Local govt in Japan mulls whether to charge for cost of Mt Fuji helicopter rescues

KOFU – As more climbers have become stranded on Mt Fuji when the mountain is closed to the public, the Yamanashi prefectural government is considering charging for the cost of helicopter rescues, according to prefectural sources.

Local governments near the foot of the mountain in Japan have questioned the use of public funds to rescue people in distress during the off season. The prefecture hopes to discourage climbing during the off season by having those who are rescued cover the costs.

According to prefectural officials, the prefectural government is studying the example of Saitama prefecture, which charges for mountain rescues by prefectural disaster prevention helicopters, and are considering whether to introduce such a system.

The prefectural government will also sort out issues such as whether to charge for rescues for mountains other than Mt Fuji such as in the Japanese Southern Alps.

A male university student of Chinese nationality was rescued twice in one week from Mt Fuji in April during the off season, which sparked criticism by the mayors of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka prefecture, and Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi prefecture, who said that there is a tendency to casually request rescue services using smartphones. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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