A Chinese national has recently gone missing after attempting to climb Mount Fuji during its seasonal closure. As of Wednesday, November 11, Japanese search and rescue teams have conducted several rounds of searches but have yet to locate him. The man’s family is now planning to travel to Japan to assist in the search efforts.
According to reports from Asahi Television, the missing individual is in his twenties and had traveled to Japan with friends last week. While they initially intended to climb Mount Fuji together, his companions decided to abandon the climb upon learning that the mountain had entered its closure period. The man chose to proceed alone.
Japanese Yamanashi Television (UTY) detailed that the man set off from the fifth station of the Yoshida route on November 8 in the morning and was in communication with his friends via mobile messages. Around 11:30 a.m. that same morning, he sent his last message and subsequently lost all contact. His friends promptly reported him missing, prompting a coordinated rescue effort by the local police and fire departments.
On November 10, search teams began a ground search from the fifth station that extended toward the eighth station. They also deployed a disaster response helicopter from Yamanashi Prefecture to conduct aerial reconnaissance, all to no avail. On November 11, authorities dispatched helicopters again for further aerial searches and planned to resume ground operations.
Insights from the police indicate that the man may not have been properly equipped for the snowy conditions at the time of his disappearance. He reportedly did not carry essential climbing gear such as crampons, sleeping bags, or tents, which are crucial for navigating snow-covered mountainous terrain.
Mount Fuji recorded its first snowfall of the season on October 30, and by the time the man went missing, there was more than 30 centimeters of snow in the area, posing risks of avalanches. The extreme cold and adverse weather conditions further complicated the search and rescue efforts.
Sources from the news outlet Beijing News reported that the missing individual is identified as Chen Jie, aged 25. His relatives revealed that he has experience in mountain climbing, having volunteered with a local mountain rescue team. They are currently arranging to travel to Japan and are in the process of obtaining expedited visas.
Typically, Mount Fuji is open for climbers from early July to September 10 each year, with specific dates varying by climbing route. Outside of this official climbing season, the paths are generally closed to the public.
To prevent unauthorized climbs during the closure period, Yamanashi Prefecture has strengthened access restrictions to the mountain by establishing triple barricades and is considering the installation of sensor alarm systems to deter visitors from entering illegally.
In addition, local authorities plan to enhance the registration process for climbers. They are considering charging fees for helicopter rescues that occur due to violations of the closure rules, while also planning to improve multi-language safety awareness campaigns to remind tourists to prioritize their safety. Some of these new measures are set to be implemented by September 2027.
In an earlier incident in April 2025, a Chinese national also climbed Mount Fuji during a closure, only to face rescue on two occasions: first, because he lost his crampons, and later due to altitude sickness as he attempted to re-enter the mountain in search of a forgotten phone. This incident raised public awareness in Japan about the safety and rescue costs associated with climbing during the mountain’s closure.