Problems with climbers with insufficient gear are seen significantly amongst international vacationers. PHOTO: PIXABAY
KOFU – Yamanashi prefectural officers have been given the authority to show away hikers sporting sandals or different inappropriate gear on Mount Fuji’s Yoshida Path, the mountain’s hottest route, in a bid to scale back attainable accidents.
Though the prefecture launched climbing rules final season, problems with climbers with insufficient gear, significantly amongst international vacationers, remained an issue.
An ordinance on such rules has been revised to permit officers to disclaim entry to climbers who don’t comply with directions on gear.
READ: Mount Fuji crowds shrink after Japan brings in overtourism measures
Because the climbing season opened in July, such officers have offered steering to greater than 800 folks.
“Mount Fuji is a harmful mountain with extreme climate adjustments. For security causes, we can’t allow entry with out correct gear,” mentioned an official from the Mount Fuji Tourism Promotion Group of the Yamanashi Prefecture Tourism, Tradition and Sports activities Division.
On Aug 15, the official instructed climbers on the gate arrange on the fifth station trailhead.
After receiving directions, a 27-year-old Chinese language pupil from Tokyo’s Nakano Ward who didn’t have rain pants purchased a pair from a close-by store.
READ: Crowd management at Japan’s Mount Fuji as mountaineering season begins
“I lacked a correct understanding of Mount Fuji. I’ll climb with warning,” he mentioned earlier than heading up the path.
Beginning final season, the prefecture launched climbing rules, together with entry charges and gate closures throughout night-time.
The harmful follow of so-called “bullet climbing” – climbing by means of the night time – which had been a serious concern, has largely been resolved.
Nevertheless, there have been nonetheless many climbers making an attempt the summit in apparel that included sandals, T-shirts and shorts.
Even when prefectural officers warned them on the trailhead, some international vacationers reportedly argued with the officers or ignored the warnings, in keeping with the prefecture.
Resulting from these points, in March, the prefecture revised the ordinance on path regulation, explicitly stating that prefectural officers can refuse entry to evenly outfitted climbers at their discretion.
Fuji Rangers, who’ve been offering steering on security to climbers as part-time prefectural staff, had been additionally given the identical authority as limited-term staff.
The summit of Mount Fuji usually sees temperatures beneath 5 deg C even in summer time, with temperatures dropping beneath freezing in early July and late August.
A complete of about 15 prefectural officers and rangers take turns stationing themselves on the path’s fifth station, urging climbers with out correct gear to buy them at close by outlets. These embrace rain gear with separate prime and backside items, chilly climate clothes and appropriate mountaineering boots.
Officers gave steering to a complete of 864 climbers between July 1, the opening of the climbing season, to Aug 14, in keeping with the prefecture.
Practically all of the climbers adopted the directions and purchased the mandatory gear, it added.
The prefectural police mentioned there have been 12 climbers who turned stranded on the Yoshida Path between January and August 2024, a rise of 5 from the earlier yr. However in 2025 there have been two as of Aug 19.
“We wish to proceed selling consciousness of the mandatory gear so that everybody can climb safely and with peace of thoughts,” the prefectural official mentioned.
Relating to the problem of evenly outfitted climbers, Shizuoka Prefecture has made it obligatory for climbers to look at instructional movies prematurely beginning this season.
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“We hope folks will deepen their understanding of climbing guidelines by means of pre-learning earlier than they climb,” the prefectural workplace mentioned. /dl
