Japan may charge Mount Fuji climbers for off-season rescues
Japan’s Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures are contemplating a fee for certain helicopter rescues on Mount Fuji outside the official climbing season, after a series of incidents involving under-prepared hikers.
Mount Fuji’s climbing season ended on 10 September, but the mountain’s rescue problem does not end with it. Yamanashi and Shizuoka are considering fees for helicopter rescues during the off-season, when official trails are closed and conditions can become significantly more dangerous.
Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said in May that, after the necessary legislation and preparation, the prefecture wanted to set a direction by autumn and introduce a new system for the next climbing season. Options include charging for fire-service helicopter rescues and limiting fees to certain circumstances.
In April 2025, a 27-year-old Chinese student was rescued from Mount Fuji after developing altitude sickness, but he returned several days later to retrieve belongings and needed to be rescued again.
That episode fuelled criticism of a system that rescues climbers for free outside the climbing season. Prefectures are trying to distinguish between people who need emergency help and those who take unnecessary risks.
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Mount Fuji becomes harder to climb
The proposed rescue fees are part of a broader shift in how Japan manages its most famous mountain.
During the 2026 climbing season, Yamanashi recorded 157,765 permitted climbers on the Yoshida route between 1 July and 31 August. The prefecture has also tightened controls on access and safety as it tries to reduce dangerous and poorly prepared ascents.
The Shizuoka side introduced similar restrictions on its three main routes, including advance registration and a ¥4,000 entry fee during the official season.
Off-season climbing is a different problem. Parts of the mountain are legally closed, and Shizuoka warns that climbing during closure can result in a fine or other legal consequences.
Read more: Father abandons tired 7-year-old son on Mount Fuji climb
