Rockfall Strikes Hikers On Japanese Alps Trail, One Dead, Rescue Team Evacuates Group

Matsumoto, Japan— A rockfall hit a group of trekkers on a popular ridge trail in the Northern Japanese Alps at around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, killing one person and leaving two others with injuries that required helicopter evacuation.

The incident occurred near the Daikiretto section between Mount Yarigatake and Mount Okuhotaka, at an elevation of roughly 2,900 meters. Nagano Prefectural Police said a slab of rock, loosened by recent freeze-thaw cycles, detached from a cliff face above the trail and tumbled onto the path. The group of five had been moving in single file.

The deceased was identified as a 42-year-old male trekker from Aichi Prefecture. He was struck directly and fell about 15 meters down a gully. Two companions reached him and attempted first aid. A distress call was made via satellite messenger at 10:51 a.m. because mobile reception is unreliable in that zone. Weather was clear at the time, with light wind.

A Nagano prefectural rescue helicopter was dispatched from Matsumoto at 11:20 a.m. but could not land due to narrow terrain. A rescuer was lowered by winch. The two injured hikers, a woman in her 30s and a man in his 50s, were hoisted out first with reported fractures and lacerations. The body was recovered on a second rotation. The remaining two members of the group walked out with assistance.

Officials from the Ministry of the Environment, which manages Chubu-Sangaku National Park, said the trail had been flagged for increased rockfall risk this autumn after heavy rainfall in early October. A warning sign was posted at the trailhead at Kamikochi. The sign advised helmets and early starts. It did not close the route.

"That ridge sheds rock every year," said a mountain guide based in Kamikochi who has worked the area for 18 years. "This October has been unstable. Nights are very cold, days warm up fast. The rock expands and breaks. You can hear it crack."

Nagano and Gifu prefectural authorities jointly announced Tuesday afternoon that the section from Yarigatake Sanso to Okuhotaka-dake will be closed until a geological assessment is completed. Park rangers will inspect adjacent routes for fresh cracks. The Japan Mountain Guides Association urged hikers to avoid the area and check local advisories.

The victim's family has been notified. Police said no foul play is suspected. The case is being handled as an accidental death due to natural hazard. The investigation will focus on whether warning systems were adequate, but no negligence has been alleged.

The trail remains closed. A team of three rangers is scheduled to enter Wednesday to assess stability, weather permitting.