Fuji Mishap
A 27-year-old Chinese college student living in Japan had to be rescued twice from Mount Fuji within a week, authorities in Shizuoka confirmed. The first rescue occurred on Tuesday after he developed altitude sickness following a summit climb.
Days later, on Saturday, he returned to retrieve his belongings and fell ill again, prompting a second rescue from over 3,000 meters. Both incidents happened outside the official July–September climbing season, when trails are closed, signs removed, and facilities shut down. His life is not in danger.
In response to rising safety and overcrowding concerns, Japanese officials are enforcing new rules for the 2025 climbing season. These include a ¥4,000 ($28) climbing permit, mandatory online reservations, daily visitor limits, and required safety classes with tests. Hikers without overnight hut bookings will also be banned from climbing between 2 p.m. and 3 a.m. The stricter measures aim to preserve Mount Fuji and ensure climber safety.
