The mayor of Fujinomiya has strongly criticised climbers who continue hiking Mount Fuji outside the official climbing season after another rescue operation involving an injured tourist.
The latest incident reportedly involved a Chinese tourist who was injured earlier this month after falling near the Fujinomiya Trail while hiking during the off-season period.
Authorities said the man suffered injuries to his hand and leg and eventually required emergency medical assistance before being transported away by ambulance.
The official climbing season for Mount Fuji usually runs from early July to early September, but rescue teams continue responding to incidents involving climbers who ignore warnings and attempt to scale the mountain while trails remain closed.
Speaking during a press conference on May 11, Fujinomiya mayor Hidetada Sudo expressed frustration over hikers who disregard safety rules and place not only themselves, but also rescuers, at risk.
Sudo criticised what he described as a reckless attitude among some climbers who assume emergency personnel will always come to save them if something goes wrong.
He also stressed that rescue missions on Mount Fuji are extremely dangerous, particularly during harsh weather conditions outside the official hiking season.
Footage released from a rescue operation carried out in March showed emergency workers struggling to transport an injured climber down the mountain during a nighttime snowstorm using a rescue sled.
The mayor warned that rescue personnel themselves could be seriously injured during such missions, adding that the emotional impact on rescuers’ families and colleagues should also be considered.
His remarks quickly sparked widespread reactions online, with many social media users supporting stricter action against off-season hikers.
Some netizens suggested climbers should be forced to pay the full costs of rescue operations, while others proposed fines or legal penalties for those entering closed mountain trails.
This is not the first time Sudo has publicly criticised illegal climbers. Reports noted that he delivered similar warnings during another press conference held in May last year.
Authorities have yet to officially announce the opening dates for this year’s Mount Fuji climbing season, although trails are expected to reopen sometime in early July.
