A Japanese tourist died after falling from the perimeter wall of Rome’s ancient Pantheon late Friday night, October 24, 2025, prompting an investigation by local authorities. Morimasa Hibino, 69, fell approximately 23 feet into a ditch below street level while visiting one of Italy’s most notable historical sites.
The incident happened around 9:50 p.m. local time on Via della Palombella, where the monument’s outer wall is elevated above an old passageway. A priest passing by discovered Hibino in the ditch and contacted emergency services. This area is at the original street level of ancient Rome, approximately 23 feet below the modern city’s surface, which makes many ancient monuments appear sunken.
Emergency responders, including firefighters, medical personnel, and police officers, initially struggled to access the site. According to CNN, they had to force open a locked gate to reach Hibino. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hibino was traveling through Rome with his daughter at the time. She informed investigators that her father had been sitting on the perimeter wall when he suddenly felt dizzy, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the ditch. Initial police findings support this account, indicating he possibly suffered from a sudden medical condition leading to the fatal fall.
Surveillance cameras near the scene captured footage of the incident. The video reportedly shows Hibino sitting alone on the edge of the wall before he slipped and fell. Investigators are reviewing this footage as part of their examination into the circumstances of his death. A spokesperson for the Rome police confirmed that no foul play is suspected.
The Pantheon was constructed by Roman Emperor Hadrian on the site of an earlier temple built by Marcus Agrippa and was later converted into a Catholic church. It draws millions of visitors annually. The monument is renowned for its distinctive oculus—the circular opening at the top of its massive dome. The site was closed at the time of the accident, though the outer wall along Via della Palombella remains accessible to pedestrians throughout the evening.
The perimeter wall where Hibino fell is a popular spot for tourists seeking respite from sightseeing or hoping to capture photographs of the historic structure. Local police regularly patrol the area to prevent visitors from crossing over the protective barrier, as incidents involving people entering the restricted ditch area have occurred sporadically over the years.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, Rome has experienced a significant increase in tourism. The city welcomed a record 22.2 million arrivals in 2024, marking the highest number of visitors in its history. The Pantheon itself attracted over four million visitors last year, making it one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations. Long queues regularly form in Piazza della Rotonda outside the monument’s entrance.
The site introduced a ticketing system in 2023, marking the end of its tradition of free admission. The five-euro entrance fee sparked controversy among preservation advocates and tourists, but it did not decrease visitor numbers. The revenue generated helps fund ongoing conservation efforts for the nearly 2,000-year-old structure.
This is another tourist death at a major Roman landmark in 2025. In March, a 55-year-old woman from Spain died after falling from a high wall adjacent to the Spanish Steps, another prominent tourist destination in the city’s historic center.
The Japanese embassy in Rome has been notified of Hibino’s death and is providing consular assistance. Roman authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances of the fall, though preliminary findings indicate the sudden medical episode described by his daughter as the primary cause. The investigation remains open as officials compile evidence and review surveillance footage from the scene.
