Japan tightens regulations amid rise in off-season climbing on Mt. Fuji

Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, is one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting the island nation. At 3,776 meters, reaching its summit requires rigorous preparation and professional equipment.

However, amid a rise in poorly prepared hikers attempting the difficult climb and eventually requiring assistance from authorities, Japan plans to charge those who need helicopter rescues to descend the mountain during the off-season.

Authorities in Yamanashi Prefecture, where Mount Fuji is located, will also require climbers going above the sixth station from early September to July — a point nearly 2,400 meters above sea level — to file a climbing plan in advance detailing their intended route and equipment, as Japanese media outlets report.

There were 21 climbing accidents and four deaths on the Yamanashi side of Mount Fuji in the seven years through 2025.

Neighbouring Shizuoka Prefecture, which oversees the southern side of Fuji, will also introduce penalties for off-season climbers who fail to register their plans.

“We ask the general public to refrain from climbing during the off-season. We hope that these measures will cause people to rethink what climbing Mount Fuji during the winter is like,” Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said this week.

According to initial information obtained by media outlets, the proposed rate is about 8,000 Japanese yen ($72) for every five minutes of helicopter operation. The new measures are expected to take effect in September 2027.

Mount Fuji’s official climbing season runs from July to early September, with about 200,000 hikers attempting to reach the summit each year.

Outside those months, climbing is discouraged because of the dangerous weather conditions hikers can encounter. Authorities will now also use barricades and sensors to block access and warn people attempting to climb.

In April last year, a Chinese university student was rescued twice within a few days after climbing on the Shizuoka side of the mountain.

Mountain climbing has attracted enthusiasts for decades seeking to challenge themselves and test their physical limits. The activity has gained wider attention through social media in recent years, where climbers post their journeys and views from the summit. In parallel with the rise in popularity that the sport has gained online, authorities around the world have recorded a rise in amateur or poorly prepared climbers attempting difficult hikes, sometimes resulting in rescue operations and, in some cases, fatalities.

By Nazrin Sadigova