Mount Fuji climbers face new rescue fee

Climbing Mount Fuji outside Japan’s official hiking season is about to become a much more expensive gamble for those who end up needing to be rescued.

From next year, climbers attempting to scale the iconic mountain during the off-season could be charged for helicopter rescue services if they get into trouble, under new measures being introduced by Yamanashi Prefecture.

The move is aimed at discouraging people from tackling Fuji when conditions are considerably more challenging and when many of the facilities that normally support hikers are closed.

Yamanashi, which governs the northern side of Mount Fuji, is also planning to make off-season climbers submit detailed plans before beginning their ascent, as reported by the BBC.

Authorities say the measures are needed as they have seen an increase in people attempting unplanned climbs outside the official season, with some ending up stranded on the mountain.

The rescue charge is expected to use a similar system already operating in neighbouring Saitama prefecture as a reference point. There, helicopter rescue services in certain mountainous areas cost 8 000 yen, or about R840, for every five minutes.

The exact structure of the Mount Fuji charge was not detailed in the announcement, but the Saitama fee gives an indication of the model being considered.

Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki has also urged the public to think carefully before attempting an off-season climb.

The official climbing season on Mount Fuji runs from July until early September. Outside that window, climbing is strongly discouraged, even though visitors are permitted to ascend as far as the fifth of the mountain’s 10 stations.

That does not mean the experience is simply the same climb with fewer people around.

Most mountain huts and toilet facilities close during the off-season, while colder weather and more difficult trail conditions can make the ascent significantly more demanding.

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For authorities, the concern is not simply about encouraging people to plan better. It is also about preventing climbers from entering areas where conditions can quickly become dangerous without the infrastructure and support available during the main season.

Yamanashi is not the only prefecture tightening its approach.

Shizuoka, which oversees the southern side of Mount Fuji, is also planning tougher measures for off-season visitors. Authorities there intend to penalise climbers who fail to register their attempts and increase efforts to keep people away from restricted areas.

Shizuoka has not announced a similar helicopter rescue fee.

The two prefectures are therefore taking slightly different approaches, but the message is broadly the same: climbing Fuji outside the main season carries risks that authorities do not want people to underestimate.

The scale of Mount Fuji’s popularity helps explain why officials are paying closer attention.

Around 200 000 hikers attempt to reach the summit during the official climbing season each year.

That popularity makes the mountain a major attraction, but it also means that poorly prepared visitors can quickly become a challenge for rescue teams when conditions turn against them.

The new measures are designed to make climbers think twice before heading up during the months when the mountain is at its most unforgiving.

For anyone planning a Mount Fuji adventure, the safest and most straightforward option remains the official climbing season, when the mountain’s main facilities and services are operating.

Those choosing to go outside that period will now have another consideration before setting off: if the climb goes wrong, the rescue may come with a bill.

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