Mount Fuji(3776 meters) is the highest mountain in Japan located in between Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture. After it’s registed as A World Heritage Site, many japanese people climb Mount Fuji and the number of the Foreign mountain climber has increased every year. Some People say that it’s better to look at it than to climb it. But to climb mount fuji along people who want to have same experience to see the view, known as the Goraiko(“rising sun”) at mount fuji summit would be the one of greatest experience you could ever have.
1. How difficult is it?
photo by Naoya Fujii
Mount Fuji is climbed by people of all ages who doesn’t even have climb experience before. Reccomend you to take major route for the first time which many people take.
2. Officially Climbing Season
photo by Hajime NAKANO
- ･Yoshida Trail: July 1st to September 14th, 2015.
- ･Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya Trails: July 10th to September 10th, 2015.
- ･A trail to go around the crater: July 10th to September 15th, 2015.
Off Season
photo by peaceful-jp-scenery
photo by Jackson Boyle , Hajime NAKANO , Banzai Hiroaki
3-1. Yoshida Trail
This is the most popular trail to the summit and for beginners. 17 Mountain huts and 2 first-aid stations line the trail mostly around the 7th and 8th stations. And it’s also the most crowed trail.
3-2. Fujinomiya Trail
This is second popular trail and the closest trail to the summit. When the weather is clear, you can see a full view of Suruga Bay. And the ascent and descent are same way, so you don’t need to worry about getting lost. It may get crowed on the season and the time.
3-3. Subashiri Trail
This is second closest trail and for second time. This trail has Tree belt until the Subashiri 6th station, so you will enjoy walking in quiet forrest. This trail isn’t as crowed as the other trail til the 8th station where it joins to Yoshida trail. The descent from the summit is a thrilling and enjoyable section of the trail, known as the Sunabashiri(“great sand run”).
3-4. Gotemba Trail
It’ completely different to the other trails. The height difference is twice higher than Fujimiya trail. And only 5 mountain huts line the trail. So you can enjoy your climbing with your own pace. And the Gotemba trail’s descent from the summit is a longer Sunabashiri than Sunabashi trail’s. Some people take this descent route from the summit.
4. The Crowed Season
photo by Kohei Uesaka
If you don’t like to go when it’s crowded, you should go on week day. On a weekend and the Obon Week(August 13th to 16th) which is an annual Buddhist event one of Japan’s major holiday seasons, it gets really crowded and sometimes you will have to stop til the line starts moving or even if you want to stop to take a rest, you’d still have to move. That’d make you stressed. If you plan to stay overnight at one of the mountain huts in the crowd season, letting you know that you are going to share a futon with another peron if it’s on a weekend. The time of Rising sun on the Officially Climbing Season. July 1st 4:30, July 15th 4:40, August 1st 4:50, August 15th 5:00, August 31st 5:15.
5. Climbing Equipment(Clothes are rentable)
photo by KE-TA
Standard
･Shoes
Climbing boots are the most suited. you can see people taking sneakers to climb, but sneakers will get damaged. High cut sneakers is better to shut gravel gets into shoes.
･Rain wear
Rain wear is the must. The weather on the mount fuji gets changed easily. Even it’s sunny day, soon will get rained and windy and that will take your energy. The recommendation is to get separated type of rain wear that has high breathability. It’s a bit expensive, but wearing the low breathability rain wear, you soon sweat and get wet inside of the rain wear which lose the point of wearing rain wear.
･Clothes Warm clothes
When you rest, get aound the summit or get stuck in the crawd line, your body tempreture falls easily. Wearing fleece, sweater, down jacket can save you from it. The ones that light and retain heat will be recommended.
･Underwear
Quick-drying underwear 100% nylon shirts or wool are suited.
･Light
Head light is suited to light up your foot while climbing. Weak light’d be fine.
･Water
Bringing 2L of water will be fine. You can also buy 350ml of water for 500JPY at mountain huts along the way.(cash only)
･Snack
Rice-bowl, Sandwich and vacuum-packed sliced ham are suited. Pot noodle is available at mountain huts for 600JPY with hot water. It’s good to bring handy snack like chocolate, mix nuts and dried fruits to eat constantly while climbing.
･Garbage bag
Be prepared bring all garbage home since there are no public garbage bins on the mountain.
･Cash
Credit card is not accepted at moutain huts Small Change: contribution for toilet.
Other(optional)
･Broad‐brimmed hat with chinstrap
To find sunshadow on the mountain is hard and that’d cause you a headstroke. Hat can also protect you from the sun and rain to get your head wet.
･Neck warmer
Your tempreture falls from your neck, wearing neck warmer can protect from it.
6. Fees
photo by NAKANO
- ･Admission Fee 1,000JPY. You will get a can badge as a Souvenir.
- ･Fee for 200JPY to use toilet along the way on the mountain.
- ･Fee around 4,000～9,000JPY to rest few hours or stay over night with food served at a mountain hat.
7. Access by Train and bus
photo by peaceful-jp-scenery
7-1. Highway-bus
From Shinjuku Station(Tokyo)
- ･To Mt. fuji Fifth Station One way: Adults 2,700JPY Children 1,350JPY. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.(Caution: Does not operate during the winter season)
- ･To Kawaguchiko One way: Adults 1,750JPY Children 880JPY. It takes about 1 hours and 45 minutes. After enjoyed the sight seeing around Kawaguchiko, take bus from Kawaguchiko Station to Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station One way: Adults 1,540JPY Children 770JPY.
7-2. Train and Bus
From Shinjuku Station(Tokyo)
- ･Take JR Chu-o Line Express/Fuji Line Express to Otsuki Station to transfer to Kawaguchiko Station. It takes about 3 hours.
From Tokyo Station(Tokyo)
- ･Take Tohoku Shinkansen to Mishima Station to transfer to Shin-fuji Station. It takes about 70min.
