INSIGHT: Japan begins study to protect foreign tourists if Mt. Fuji erupts

TOKYO - On the first day of the climbing season for Mt. Fuji, foreign tourists joined the crowd on the trail. They gazed at the sun peeking through the clouds, expressing their excitement.

Designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013, Japan's tallest peak attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year during its official climbing season. Two of the four main hiking trails opened at the start of July, and the other two open nine days later. All of the trails are available through Sept. 10.