Sanuk Canadian

For most visitors to Japan, reaching the summit of Mt. Fuji is a must-do. In order to achieve that, most will follow the popular trails which typically begin at the 5th station. However, if one is fit and able, you can begin from the very bottom of the mountain itself,. traversing upwards from the 1st to the 5th stations. These lower stations pass through the lesser well-known, Mt.Fuji Natural Recreation Forest Trail. Trail sign. I started at the bottom of the Fujinomiya trail, which begins across the road from the main parking area, called Mizugazuka Park. A large map and signpost can be found at the start of the trail head. From here, hikers can enjoy a very quiet stroll through Mt.Fuji's forest on a slightly muddy trail.  Start of this trail. Note: The Mt. Fuji Natural Recreation Forest Trail has many trails of varying lengths and difficulties. Most surround the base of Mt.Fuji and are good for a day hike.  For those who can, it is best to access this trail at M...

This is a continuation of the "Climbing Mt. Fuji" post found HERE . The climb was completed in early September, 2016. For most travelers, the quintessential image of Japan is Mt. Fuji. This symmetrical mountain rises 3,776 meters (= about 12,388 feet) and has been named a World Heritage Site. For many tourists, climbing Mt. Fuji is a must-do adventure. There are numerous routes up to the summit: Yoshida, Fujinomiya, Subashiri, and Gotemba. Gotemba is the longest, as it begins at the lowest elevation (1,440 meters), while Yoshida is considered the easiest, and thus, most crowded. I hiked the Fujinomiya trail which is the shortest and begins at an elevation of 2,400 meters. The trail to the summit is 5.0 kilometers long and information guides state the time to summit is between 5~7 hours. It is very steep in some places and the trail becomes very narrow near the summit; you may have to wait for others to pass by before continuing your climb. Source:  http://www.fujisa...