Free Mt. Fuji helicopter rescues for offseason hikers are ending in Yamanashi
Governor asks offseason hikers to “stop waving around their freedom to climb the mountain as if it’s the only thing that matters.” As the country’s most famous landmark, Mt. Fuji inspires musings on Japan’s history, culture, and natural beauty. Unfortunately, in recent years it also evokes thoughts of irresponsible, overconfident offseason hikers who ignore safety […]
Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki announced plans to charge offseason hikers for helicopter rescues from Mt. Fuji after increasing incidents of climbers ignoring safety warnings and requiring assistance. The official climbing season for the iconic mountain runs from early July to early September, but trails above the fifth station are technically off-limits during the fall, winter, and spring.
However, more hikers have been attempting to summit Mt. Fuji outside of the official season recently, often leading to dangerous rescue operations in poor weather conditions. Nagasaki emphasized that while rescue workers must help those in need, people should not use this as an excuse to disregard rules. The new ordinance will charge hikers based on rescue costs, and may waive or reduce fees for those who have properly prepared and notified authorities beforehand.
The charges are expected to take effect in the fall of 2027, with Shizuoka Prefecture also planning similar measures for offseason hikers.
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