All three tragic deaths while climbing Mount Fuji in the first days of the climbing season occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture, specifically on routes that reopened on July 10.
A man in his 60s was found unconscious near Station 7 at 4:30 a.m. on July 11 and was later confirmed dead. Earlier, at around 2 p.m. on July 10, police received a report of an unconscious man near the summit. The man in his 70s is believed to have fallen into the crater from a height of 5 meters.
Local police mobilized emergency rescue teams up the mountain to rescue the victims.
The victims were later confirmed dead. Police said the victims had multiple injuries consistent with a fall from a height. When police received the call, it was raining and windy near the top of the mountain. Police are trying to identify the two victims and determine the cause of death.
Hokkaido Police Issue Important Advice for Mountain Hikers After Several Incidents in the Mountains, Hokkaido Police Issue Important Advice for Mountain Hikers After Several Incidents in the Mountains, Hokkaido Police Issue Important Advice for Mountain Hikers After Several Incidents in the Mountains... Bring enough drinking water and snacks for the entire trip and a basic first aid kit to treat injuries, sprains, and more.
Japanese police have issued many recommendations to avoid tragic incidents from happening.
The Mt. Fuji climbing season usually starts in July and ends in September. In 2023, 63 accidents occurred involving climbers of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture during the period, up 20% from the same period last year, including two deaths and 18 injuries.
Statistics released by the National Police Agency on mountain strandings in 2023 paint a worrying picture of the rise in accidents and dangers associated with mountain climbing in the country. More than 3,560 people were stranded on Japanese mountains, the highest number since records began in 1961. Of these, 145 were foreign tourists, 1.4 times more than in 2019, and 335 died or went missing, eight more than in 2022. Of those stranded, 790 were in their 70s.
