Japan’s National Police Agency says a record 3,568 climbers were involved in accidents on mountains across the country last year.
The police say the number is an increase of 62 from the previous year, and is the highest figure since record-keeping began in 1961.
The number of people who died or went missing last year stood at 335, up by eight from 2022.
Climbers aged 60 or older accounted for 49 percent of the total. Climbers in their 70s formed the largest group with 790 people, followed by those in their 60s with 706.
By prefecture, 332 people were involved in accidents in Nagano, 245 in Hokkaido, and 233 in Tokyo. Many accidents occurred at popular tourist destinations, such as Mount Fuji and Mount Takao.
The number of foreign hikers stranded on mountains also hit a record high of 145 in 2023. A total of 11 foreign climbers died or went missing.
Accidents continued to increase until 2018 as climbing became a trend among middle-aged and elderly people. But the number had declined temporarily, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ahead of summer mountain climbing season, police are urging climbers to bring sufficient gear and take their physical strength into consideration when making plans.