A 27-year-old Chinese student living in Japan was airlifted off Mount Fuji on two separate occasions within a week after returning to the mountain to retrieve his mobile phone. The first rescue occurred on April 22, when the hiker, climbing outside the official season, suffered apparent altitude sickness and lost his crampons and other gear near the 3,776-metre summit. He was flown by helicopter to safety and treated at a local hospital.
Just four days later, emergency teams were dispatched again after another climber spotted the same man incapacitated on the Fujinomiya trail above 3,000 metres. Having embarked on the dangerous off-season ascent to recover his forgotten phone and equipment, the student was once more unable to continue and required stretcher evacuation. Rescuers suspected he was suffering renewed altitude-related symptoms before he was transported down the mountain and admitted for observation.
Japanese authorities warn that Mount Fuji, an active volcano last erupting in 1707, remains hazardous outside the official hiking window from early July to early September. Off-season trails are prone to heavy snow, ice, and harsh winds, conditions that demand specialized equipment and experience. In recent years, officials have capped daily visitor numbers and introduced a ¥4,000 entry fee on the four main routes to reduce overcrowding and ease the burden on rescue services.
The incident has sparked debate in Japanese media and online forums over responsibility for rescue costs and the risks posed by unprepared climbers. While some commentators have criticized the student’s decision to reattempt the climb solely for personal belongings, others note that the mountain’s allure and the value of modern equipment can lead hikers to make ill-advised choices.
Mt Fuji attracts hundreds of thousands of climbers each year during its brief official season, many aiming to witness the sunrise from the summit. Local prefectures emphasize that off-season expeditions are strongly discouraged, advising adventurers to plan trips within designated months when mountain huts operate and safety teams are on standby.
