Japan warns that the number of deaths on Mount Fuji will increase during the 2024 climbing season, according to SCMP . The 6 victims who died in 2024 were all men aged 50-70. Among them, 5 out of 6 people were determined to have problems with altitude difference and heat stroke due to cold weather.
Paul Christie, founder of tour company Walk Japan, said: “Many people who climb Mount Fuji every year are relatively inexperienced and even experienced climbers can easily get into trouble when bad weather conditions.
Too many people underestimate the mountain, the weather, the terrain and overestimate their abilities, and that's when bad things happen.”
The summer climbing season for Mount Fuji begins on July 1 on the mountain side in Yamanashi Prefecture, where the famous Yoshida trail to the summit is located. As for the Fujinomiya, Subashiri and Gotenba routes towards the top of the mountain in Shizuoka Prefecture, climbers start on July 10.
This year, two hikers died on the Yamanashi side and four on the Shizuoka side, local police said. The summer climbing season will end in September, but the current number of victims has increased by one and a half times compared to the entire summer climbing season of 2023 (4 people died).
“Many people want to climb Mount Fuji — tourists too,” said Aya Ichikawa, an official with the Fuji city tourism bureau, which is tasked with overseeing hiking on the Shizuoka side of the mountain. Japan and abroad - because this mountain is very famous and relatively easy to climb.
Mr. Ichikawa informed that this summer, up to 20% of the people climbing to the top of the mountain are foreign tourists. On the other hand, overcrowding on the trails has caused many problems.
The provincial government introduced a solution this summer, requiring anyone planning to climb the mountain to register in advance, with gates installed on the route to limit the number of hikers on the mountain. Yamanashi Prefecture aims to limit numbers by imposing a 2,000 yen ($13.62) entrance fee for climbers.
“The biggest problem is that there are too many people climbing every day and many of them do not reserve tents on the mountain in advance,” Ichikawa said.
To complete the climb in the shortest possible time, many people try to climb through the night, without stopping to rest at any huts on the way up Mount Fuji.
"They hope to go faster so they can watch the sunrise at the top of the mountain, but their bodies cannot adapt to the altitude and this is dangerous," Ichikawa said.
Therefore, local authorities try to prevent people from climbing overnight and encourage people to stay in mountain huts to rest so their bodies can adapt. A website has also been set up to provide information on weather conditions, trail congestion and advice for climbers on appropriate clothing and other necessary equipment.
“Climbing Mount Fuji is on many people's wish lists when coming to Japan, but it would be a big mistake to underestimate this mountain,” Christie said.
He added: “I advise anyone planning to climb the mountain to go with experienced, licensed guides, follow their instructions on equipment, climbing speeds and warnings anyone in the group feels unwell or shows signs of illness. Mount Fuji is a mountain that cannot be underestimated."
In the summer of 2023, a total of 221,000 people climbed Mount Fuji, of whom about 140,000 followed the Yoshida trail.
