Record 3,623 Had Mountaineering Accidents in Japan in 2025

Tokyo, June 18 (Jiji Press)–The number of people who met with mountaineering accidents in Japan rose 226 from the previous year to 3,623 in 2025, highest on record dating back to 1961, National Police Agency data showed Thursday. The number of accidents hit the second-highest level of 3,122, up 176. Of the climbers involved in such accidents, 332 died or remained missing, up 32. For visitors to Japan, both numbers of accidents and victims hit the highest levels since 2018. Those who met with mountaineering accidents numbered 171 in the Chichibu mountain system, 168 in the Tanzawa mountain mass and 106 in the Takao mountain system. All of the mountains are located fully or partially in the greater Tokyo area. The number of climbers who had accidents on Mount Fuji, the highest peak in the country, fell by 34 to 49 following the introduction of climbing restrictions. By prefecture, the central prefecture of Nagano had the biggest number of climbers who met with accidents, at 392, followed by Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, at 250 and the central prefecture of Yamanashi at 219. More than half of those involved in mountaineering accidents were aged 60 or older, with those in their 70s totaling 749, making up the largest chunk by age group. About two-thirds of those who died or remained missing were aged 60 or older. Their cases tended to be more serious than those involving climbers in other age groups, apparently due to their declining physical strength. Of all people involved in mountaineering accidents, only 698, less than 20 pct, had submitted climbing plans. The number of foreign climbers who met with accidents jumped by 111 to 246, including six who died or remained missing. Backcountry skiing and mountaineering accounted for about 80 pct of their cases. Major causes of the year’s overall mountaineering accidents were getting lost, falls and slips on slopes. There were 27 cases caused by bear attacks, tripling from the previous year. The number of accidents that happened while victims were picking mushrooms or edible wild plants decreased by some 20 pct, possibly because people refrained from going out for fear of bears. A police agency official emphasized the importance of planning and preparation, as well as the submission of climbing plans. Climbers often use GPS functions and climbing map apps of their smartphones, but the official said that depleted batteries and dead spots often cause problems. “Don’t rely too much on smartphones, and use paper maps and compasses as well,” the official said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]