The number of visitors to Japan’s most famous mountain has exploded in recent years and authorities have struggled to reduce the environmental impact.

Crowd control measures and ¥2,000 entrance fee ($13) managed to limit the number of people climbing Fuji this summer to about 178,000 climbers, according to preliminary figures, compared with more than 200,000 last year.

Authorities in Yamanashi, on the more popular side of the volcano, have announced plans to build a light rail transit system to the fifth station, located 2,305 m above sea level, in 2021.

Currently, people can take a toll road to this point, from where they walk with the crowds to the 3,776 meter summit.

The cost has been estimated at 140 billion yen ($900 million), while an interim report last month highlighted technical challenges, including brakes and batteries that work in cold weather.

Some local citizen groups have also highlighted the potential damage to the environment.

The tram, the governor said, would connect the volcano to a regional train station and is expected to begin service in 2034 or later.

A feasibility study will be carried out before being officially presented to local residents, Nagasaki said.

Unprecedented numbers of tourists are flocking to Japan, which says it wants to welcome 60 million visitors per year by 2030, about double the record set in 2019.