Mount Fuji: Yamanashi to charge helicopter rescue fees during off-season

Authorities in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture will begin charging fees for helicopter rescue services on Mount Fuji for those climbing during the off-season, starting in 2027. The measure aims to deter reckless and unprepared climbers from attempting the ascent during winter months when weather conditions are severe and most mountain facilities, such as huts and toilets, are closed.

Yamanashi officials plan to use the fee structure of neighboring Saitama Prefecture as a reference, where rescue costs are approximately 8,000 yen for every five minutes of service. In addition to the fees, climbers planning off-season trips will be required to submit detailed climbing plans.

Governor Kotaro Nagasaki stated that the goal is to encourage the public to rethink the risks of winter climbing. Meanwhile, in the neighboring Shizuoka Prefecture, which manages the southern part of the mountain, authorities are focusing on increasing penalties for those who fail to register their climbing attempts and strengthening efforts to prevent entry into restricted areas.