In Japan will introduce a fee for rescue work for tourists climbing Mount Fuji

Tourists trying to climb Mount Fuji in the off-season will have to pay to evacuate by helicopter if they get into trouble.

Authorities in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture have announced a series of measures to deter “reckless and poorly trained climbers.”.

According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the fee structure will be based on fuel costs of approximately 8,000 yen for every five minutes the helicopter operates. It is reported that officials are considering the possibility of including these costs in the total amount of the fee, the material says.

The official ascent season of Fujima lasts from July to early September, and every year about 200,000 tourists try to climb to the top.

However, climbing in the off-season is highly discouraged, as infrastructure on the mountain is closed and weather conditions are significantly deteriorating.

According to local authorities, in 2025, Japan recorded a new spike in the number of emergencies in mountains across the country: 3,623 people were rescued, 299 people died and 33 people were missing.