TOKYO —  A record number of climbers scaled Japan's Mount Fuji during the summer season and deaths and injuries rose as many underestimated the trek, city officials said.

Some 247,066 people climbed the mountain in July and August, beating the previous record of 220,277, set in 1987, said Kazuwa Okuwaki, an official in Fujiyoshida, a nearby city.

Four people also died from injuries sustained while climbing, marking the first deaths since 2005, said Toshiya Arai, a local police official.

Mount Fuji is Japan's best-known landmark and climbing it is viewed by many as a tourist outing. Gift shops along the trail sell trinkets and soft drinks, and travel companies offer one-day express tours from downtown Tokyo, which is only about 60 miles (100 kilometers) away.

But many forget the 12,388-foot (3,776-meter) peak is also Japan's highest mountain. Some hikers show up in beach sandals and designer clothing expecting a light jaunt to the top.

Okuwaki said the most common afflictions were altitude sickness and light injuries among people who push themselves too hard. The government recommends climbers allocate eight hours for the trip up and four hours on the way down, plus ample rest along the way and some time at the peak.

With schools and universities on vacation and several consecutive national holidays, July and August are Japan's busiest travel season. And as the economy slows and Japanese purse strings tighten, more people are turning to Fuji for a cheap and easy holiday, Okuwaki said.

Numbers were also boosted this year by the lack big storms in the region, which normally keep hikers away for several days at a time, he said.

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