten-path locales in Japan. We've journeyed to the north, the south, and plenty of places in between, but there will always be more hidden gems waiting to explore. While we wouldn't exactly call the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range' under the radar, we would venture to say that it can be overshadowed by the popular cities of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka that are in close proximity. Given the unprecedented numbers of foreign tourists in those cities as of late, if you're looking for a combination of ancient and modern wonders without the crowds, we'd highly recommend heading a bit farther south to the Kii Peninsula. Today, we'll be introducing a variety of highlights from the area centered on Kumano, Mie Prefecture, a city nestled snugly between the mountains and the ocean. First things first–Kumano is home to the Kumano Fireworks Festival (熊野大花火大会), one of the premier displays of fireworks in all of Japan. Held annually, 10,000 fireworks explode 600 meters (656 yards) in the sky over the ocean at Shichirimihama Beach. This year's festival is slated for August 17 from 7-9 p.m., with backup dates of August 19, 21, 26, and 28 in case of inclement weather or unruly waves. Similarly, a bit to the north in the town of Kihoku, the Kihoku Lantern Festival (きほく燈籠祭) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the town's establishment after two smaller towns were merged. The festival was held on July 26 at Kiinagashima Port with a special decorative lantern float of local mascot characters Kiihokun and Kussun fishing alongside a fireworks display designed to mimic the plumage of a peacock over the ocean. Those who wish to see the decorative lantern are still in luck because it will be displayed at the World Expo that's currently taking place in Osaka. ▼ Posters for this year's Kumano Fireworks Festival and Kihoku Lantern Festival The name 'Kumano' may ring a bell if you've ever heard of the Kumano Kodo, a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that connect important shrines and temples secluded in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula. Traversed by spiritual pilgrims for over 1,000 years, the old-growth forests practically feel like they're buzzing with mystical energy. We'll introduce two recommendations for must-see stretches of the routes. First, the Matsumoto Pass (松本峠) is located between Kumano's Odomari and Kinomoto localities and is only about a 30-minute hike from the popular Onigajo (鬼ヶ城) natural rock formations/caves sightseeing attraction. You'll be rewarded for your uphill climb with sweeping views of the coast and mountains. You should also be on the lookout for a Jizo statue at the summit of the pass riddled with bullet marks from when a hunter mistook it for a monster in centuries past. ▼ A section of the Matsumoto Pass © SoraNews24 ▼ The Jizo statue at the top of the Matsumoto Pass ▼ The Onigajo ('Demon Castle') rocks along the water are well worth a visit before or after visiting Matsumoto Pass. © SoraNews24 Second, the Magose Pass (馬越峠) is located between Kihoku and Owase and is fantastic for anyone who wants to be swept up in the tranquility of nature. This stretch of the route is marked by abundant hinoki cypress trees and cobblestone paths, but be careful not to slip as the area receives some of the highest annual rainfall in the country. ▼ A section of the Magose Pass Meanwhile, if a stroll on the beach is more your style, you'll have plenty of walking to do at Shichirimihama Beach (七里御浜海岸)–yes, the same place where the Kumano Fireworks Festival takes place. Spanning 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) from Kumano to the town of Kiho to the south, it's Japan's longest sand and gravel beach that's filled with colorful pebbles shaped by the waves. It's also a landing spot for loggerhead turtles. ▼ Shichirimihama Beach ▼ People who plan to attend the Kumano Fireworks Festival stake out prime sections of the beach for their blankets weeks in advance. © SoraNews24 This next spot holds incredible significance in the mythical history of Japan. Hananoiwaya Shrine (花の窟神社) is said to be one of the oldest (some say the oldest) Shinto shrine in all of Japan. It's even mentioned in the Nihon Shoki , the second-oldest collection of Japanese historical writings dating to 720 AD. The reason for its importance is that it enshrines Izanami no Mikoto, the mother/creation goddess of Japanese mythology, and the grounds contain a cave that is believed to be Izanami's grave as well as the entrance to the underworld. ▼ The entrance to the underworld at Hananoiwaya Shrine…? © SoraNews24 The shrine is also famous for a ritual held twice per year–on February 2 and October 2–called the otsunakakejinji (御綱掛け神事). During these occasions, dances are offered to the gods and then a 170-meter-long shimenawa rope, the longest in all of Japan, is stretched across the shrine grounds and hung between the 45-meter-high sacred rock face marking the entrance to the underworld and a sacred pine tree. It's a sign of good luck if the rope remains intact until the next otsunakakejinji. ▼ The rope being prepared for the otsunakakejinji ▼ The rope-hanging ritual is depicted in beautiful fashion on Hananoiwaya Shrine's goshuincho shrine/temple seal record book. © SoraNews24 By the way, we'd be remiss not to mention the famous Shishiiwa (獅子岩) 'Lion's Head Rock' located on Shichirimihama Beach just a short walk down the road from the entrance to Hananoiwaya Shrine. It makes for an awesome photo op in the background. ▼ The Shishiiwa looks out over the ocean as a protective guardian © SoraNews24 If you've had your fill of culture and are eager to get your feet wet–literally–in some kind of leisure activity, Kumano's got you covered several times over. First, at the Yume Kodo Owase (夢古道おわせ) bathing facility in Owase, you can relax in a tub with deep sea water pumped from 400 meters below. It's the only deep-sea water bathing facility and mist sauna on the Kii Peninsula and is renounced for its water's heat and moisture retention qualities. When you've worked up an appetite, there's an on-site food court with ramen and fried foods made using the deep sea water, as well as locally caught fish on the weekends. ▼ Yume Kodo Owase You might also like to dip your toes into the cool basin at the bottom of the 30-meter-tall Hisetsunotaki waterfall in Kiho's Hisetsunotaki Camping Ground (飛雪の滝キャンプ場). There are also three kinds of tent saunas on the grounds. ▼ Hisetsunotaki Camping Ground There are also more active options in the form of sea kayak guided night tours at Owase's Mikisato Beach from June through October. The highlight of these tours is the chance to see large swaths of noctiluca scintillans, a species of bioluminescent marine eukaryotes nicknamed 'sea sparkles' that make the sparkling waters appear to blur together with the twinkling of starry skies. June to August tours last from 7:30-9 p.m., while September to October tours last from 7-8:30 p.m. ▼ Sea kayak night tours Finally, the Sandanbo Sightseeing Experience (三反帆遊覧体験) is an hour-long cruise down the Kumano River in a traditional boat with three sails. Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery from a unique vantage point, it's also a chance to follow in the wake of aristocrats of old who visited the Kumano Kodo by water. ▼ Sandanbo Sightseeing Experience Foodies can now rejoice because we've saved your favorite for last. Every region of Japan boasts its own unique local cuisine, and we've got four top recommendations for you to sample the gastronomic delights of the Kumano area. The Michi no Eki Kii-Nagashima Manbo (道の駅 紀伊長島マンボウ) roadside stop in Kihoku has some unique seafood offerings for you to try, including Pacific saury sushi, fried ocean sunfish skewers, shark skewers, and fried moray eel. Mehari sushi (めはり寿司) is a famous local specialty of the region found in various places. It consists of a rice ball wrapped in pickled leaf mustard (takana) greens that packs a flavorful punch. The town of Mihama, located on the coast between Kumano and Kiho, is famous for being Japan's biggest producer of mikan by growing 200,000 kilograms (220 tons) of them per year. However, the area also produces lots of Meyer lemons (マイヤーレモン), a natural hybrid fruit that's juicy and well-suited for use in sweets. Better pucker up! Finally, you may be tempted to think that Kumano's most famous for seafood, but that's certainly not all. There are several brand meats that are well-known to the area as well. Pictured below clockwise from the upper-left corner are: ● Mikumano beef (美熊野牛)–The cows are raised on high land overlooking the ocean. ● Kumanojidori chicken (熊野地鶏)–This chicken is a cross between the Mie shamo yagido, Iseakadori, and Nagoya Cochin varieties of fowl. ● Iwashimizu pork (石清水豚)–The pork is named after the pure spring water that flows from the local mountains. There you have it–plenty of reasons to make the Kumano region your go-to destination for your next Japan travels. With summer festivals in full swing across all of Japan at the moment, we encourage you to get out there, explore, and experience everything that this season has to offer. Source: PR Times Images: PR Times, SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Japan Today
Montreal over Miami: Patriotic Canadians change summer vacation plans
FILE PHOTO: Canoes are seen on a dock on Lake Louise at Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains outside the village of Lake Louise, Alberta, October 3, 2014. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo By Nivedita Balu Canadians are trading their annual vacation south of the border for road trips around Ottawa, the midnight sun in Yukon, whale watching in Nova Scotia or hiking in Banff. The newfound desire to stay local started earlier this year when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to annex Canada and imposed a series of tariffs on Canadian goods, spurring a 'Buy Canadian' movement to boycott U.S. businesses and avoid traveling to the U.S. London, Ontario-based Guess Where Trips sells curated mystery road trip packages in four Canadian provinces and reported a 75% increase in sales of trips across the country so far this year from a year ago. "It is clear that more Canadians are choosing to explore small businesses and hidden gems close to home, rather than crossing the border for their holidays and vacations," operations manager Jessica Bax said. Road trips around Ottawa are among their most popular packages, Bax said, as more Canadians explore their capital city. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also made a pitch for Canadians to take advantage of a new "Canada Strong" pass that grants free or discounted access to several national parks, historic sites and museums this summer. "Canadians are making choices to visit this great country, spend time here with their family, with their friends. They're making choices to buy Canadian products," he said in a press briefing in Huntsville, Ontario on Tuesday. The discount pass contrasts with Trump ordering higher entrance fees at U.S. national parks for visitors from other countries. A Bank of Canada survey this week showed that 55% of Canadians plan to spend less money vacationing in the United States this year while 35% said they would spend more on traveling within Canada. A survey by TD Bank showed 64% of Canadians polled planned to travel within the country, mirroring an increase in domestic flight bookings. Canadian domestic tourism spending rose 4% in the first quarter this year from a year earlier, said Destination Canada, a government agency that promotes Canadian tourism. The number of flight return trips from the United States made by Canadians fell 17% in May from a year earlier, while the number of such trips made by car fell by 37% that month, according to Statistics Canada. Walter Flower, who operates whale watching tours in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, said he has been busier this year as more people exploring the UNESCO World Heritage town booked a 45-minute ocean adventure hoping to spot whales off the east coast. Divya Mohan, a communications specialist in Toronto, says she had initially planned to go to Texas this year but instead opted to explore the city of Winnipeg in Manitoba. "It just felt like the timing wasn't right... may be in the future," Mohan, 39, said of her trip in April. "Winnipeg is just one more destination in Canada to explore," Mohan said, coming away impressed with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. On the west coast in British Columbia, RVs have gained popularity, said Storm Jespersen, a regional manager at family-owned tourism firm Evergreen Hospitality Group. "This year is going to be the busiest year in our company's history across our 26 properties... it's so busy, I don't think you can even rent one (RV) very easily right now," said Jespersen. WORTH THE BUCK Traveling in Canada can be expensive as domestic flights to remote locations often cost more than traveling to the United States or even Europe. But travelers have found ways to do it cheaper - through road trips or by hunting for discounts. "Doing road trips or just weekend trips to a cabin nearby is a great way to switch things up without spending thousands of dollars to fly a family of four across the country and back," said Vancouver-based marketing executive Kramer Solinsky. On his list this year, Solinsky plans to visit Montreal and the east coast for the first time and is traveling to Mexico City and Osaka in Japan instead of other sun-soaked options like Florida and California. To make some remote regions in northern Canada more accessible, Air North - the airline for the northern regions of Yukon and Northwest Territories - added more capacity and non-stop routes for the summer, betting on higher demand from what it said was "clear and growing interest among Canadians in exploring more of their own country" Air North said arrivals to Yukon rose 7.6% from January to June this year and the airline continues to see growth in demand for flights to northern Canada. Other Canadian carriers have reported similar trends: Porter Airlines increased its summer network capacity to domestic travel to 80% from 75%, while peer WestJet in May suspended nine routes between Canada and the United States citing lower demand. © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
Japan Today
20-07-2025
- Japan Today
Dozens dead in Vietnam after tourist ferry sinks
Rescuers are searching for five people still missing on Sunday after a boat capsized in Vietnam By Ran Thi Minh Ha Rescuers were desperately searching for five people still missing on Sunday after 37 were killed when a boat capsized in one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations. The tourist boat ferrying families around Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay was lashed by a storm on Saturday in one of the UNESCO World Heritage site's deadliest disasters. The "Wonder Sea" vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized because of sudden heavy rain, the VNExpress news site said. Most of those on board were families visiting from the capital Hanoi, with more than 20 children among the passengers, it said. Border guards had rescued 11 people and recovered 34 bodies by Saturday evening, it added. Overnight three crew members' bodies were found in the cabin and rescue efforts continued into Sunday morning to find the five people still missing. One of the rescued, a 10-year-old boy, told state media outlet VietnamNet: "I took a deep breath, swam through a gap, dived then swam up, I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat with soldiers on". Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his condolences on Saturday to the families of the deceased and called on the defense and public security ministries to conduct urgent search and rescue. Authorities would "investigate and clarify the cause of the incident and strictly handle violations", a government statement said. Tran Trong Hung, a resident in the Ha Long Bay area, told AFP: "The sky turned dark at around 2:00 pm." There were "hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorm and lightning", he said. Torrential rain also lashed northern Hanoi, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces on Saturday. Several trees were knocked down in the capital by strong winds. The storm followed three days of intense heat, with the mercury hitting 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, was quoted in VNExpress as saying that the thunderstorms in northern Vietnam were not caused by the influence of Tropical Storm Wipha in the South China Sea. Wipha entered the South China Sea on Sunday gaining strength, and is on course to make landfall in Vietnam early next week. Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, with millions of people visiting its blue-green waters and rainforest-topped limestone islands each year. Last year, 30 vessels sank at boat lock areas in coastal Quang Ninh province along Ha Long Bay after Typhoon Yagi brought strong wind and waves. And this month, a ferry sank off the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali, killing at least 18 people. © 2025 AFP
