Table of contents:
TL;DR
Shizuoka Prefecture will require climbers to register their hiking plans during Mount Fuji's closed season, with penalties possible for those who skip registration and later need rescue. The move follows a string of off-season accidents and a climbing season that saw six deaths.Shizuoka Prefecture, which manages several of Mount Fuji's climbing trails, has decided to tighten its rules for climbers after a series of accidents during the mountain's closed season.
Mandatory Hiking Plan Registration
Prefectural officials met on Monday to discuss ways to prevent accidents during the closed season, which generally runs from September through July. Authorities will continue urging people not to climb during the high-risk period while introducing new safety measures.
Under the new rules, climbers will be required to register their hiking plans in advance during the closed season. Those who fail to do so could face penalties if they later request a rescue. Registration is currently voluntary year-round.
Rescue Fees Still Under Review
Local communities have called for climbers who fail to register to be charged for helicopter rescues. However, prefectural officials said there are institutional obstacles to charging for helicopter rescues, and the proposal will continue to be considered along with other possible penalties.
Barriers, Signs and Warning Videos
The prefecture also plans to strengthen safety measures through physical and educational steps, including:
- Improving barriers to deter climbers from entering the mountain during the off-season
- Installing warning signs and flashing lights
- Producing a video warning people about the risks of climbing during the off-season
The measures are planned to be introduced in stages by the start of the next closed season in September of next year. Oshima Fumihiko of the prefecture's crisis management department was among the officials involved in the announcement.
A Deadly Season Ends With Growing Crowds
The tightening of rules comes as Mount Fuji's official climbing season has drawn to a close. According to The Asahi Shimbun, the death toll for the climbing season increased to six.
Yamanashi Prefecture reported 175,177 climbers on the Yoshida trail, up about 20 percent from a year earlier, while all three trails on the Shizuoka Prefecture side also saw increases. Officials said measures targeting bullet climbing, in which hikers ascend at night to reach the summit for sunrise and then descend without adequate rest, as well as poorly equipped hikers, largely succeeded. Even so, many accidents involved falls or exhaustion, particularly during descents.
"The challenge going forward is how to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining physical fitness," a Shizuoka prefectural official said.
The season formally ended when staff closed the trail gate at the Yoshida trail fifth station on the Yamanashi side at 2 p.m., under sporadic blue skies with the summit visible.
Comments