Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration

• Management Systems/Management Plan (Lack of vision and management system for operating the property as an entity and cultural landscape) (issues resolved)
• Need to delineate pilgrim routes on the lower slopes of the mountain
• Need to develop visitor management strategy
• Need for overall conservation approach for the upper access routes and their associated huts and tractor routes
• Need to develop an interpretation strategy
• Need to develop a risk management strategy
• Need for development control
• Need to strengthen monitoring indicators

On 26 November 2018, the State Party submitted a comprehensive state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1418/documents and summarizes actions in the following areas:

• An extensive amount of research has been carried out regarding pilgrim routes on the lower slopes of the mountain and work is ongoing;
• Regarding the Visitor Management Strategy, 11 sets of indicators and standards were established by the target date of 2018. Visual harmonization projects have been undertaken;
• For the overall conservation approach for the upper access routes, commencing in 2019, indicators and target levels have been set for the “desired style of Fujian ascents” (three perspectives). The visitor carrying capacity was part of the analysis;
• As part of the Interpretation strategy, the two Fujisan World Heritage Visitor Centres are operational. Visitors are encouraged to visit component parts on the lower slopes;
• Regarding the Risk Management Strategy, evacuation routes and areas have been established;
• Projects have been implemented to improve planning approaches, and public education continues;
• There are now 36 fixed points from which the visual landscape is monitored (versus two originally);
• Five events in 2017/2018 offered opportunities to share Fujisan’s practices with those involved with other extensive cultural landscapes. Exchange programme also started with Mongolia to share Fujisan practices with Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape.

The State Party continues to deliver management and protection within the framework of the agreed vision for the property that aims to find harmonious solutions to the conflicting needs of access and recreation and of maintaining the spiritual and aesthetic qualities of the mountain. The property and its buffer zone are managed “as an entity” and “as a cultural landscape’, as requested by the Committee, in ways that promote sustainable tourism and sustainable land use. The various components of the management structure, i.e. the Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Council, the Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Academic Committee and the working groups of the Council, are fully operational.

Good progress has been made across all six specific areas identified at the time of inscription. The approach to research, involving meticulous data collection and analysis, is exemplary, as is the application of this research to day-to-day operations. For example, after compiling extensive data on visitor numbers, the State Party was able to determine specific dates, hours, and places for congestion. The objective was not simply to control numbers, but to ensure a “desired style of Fujisan ascent” for different user groups.

Research works on the lower historic pilgrimage routes has led to the delineation of lower pilgrim routes to encourage visitors to visit the associated component sites and thus help spread the visitor load. It is also leading to a better understanding of the essential historic and spiritual links between the lower and upper pilgrimage routes.

The two new Fujisan World Heritage Visitor Centres not only offer information and interpretation, but also play a larger role as centres for undertaking, utilizing and promoting research as well as educational work.

Work on improving visual harmonization has continued, including the use of improved materials and engineering methods for maintenance and repair work on the ascending routes, more harmonious designs for signboards and guidelines for huts on one of the upper access routes. Fixed point monitoring will help to ensure that key views are maintained.

Progress with addressing development control measures continues, in response to the need identified at the time of inscription to control more tightly the scale and location of buildings, especially on the lower flanks of mountains. Efforts have been made to realise the early detection of development pressure in the mountain-foot area, to enforce administrative procedures based on consensus with local people, and to harness the momentum of society in favour of conservation. Short-term measures related to visual harmonization are being put in place and will be followed by measures for more ‘fundamental solutions’.

Encouragingly, the State Party reports that it has taken every opportunity to share Fujisan’s conservation and management practices at meetings in China and Mongolia, as well as around Japan.

Given the scale and scope of the management issues inherent to such a large, complex property, it is considered that the State Party made the substantial progress setting out and operationalizing a coherent and coordinated management and protection framework, promoting positive actions to improve aesthetics and visitor experience, harnessing cooperation from visitors and local communities, and raising awareness and appreciation of the sacred nature of the mountain and the extent and complexity of its pilgrim routes and shrines – all of which were vulnerable at the time of inscription.

The one area where more specific details and timeframes are needed is in relation to progress with measures to improve development control around the lower slopes of the mountain. It is considered that this further information could be submitted for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.