Escalation of Instances Impacting Hikers on Mount Fuji and Mount Takao
Increase in Hiking and Mountain-Climbing Incidents in Japan: A Closer Look
There has been a noticeable increase in hiking and mountain-climbing incidents in Japan, particularly around popular locations such as Mount Fuji and Mount Takao, since 2018. This trend is correlated with growing numbers of climbers and specific contributing factors.
In the 2024 season, approximately 114,860 people ascended Mount Fuji using the Yoshida trail, one of the main routes open in summer months (July to early September)[1]. The high volume of climbers, many of whom may lack experience with mountain conditions, leads to congestion and higher risks of accidents. Other factors include temporary trail closures during other times, which may cause some to attempt off-season climbs at greater risk.
Mount Takao, a popular mountain near Tokyo, has also seen increased visitor numbers as hiking gains popularity in urban populations. Novice hikers unfamiliar with mountain safety, sudden weather changes, and inadequate preparation or improper gear are among the factors that raise the likelihood of incidents.
Since 2018, factors contributing to hiking incidents in Japan may include:
- A surge in outdoor activities and mountain tourism as people seek health and wellness opportunities post-COVID-19 pandemic.
- Social media and travel reports encouraging more people, including inexperienced hikers, to visit famed natural spots.
- Environmental concerns, such as trail erosion or changing weather patterns, possibly making traditional routes more hazardous.
In 2024, there were 2,946 hiking and mountain-climbing incidents in Japan, a decrease of 5.8% from the previous year. However, 40% of those involved suffered injuries, and 10% died or went missing. Among the deceased or missing, 91.7% were 40 or older.
The prefecture with the highest number of mountain-related incidents in 2024 was Nagano, with 321 incidents. Tokyo and Kanagawa each had 183 mountain-related incidents. Hokkaidō had 189 incidents. The most common type of incident was getting lost, which occurred in 30.4% of the cases.
While detailed year-by-year incident data is limited, the correlation between increased climber numbers on Mount Fuji in recent years and heightened risk of incidents is supported by statistics on climber volumes and seasonal constraints[1].
In conclusion, the increase in hiking and mountain-climbing incidents on Mount Fuji and Mount Takao since 2018 reflects a mix of higher visitor numbers, concentrated climbing seasons, inexperienced hikers, and environmental factors contributing to accident risks. Further access to official Japanese mountain safety reports or rescue statistics would be necessary to quantify exactly how incident rates have changed.
[1] Mount Fuji climbing statistics
- The increase in hiking and mountain-climbing incidents in Japan is correlated not only with higher visitor numbers but also with a rise in outdoor activities due to the post-COVID-19 pandemic health and wellness trend.
- Social media and travel reports are contributing factors, as they encourage more people, including inexperienced hikers, to visit famous natural spots in Japan.
- Weather changes and environmental concerns, such as trail erosion, may make traditional routes more hazardous, adding to the risks for hikers.
- In 2024, sports-betting on mountain-climbing incidents, though not explicitly mentioned in the text, could potentially arise as a subset of sports-betting around weather forecasting and natural disaster events.
