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.
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| Source: http://www.fujisan-climb.jp/en/trails/fujinomiya.html |
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| Resting on Mt. Fuji. |
From the photo above, you can see Mt.Fuji is not like a normal hiking trail. You're walking on volcanic ash which is dusty. The sun is intense and there is no shade, so a large hat is recommended. Whenever you take a rest, be sure not to sit under large rocks, as some have been known to come loose and cause injuries to hikers. If you rest near a mountain hut, most sell snacks and drinks (even beer!) but be warned -- the prices are expensive.
Enjoy the compilation of photos below showing the rising elevation of the trail towards the Mt. Fuji summit. It's a great memory to have your photo taken at the station signs -- I highly recommend it!
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Flowers are for privacy & respecting fellow hikers. |
It's important to note that the 8th station is the last point for first-aid before reaching the summit. If you or your climbing partners do not feel well, it's advisable to stop at this station and monitor your heart rate & breathing. Some fellow climbers recommend taking aspirin here as headaches are common with the increased elevation.
What kind of gear did I bring on my climb? My 40 liter backpack contained:
- 2 liters of water. I used a bladder bag, which has a hose snaking out for easy, hands-free drinking. I got mine at a Walmart in Canada last summer for about $20 (thanks Jackie!).
- Some snacks. Light snacks are best. Recommended Japanese snacks: senbei (rice crackers), bread, power bars ~ all can be bought at convenience stores here.
- A towel. You will sweat.
- Sunscreen. If you burn easily, this is recommended.
- Torch/Flashlight/Headlamp. I carried a headlamp as it tends to get dark on the descent ~ especially if you take your time at the summit.
- A down jacket. I have a special jacket which rolls up into a small bag and weighs only 2 grams. The summit is extremely windy and cold. You really need a warm jacket.
- Gloves / hat / warm hat. Again the sun and wind are strong on the mountain. These are recommended strongly.
- 100 yen coins. Toilets on Mt.Fuji are all pay toilets. As you ascend, they get more expensive too. The ones on the summit were 300 yen per use; ones at lower elevations were 100 yen.
Reaching the summit of Mt. Fuji is like a scene from another planet really. The volcanic crater at the top is a grey mass of crumbing stone. As I climbed on the final day of the hiking season, I even saw ice crystals hanging from inside the crater. Most climbers stop here to get photos, but the true summit is actually another 250 meters further up....
The Japan Meteorological Agency has a weather station at the true summit of Mt. Fuji. This is where you will find the actual summit marker. Usually, there is a line of climbers waiting to have their photo taken here, so that warm jacket will certainly come in handy while waiting! I waited in the line up for about 10 ~ 15 minutes. Getting my photo taken took less than 5 minutes. As a courtesy to other hikers, offer to take the photo of the people waiting behind you in the line; and, when getting your photo taken, try to be as quick as possible so others are not left waiting too long.
The summit marker is quite nice and looks like this:
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| The marker reads: Japan's highest mountain, Mt. Fuji, 3,776 meters. |
From here, you can complete a circuit of the summit. This takes 1 hour of light up and down hiking; however, be warned - it is extremely windy. There were times when the wind was so strong, it was hard to stand upright.
Once you have finished, you can climb down the same route (Fujinomiya) in about 2.5 hours.
In total, I started this climb at 8 AM and finished by 7 PM. I only recommend completing Mt. Fuji in one day for experienced hikers (those who have completed several 10+ hour climbs). Otherwise, please make a reservation at one of the many mountain huts so you can complete the climb in two days, which is much easier on your body. You can reserve space in a mountain hut by accessing the official Mt. Fuji climbing page HERE.
Regardless of what you read, Mt. Fuji is a very challenging mountain. Come well prepared, with enough water and proper gear. Make sure you have some experience or are in good physical condition before attempting this climb. Whenever you start to feel ill, or lightheaded, stop and rest. Altitude sickness is easily cured if you watch for symptoms and go slow.
Mt. Fuji is considered to be an iconic New Year image in Japan. So, I thought it fitting to welcome 2017 with this post.
I hope, if you enjoy climbing as much as I do, you'll attempt this beautiful mountain someday.
Enjoy hiking!
Information:
Mt. Fuji Official Climbing Site (English) ~ LINK
Japan National Tourism Office: Guide for climbing Mount Fuji ~ LINK
The climb featured in this post was completed on the last official day of the 2016 climbing season: September 10th. The hiking season runs from July 1st ~ September 10th each year.
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