Police confirmed that three bodies were discovered within a crater at the summit of Mount Fuji, one of Japan’s most famous mountains. One body has been recovered, with the retrieval of the remaining two bodies planned for Friday or later, depending on weather conditions. A search scheduled for Thursday was canceled due to predicted heavy rainfall.
The identities of the deceased individuals, including their gender and age, remain unconfirmed. The bodies were discovered several meters apart, raising questions about whether the three individuals were climbing together.
The official climbing season had not commenced when the climbers accessed the mountain from the Shizuoka Prefecture side. Japanese media reports displayed a vehicle transporting one of the bodies into a police station in Shizuoka Prefecture. The rescue team had been searching for a missing 53-year-old man.
Separately, Kyodo News service reported that professional climber Keita Kurakami, 38, passed away at a hospital after being found by police while climbing Mount Fuji from the Yamanashi Prefecture side.
Mount Fuji can be ascended from both Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. The climbing season for Yamanashi begins on July 1.
Mount Fuji, renowned for its portrayal in ukiyoe, or woodblock prints, created by 18th and 19th Century Edo Era masters Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, is a popular tourist destination.
Experts emphasize the potential for extremely cold temperatures, even during the summer months, highlighting the necessity of appropriate gear, including climbing boots and clothing. Trekkers are also susceptible to altitude sickness if they ascend too rapidly.
The picturesque Mount Fuji has long held the status of an iconic symbol of Japan, with its gracefully sweeping slopes and white icy cap standing out against tranquil lakes and rice fields.
Approximately 300,000 individuals climb Mount Fuji annually, with witnessing the sunrise from the mountaintop considered a spiritual experience. However, concerns have been escalating lately regarding overcrowding due to the influx of visitors.
The town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi has erected a large black screen along a sidewalk to obstruct the view of Mount Fuji, aiming to discourage photo-snapping crowds.