Police logged a record high 2,172 mountain climbing accidents last year, up 9.3 percent from a year earlier as the activity remains popular with middle-aged and older people.
The accidents involved 2,713 people, up 10.1 percent, including 320 who died or vanished, up 12.7 percent, said the National Police Agency, which began collecting the data in 1961. Among the 47 prefectures, Shizuoka ranked second with 139 cases, jumping from fourth the previous year at 97. Nagano retained the top slot with 300.
The NPA said 1,801 accidents, or around 80 percent of the total, involved parties that did not submit climbing plans. The NPA said such plans are highly useful when accidents occur.