Il Piano — Japanese Alps

Before you go

Emergency

110

Mountain rescue

Fire, ambulance and rescue 119

Rescue is free

Mountain rescue by the police and fire services is a free public service, and 110/119 calls are free. The financial risk is the helicopter: a private or commercial rescue flight can run to millions of yen, and Saitama Prefecture already bills about ¥8,000 per five minutes for its own rescue helicopter (police search helicopters cannot legally charge, so a billable disaster-prevention helicopter is sent instead).

Buy Japanese mountain insurance (yama-hoken) that covers helicopter rescue and search costs — a JRO (Japan Rescue Organization) membership or a Montbell short-term mountain plan is the standard, and both are cheap. Then confirm your travel insurance covers off-trail hiking and helicopter evacuation; many general policies exclude it above a set altitude.

SOS and rescue →When to turn back →JNTO — Japan National Tourism Organization, emergency numbers 110/119/118

Essential safety guides

SOS & rescue When to turn back Reading the weather Altitude illness Comms & beacons All guides →

from synapse to summit