Prayer halls for Muslim tourists near Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji
TOKYO, Japan – With increasing Muslim tourists visiting Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji, authorities have set up numerous prayer halls for worship.
Local media reports new prayer halls have been established in Fujika wagu chiko, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Considering the increasing demand for prayer rooms, the Japan Halal Certification Promotion Organization established a special prayer facility.
The Fuji kawa guchiko Masjid opened to worshipers in 2020.
It is located near Lake Kawaguchi.
Since its opening, it has been used by 25,000 people.
Earlier, Muslim tourists were praying at a prefabricated hut set up by a local restaurant.
Kazuko Watanabe, the 76-year-old restaurant owner, said many tourists come here from Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Yamanashi prefectural government says the number of visitors from these two countries has doubled since 2013.
Nearly 80,000 tourists from Indonesia and Malaysia visit Mount Fuji annually.