Japan will charge for helicopter rescues on Mount Fuji during the off-season to discourage unprepared climbs

Starting in September 2027, Japan plans to introduce fees for helicopter rescues on Mount Fuji during the off-season. The measure is being prepared by Yamanashi Prefecture to discourage reckless climbs and hikers who set out without the necessary equipment. Local authorities are drafting a package of measures against improvised climbs on the 3,776-meter-high volcano. According to the Japanese press, the fee could reach approximately 10 dollars for each minute of flight by the helicopter involved in the rescue operation.

Mount Fuji attracts more than 200,000 hikers annually during the official access period, from July until the beginning of September. Outside this interval, conditions are extremely difficult, yet authorities have observed an increase in the number of unprepared climbs. Police rescue teams have been forced to intervene in winter conditions to recover stranded mountaineers, operations that are currently provided free of charge. The fee would reportedly be waived for properly equipped individuals who register their climbing plan before ascending. The details of the measure are still being finalized.