Japanese authorities have launched a study to improve the safety of foreign tourists in the event of an eruption of Mt. Fuji or a major earthquake, highlighting growing concerns over emergency preparedness at one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.
The initiative was announced a day after the start of this year's climbing season for Mt. Fuji, when large numbers of domestic and international visitors began making their way up the iconic mountain.
Recognised as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013, Mt. Fuji attracts hundreds of thousands of climbers each year during its official hiking season. Two of its four main trails opened at the beginning of July, while the remaining two are scheduled to open nine days later. All four routes will remain accessible until Sept. 10.
The study group was jointly established by the prefectures surrounding the mountain, along with another central Japanese prefecture, to develop plans for evacuating foreign tourists to safe locations in the event of a volcanic eruption or a major earthquake.
Although there are no signs of an imminent eruption, officials said the initiative addresses a major concern: many foreign visitors who do not speak Japanese may struggle to understand emergency instructions or evacuation procedures during a disaster.
Representatives from Japan's central government and private companies also attended the group's first meeting in Tokyo, where participants agreed on the need for close cooperation to provide effective assistance to overseas visitors.
An active volcano, Mt. Fuji lies on the border of Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. Roads allow vehicles to reach the mountain's fifth station, and climbers typically take a full day or stay overnight to reach its 3,776-metre summit.
Beyond its natural significance, Mt. Fuji has long been regarded as a sacred mountain and has featured prominently in Japanese literature and art, including the famous Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji series by ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Concerns over disaster preparedness resurfaced after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Yamanashi Prefecture on June 26. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake caused no significant changes in volcanic activity at Mt. Fuji.
The earthquake's epicentre was about 30 kilometres from the mountain, and Kazushige Obara, chairman of the government's Earthquake Research Committee, said there was no evidence of increased volcanic activity directly beneath Mt. Fuji.
However, the committee noted that earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher occur periodically in the surrounding region and pointed to similar seismic events in 2012 and 2021, when stronger earthquakes followed initial tremors.
Although Mt. Fuji has not erupted for more than 300 years, low-frequency earthquakes have been recorded frequently since around 2000. In response to volcanic risks, national and local authorities established the Mt. Fuji Volcano Disaster Prevention Council in 2012 with support from experts.
According to the council, around 96 percent of the approximately 180 eruptions recorded over the past 5,600 years were classified as small or medium in scale. The most recent documented eruption occurred in 1707, when volcanic ash reached what is now central Tokyo, accumulating to a depth of about four centimetres.
The newly formed study group was created at the request of Yamanashi Prefecture.
Opening the inaugural meeting, Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said, "We want to build a practical system that will help ensure the safety of foreign tourists and support their return home."
As part of its planning, the group is considering using buses and other transport to move tourists to unaffected prefectures for temporary accommodation while also coordinating with foreign embassies to assist visitors returning to their home countries.
Transport operators, railway companies and telecommunications firms involved in emergency response also joined the discussions. The group aims to finalise detailed emergency procedures outlining the responsibilities of each organisation by March next year, as Japan continues to see a steady rise in international tourist arrivals.