Matsumoto, Japan— Two hikers died Saturday in the Japanese Alps after a fall on a steep, exposed ridge in Nagano Prefecture, with rescue crews recovering the bodies after an overnight search.
The alarm was raised late Friday when the pair failed to return to a mountain hut near Yarigatake. The hut warden called police at 9:10 p.m. Weather had turned fast. Wind and low visibility.
Nagano Prefectural Police said the men, aged 34 and 41, were part of a three-person party. The third climber survived and made the call. He told rescuers they slipped on loose rock while descending. Around 3,000 meters.
Rescue teams moved at first light Saturday. Conditions were brutal. Gusts above 60 kilometers per hour. Teams from the mountain rescue unit and local fire department climbed for four hours to reach the site.
"We found them about 200 meters below the trail," a police spokesperson said. "Head injuries were severe. They were already dead when we arrived."
Officials said the route is known for its technical sections. No chains, no fixed ropes in that spot. Autumn brings ice in the shadows even when the lower trails are clear. That mix catches climbers off guard.
The victims were experienced, according to their companion. Both from Aichi Prefecture, carrying proper gear. Helmets, crampons. Police will not release names until families are informed.
The Japan Meteorological Agency had issued a wind advisory for the Northern Alps on Friday afternoon. The hut had warned climbers to avoid the ridgeline after 3 p.m. The group had started early but ran behind schedule.
The trail section between Yarigatake and Mount Okuhotaka has been closed for inspection. Police are interviewing the survivor and checking GPS logs from the group's devices.
Bodies were airlifted by helicopter to Matsumoto at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The operation has now ended.
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