TOKYO, Japan — Mount Fuji’s 2026 summer hiking season ended under dangerous and dramatic conditions after torrential rain and powerful winds triggered a landslide near one of the iconic volcano’s main access points while two climbers required separate rescue operations.
The incident unfolded as Japan’s highest mountain prepared to close its official climbing season, highlighting the extreme dangers that can rapidly develop on the 3,776-meter volcano when severe weather strikes.
A landslide swept into a parking area near the Fifth Station of Mount Fuji’s Fujinomiya Trail in Shizuoka Prefecture on September 9, partially burying three vehicles in mud and debris. Authorities said no one was inside the vehicles and no injuries were reported in the landslide.
But the dangerous weather was not the only emergency on the mountain.
Two Climbers Collapse as Storm Batters Mount Fuji
Shizuoka police were separately called to rescue two male hikers who were found in distress on Mount Fuji during the severe weather.
According to AFP and reports carried by Channel NewsAsia, one man believed to be in his 30s or 40s was found collapsed near the summit, while another man believed to be in his 60s was found fallen on a trail elsewhere on the mountain. Authorities dispatched mountain rescue teams, although officials did not publicly provide full details about their conditions.
Japanese television reports provided an even more alarming picture during the height of the emergency, reporting that the two climbers had been found unconscious as powerful winds, heavy rain and thick fog battered the mountain. Local reports said visibility had been severely reduced, making conditions especially dangerous for climbers attempting to navigate the trails.
Authorities have not linked the climbers’ emergencies directly to the landslide.
Three Vehicles Buried in Mud and Debris
The landslide struck a parking lot serving the Fujinomiya side of Mount Fuji, one of the mountain’s four major access routes.
Hisayuki Motohashi, a road maintenance official for the Shizuoka regional government, told AFP that three vehicles belonging to people working on the mountain were partially buried after torrential rain and strong winds hit the area.
The scene underscored the force of the weather system moving across central Japan. Images and videos released by local authorities showed roads and trails around Mount Fuji shrouded in dense mist and rain.
The heavy rainfall also forced road closures around the mountain, including major access routes. Reuters reported that the Fuji Subaru Line, one of the main roads used to reach Mount Fuji, was closed because of the severe weather.
Heavy Rain Pummels Central Japan
The Mount Fuji emergencies came as unusually intense rain affected large parts of central Japan.
According to Reuters, heavy rainfall inundated areas of Shizuoka Prefecture overnight and into September 9. The wider weather system also affected neighboring prefectures, including Aichi and Gifu, where flooding and transport disruptions were reported.
In Nagoya, extreme rainfall disrupted transportation and stranded commuters. Reuters reported that the Japan Meteorological Agency had warned that heavy rain could continue across areas stretching from northeastern to western Japan.
The severe weather also caused another deadly landslide in Shizuoka Prefecture, where Reuters reported that a worker who had been left unconscious after a separate landslide in Kawanehon was later confirmed dead.
Mount Fuji Officially Closes for the Season
Mount Fuji attracts more than 200,000 hikers during its official summer climbing period, which typically runs from July through September.
The mountain’s popularity has also created growing concerns over overtourism and inexperienced or poorly prepared climbers. Japanese authorities and communities around Mount Fuji have tightened access rules in recent years, introducing measures aimed at improving safety and reducing congestion.
The official Mount Fuji climbing website now states that the 2026 climbing season has ended and that the mountain’s main trails are closed for the winter period.
Mountain police conduct dozens of rescue operations every year, while fatalities are also reported on occasion.
The latest incidents serve as another stark reminder that Mount Fuji — despite being one of Japan’s most famous tourist destinations and a symbol recognized around the world — remains a high-altitude mountain where conditions can change rapidly and turn dangerous with little warning.
As Japan closes the curtain on another Mount Fuji climbing season, the dramatic final days leave one powerful message for future visitors: the mountain may be beautiful, but when nature turns, even Japan’s most iconic peak can become a dangerous place to be.
Leave a Reply