New Delhi: A 27-year-old Chinese university student living in Japan has been rescued twice from Mount Fuji in less than a week after attempting to retrieve his belongings, including a mobile phone, left behind during his first ascent, according to a BBC report.
The student was initially rescued by helicopter last Tuesday from the Fujinomiya trail, located approximately 3,000 metres above sea level. He became stranded after losing his crampons – essential spiked footwear attachments for navigating icy terrain – rendering him unable to descend safely.
Transported down on a stretcher
Despite being airlifted to safety and warned of the dangers, he returned to the mountain just four days later to recover personal items, including his phone. But he again required emergency rescue after suffering from altitude sickness on Saturday. Authorities transported him down on a stretcher. He is now in stable condition.
Officials have reiterated against climbing Mount Fuji outside of the designated season due to unpredictable weather and the closure of key facilities such as mountain huts, toilets, and first aid stations. The official climbing season for Mount Fuji runs from early July to early September. During this time, all summit trails are fully operational, with medical support and safety infrastructure in place. Outside these months, however, the trails are officially closed and signage is removed, increasing the risk to climbers.
Local authorities in Shizuoka Prefecture, from where three of the four main trails begin, have stressed that off-season climbing poses serious risks, not only to climbers but also to rescuers.
Limits and other measures in place
In response to increasing incidents and overcrowding, authorities in both Shizuoka and neighbouring Yamanashi prefectures have announced a series of new regulations ahead of the 2025 climbing season. These include a mandatory ¥4,000 (£21) permit fee – double last year’s charge – and a daily cap of 4,000 climbers. Hikers will also be required to attend a short safety briefing and pass a basic test before being granted access.
Also, the mountain will be closed daily between 2pm and 3am to those not staying overnight in designated huts, in an effort to discourage risky one-day summit attempts.
Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776 metres (12,388 feet), is Japan’s tallest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It attracts over 220,000 climbers during the official season.
