Yamanashi to charge climbers for Mount Fuji helicopter rescues

Mount Fuji’s official climbing season runs from July to early September, while trails are closed outside this period and conditions can be significantly more dangerous. | REUTERS

Sep 14, 2026

Yamanashi Prefecture plans to charge climbers for helicopter rescues on Mount Fuji during the mountain’s closed season, part of a package of measures aimed at deterring reckless ascents.

According to the new plan unveiled Monday, people climbing above Mount Fuji’s 6th Station during the closed season will be required to submit a climbing plan in advance. Authorities will recommend changes when equipment, routes or other elements of a plan are considered inadequate.

Climbers who require rescue by a prefectural disaster-response helicopter after failing to submit a plan will be charged. Those who submitted one but deviated from it or didn’t take prefectural recommendations could also face charges if experts determine that their equipment, climbing method or other circumstances amounted to reckless climbing.

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