Mount Fuji climbers to face helicopter rescue charges

From next year, climbers requiring helicopter rescue on Mount Fuji outside its official climbing season will be charged for the service, as Japanese authorities seek to deter poorly prepared, high-risk ascents.

Yamanashi prefecture, which oversees the northern side of the mountain, is introducing the charges alongside new requirements for people attempting off-season climbs to submit detailed climbing plans.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the level of the rescue charge. However, neighboring Saitama prefecture currently charges ¥8,000 (US$51) for every five minutes of helicopter rescue operations in mountainous areas, a system Yamanashi will use as a reference.

The measures follow an increase in off-season and unplanned attempts to climb Mount Fuji, some of which have resulted in people becoming stranded.

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

Neighboring Shizuoka prefecture, which oversees the southern side of the mountain, is also tightening rules. Climbers who fail to register off-season attempts will face penalties, while authorities will strengthen measures designed to prevent people entering restricted areas. Shizuoka has not announced a helicopter rescue charge.

Off-season climbs carry additional risks

Mount Fuji’s official climbing season runs from July until early September and attracts around 200,000 climbers annually.

Climbing outside this period is strongly discouraged. Most mountain huts and toilet facilities are closed, while weather and trail conditions can be considerably more severe.

The introduction of rescue charges also highlights the potential financial exposure facing travelers undertaking higher-risk activities overseas, including the importance of checking whether travel insurance provides adequate cover for hiking, mountaineering, and emergency evacuation.

Japanese emergency helicopter operations have been supported by a purchase of an Airbus H160 for the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.