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2w ago

Climber Rescued Twice on Mount Fuji After Returning for Lost Phone

The 27-year-old Chinese student, rescued four days apart during off-season climbs, reignites concerns over safety, responsibility, and emergency service strain.

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This photo taken on November 28, 2024 shows Mount Fuji pictured behind the city of Gotemba, Shizuoka prefecture, some 100 kms southwest of Tokyo. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP) (Photo by RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE - Mount Fuji is viewed, Jan. 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, file)
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Overview

  • The student was first airlifted on April 22 after suffering altitude sickness near Mount Fuji's summit during a prohibited off-season climb.
  • He returned on April 26 to retrieve belongings, including a lost phone, and required a second rescue after again developing altitude sickness.
  • Mount Fuji’s trails are officially closed outside the July–September climbing season due to dangerous conditions, including snow and high winds.
  • The rescues have sparked online criticism, with some calling for the climber to reimburse emergency service costs, though no penalties currently exist for off-season rescues.
  • Authorities are preparing expanded regulations for the upcoming climbing season, including a ¥4,000 entry fee, visitor caps, and mandatory safety briefings to improve safety and preserve the mountain.