Society | May 19

Mt. Fuji to be closed in summer due to coronavirus

May 19 (NHK) - The climbing season for Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak, has been cancelled for this year in a bid to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

Shizuoka Prefecture officials announced on Monday that the mountain trails leading up to the summit will stay closed throughout the summer.

Shizuoka manages three of the four trails that lead to the peak. The move follows a similar decision by Yamanashi Prefecture. The mountain straddles the two prefectures where the state of emergency was lifted last week.

Mount Fuji rises to 3,776 meters and attracts hundreds of thousands of hikers and tourists during its two-month climbing season, which this year runs from July 10. Mountain lodges and first-aid centers will also be closed.


MORE Society NEWS

The biannual Spring Garden Party, hosted by the Emperor and Empress, took place at Tokyo's Akasaka Imperial Garden on Tuesday, with Princess Aiko gracing the event, warmly engaging with the guests.

Pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has taken to social media to share the excitement of her first pregnancy.

Bloodstains have been found inside a car belonging to a 25-year-old man arrested over last week's discovery of two burnt bodies on a riverside north of Tokyo, investigative sources said Monday. (Kyodo)

POPULAR NEWS

Major American IT companies like Microsoft and Oracle have announced substantial investments totalling 4 trillion yen ($26 billion) in data centers in Japan, sparking concerns about digital sovereignty and AI development.

A former host admitted to knowingly receiving approximately 25 million yen that had been deceitfully obtained by convicted scammer "Riri-chan," in a trial held on April 23.

A cherry tree located at one of Kyoto's busiest pedestrian streets, Sanneizaka, a main pathway to Kiyomizu Temple, suddenly fell at 11:45 AM on Tuesday, trapping a school teacher beneath.

The biannual Spring Garden Party, hosted by the Emperor and Empress, took place at Tokyo's Akasaka Imperial Garden on Tuesday, with Princess Aiko gracing the event, warmly engaging with the guests.

The site of the former Tsukiji Market is set for a major transformation, including a stadium with a capacity of 50,000 people and a launch pad for flying cars.

FOLLOW US