[Mie Prefectural Police Headquarters] Preventing Water and Mountain Accidents During Summer

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The prefecture boasts scenic coastlines, rivers, and mountain ranges—including the Suzuka Mountains—attracting many visitors during the summer leisure season; however, this is also a time when water and mountain accidents frequently occur.

Please enjoy your leisure activities in the sea and mountains safely.

Water-Related Accidents in 2025

In Mie Prefecture, 25 water-related accidents involving 25 people were recorded.

Of these, 20 people died, representing 80% of the total.

During the summer leisure season (July and August), 11 accidents were recorded—accounting for 44% of the total—involving 11 people (also 44% of the total).

Water Accident Statistics for 2025

There were 25 water accidents involving 25 people within the prefecture.

Of these, 20 people (80%) lost their lives.

During the summer leisure season (July and August), there were 11 accidents (44%) involving 11 people (44%).

Characteristics of Water Accidents

<Occurrence Details>

Mie Prefecture faces the sea and attracts many leisure visitors from both within and outside the prefecture.

Accidents occurring while “fishing or catching fish” were the most common, involving 6 people (24%).

This was followed by “swimming,” “playing in the water,” and “passing by/walking,” with 3 people (12%) in each category.

<By Location>

Accidents occurred most frequently in the “sea.”

There were 18 accidents (72%) involving 18 people (72%) in the sea.

Of these, 13 people (72.2%) lost their lives.

<By Gender and Age Group>

・Males: 20 (80%)
・Females: 5 (20%).

By age, those in their “60s” accounted for the highest number at 6 people (24%), followed by those in their “80s” at 5 people (20%).

Mountain Accident Statistics for 2025

There were 80 mountain accidents involving 94 people within the prefecture.

There were 10 fatalities (10.6%), a figure that has doubled compared to 2024.

During the summer leisure season (July–August), there were 7 accidents (8.8%) involving 8 people (8.5%).

Mountain Accidents

<Circumstances of Occurrence>

Although the popular Suzuka Mountains include Mount Gozaisho—the highest peak in the range—its elevation is 1,212 meters; this is lower than the 2,000- to 3,000-meter peaks found in the Northern and Southern Alps.

Consequently, the most common type of incident was “getting lost” (37 people; 39.4%), often resulting from climbing in light gear without adequate preparation.

This was followed by “falls/slips” (25 people; 26.6%), such as slipping on fallen leaves.

<By mountain area>

The highest number of incidents occurred in the “Suzuka Mountains.”

Specifically, Mount Gozaisho saw 18 incidents (22.5%) involving 20 people (21.3%).

<By Gender and Age Group>

• 48 males (51.1%)
• 46 females (48.9%).

By age, the largest group was those in their “70s” (25 people; 26.6%),

followed by those in their “50s” and “60s,” with equal numbers in each group (20 people; 21.3%).

In recent years, there has been an upward trend in accidents involving “older adults.”

<Solo Hikers>

Of the 94 people involved in accidents, 33 (35.1%) were hiking alone.

Among the 11 fatalities or missing persons, 7 (63.6%) were solo hikers.

Reference/Detailed Information

• Mie Prefectural Police “Mountain and Water Accident Information” webpage
• National Police Agency “Water and Mountain Accidents” webpage [Public Awareness Activities for Water Accident Prevention]

Awareness-raising activities for the prevention of aquatic accidents