The student first got into trouble last Tuesday while hiking up Japan’s tallest mountain outside the official climbing season.
He was found struggling to descend the Fujinomiya trail, about 3,000 meters above sea level, after losing his crampons—spiked gear used for grip on icy slopes.
A helicopter rescue team had to airlift him off the mountain.
But just four days later, he returned to Mount Fuji, determined to recover belongings left behind during his first rescue—including his mobile phone.
This time, he began experiencing altitude sickness and again couldn’t make it down safely.
Another climber noticed his condition and contacted emergency services. The student was eventually carried down the mountain on a stretcher by Shizuoka prefecture police.
Officials have since repeated warnings that climbing Mount Fuji outside the official season, which runs from early July to early September, is extremely dangerous due to unstable weather and hazardous trail conditions.
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The double rescue sparked criticism on social media, with some users suggesting the student should pay the cost of both missions. Authorities did not confirm whether he would be billed.
Japan recorded a record number of mountain climbing accidents in 2023—3,126 in total—with Mount Fuji seeing a sharp rise. Reports show a 90% increase in accidents on Fuji compared to the average of the past five years.
Experts say aging hikers, poor trail maintenance, and unpredictable weather are making Japan’s mountain trails more dangerous.
To improve safety, officials recently introduced a 2,000 yen (about £10) fee for hikers taking the popular Yoshida Trail. They’re also limiting the number of daily climbers to 4,000 to reduce overcrowding.
The repeated rescues on Mount Fuji serve as a stark reminder: mountain climbing, especially off-season, is not worth the risk—no matter what’s left behind.
