Three deaths feared on Fuji before start of climbing season

Local police could not immediately confirm the reports to AFP, but public broadcaster NHK said the three were found near the volcanic crater and were feared dead.

In Japan, a death must usually be confirmed by a doctor before it is reported in the media.

Fuji is covered in snow most of the year, but during the hiking season from July to September, more than 220,000 visitors trudge up its steep, rocky slopes.

Many climb through the night to see the sunrise, and some attempt to reach the 3,776-meter (12,388-foot) summit without stopping, only to become ill or injured in the process.

Regional officials have raised safety and environmental concerns about overcrowding at the mountain, which was a symbol of Japan and once a peaceful pilgrimage site.

Hikers using the Yoshida Trail, the most popular route to climb Mount Fuji, will have to pay a fee of 2,000 yen (US$13) per person this summer. To reduce crowds, the number of participants has been limited to 4,000 for the first time.

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