A Guide to Climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is one of the world’s most famous mountains and one deeply important to Japanese people as it is one of their 3 holy mountains. Each year, thousands flock to Japan hoping to catch a glimpse of Fuji on the train passing by, while the brave ones attempt to climb it. At 12,389 feet (3,776.24 meters), Mount Fuji ranks as the largest in Japan, and 7th largest peak on an island in the world. Fuji is iconic and has served as the inspiration for many artists and poets worldwide and after climbing Mt. Fuji and seeing the views for myself, I can see why. Here is a guide to climbing Mount Fuji and what you can expect.
When to Climb Fuji
Unfortunately, Mount Fuji is only open from early July to mid-September and this is subject to change depending on the weather. Climbing Mount Fuji is possible outside of the official season, but this requires special permission and years of experience. Climbing outside of the official season is not only nearly impossible, but it’s extremely dangerous.
What do You Need to Climb?
There are some essentials needed to climb Fuji, and it does require paying a bit of extra cash if you don’t already have the gear.
- Raincoat/rain resistant light jacket: Chances are you will experience some rain as you approach the top, even if the forecast says otherwise. With the low temperature, you don’t want to risk being caught in the rain without proper clothing.
- Hiking pants: Sweat pants or jeans will not cut it, you need breathable pants that are rain resistant as well.
- Heavy Hiking boots: You’ll be stepping on big rocks the entire time, you’ll need proper shoes.
- Backpack with rain cover: The beginning and end of the hike will be considerably warmer, you’ll need to bring a change of clothes. Without a backpack, you’ll have to wear all these layers.
- Food and water: Prices at the summit are ridiculously high, unless you want to pay double the price, I suggest you bring your own water and snacks for the journey.
Hiking clothes are pretty expensive, so expect to pay over $350 for everything. You can easily rent clothing before you hike by visiting one of many shops or ordering online. It’s a little pricey, but a cheaper option if you don’t think you’ll ever wear hiking clothes again. I used Yamarent, which is well-regarded by locals. They have a store in Shinjuku if you’re not comfortable ordering clothes online. The staff is very pleasant and can answer any questions or concerns you may have.
I had my own hiking clothes, so I just rented shoes for about 3500 yen and dropped them off at the Yamarent store at the 5th station after I finished. All I had to do was place them back in the bag and give them to the staff. No need to clean them or anything.
How Long is the Trail and How do I get There?
That all depends on you and your speed; however, most individuals take around 6-8 hours to reach the peak and 4-6 hours back down. Most will began around 8:00PM, reaching the peak shortly before sunrise.
Which trail do I take?
There are multiple trails, four to be exact, but most take the Yoshida trail from the 5th station, which is what I did. During hiking season, buses depart from Shinjuku station to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (Yoshida) daily and take around 2 and a half hours. Tickets cost 2700 yen one way. Check online for the latest timetable.
What is it Like Climbing Mount Fuji?
Climbing Fuji was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done in my life. I’ll admit, I was a bit overconfident. As a health conscious fitness junky, I assumed the hike would be a breeze, but was I wrong. It took every last bit of energy in me to make it to the top. From Shinjuku station, my friends and I boarded the 2:10 bus bound for the 5thstation. We arrived shortly before 5, about 3 hours before we planned to actually hike.
After we exited the bus and stretched our legs, we competed with hundreds of Chinese tourists to take some photos of the scenic views, then grabbed dinner at a restaurant nearby.
7:50 hit and we stocked up on some extra water and snacks to begin our hike. The trail was pitch black, even with the lights attached on our heads. The first hour or so was pretty simple until we hit the first major incline.
Luckily, there were multiple rest stations throughout the trail to rest. Here, you can buy drinks, snacks, and quick meals, all which were very overpriced. I recommend you spend very little time at these rest stops. The longer you rest, the harder it is to continue.
The trail became considerably tough half way through. By midnight, the temperature had dropped to around 40F (4.5C) though it felt much colder. On top of that, it began to rain. Each step forward and each breath we took became that much harder. The last hour was the hardest; we were cold, wet, hungry, and sleepy. To be honest, I don’t remember the last leg of the climb, I was half sleep, but somehow I managed to get to the top. At 3:10, we finally reached the peak!
I ran over to the ledge to beat the crowds, so I could get a good view of the sunrise, and it did not disappoint. It’s amazing how many colors you can see during the transition to sunrise.
Watching the sunrise from Mt. Fuji was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. We stayed at the peak for about an hour and a half before making our descent, which took about 4 hours. 11 total hours of hiking in one day! We reached the finish line around 9 AM where the local workers greeted us. At 11:30, we boarded the bus bound for Shinjuku. We arrived back shortly before 2, and when I exited the bus my legs felt like jello. It hurt to take deep breaths. My body felt like it had gone through 12 rounds of boxing, but I was proud of myself for what I had just accomplished. I conquered Mount Fuji!
