Mt. FUJI
Mount Fuji is Japan's most famous and most photographed mountain, yet even photographs fail to convey the magnitude of Japan's tallest peak. So huge that it at first glance it seems almost surreal, Mt. Fuji, at 12,388 feet, towers above everything else around it, a perfectly symmetrical cone shape of majestic proportions. The Japanese have revered Mt. Fuji since ancient times.
Climbing Mt. Fuji is a rite of passage for many Japanese, as well as for an increasing number of foreign visitors looking for that only-in-Japan ultimate outdoor experience. Although the trek to the top is strenuous and requires fortitude and stamina, it does not require any special skill. People of all ages make the climb, from children to grandparents.
There are four trails to the summit, all divided into 10 stations, with the Kawaguchi-Yoshida-guchi Trail most easily accessible from Tokyo. Most people begin their ascent from the 5th station, 7,560 feet above sea level.
The most popular method is to begin the climb in midday, spend the night in a hut at the 7th or 8th station, and arise before sunset to complete the climb. Others opt to begin their climb in late evening and walk throughout the night with flashlights to see the sunrise at the top. In all, climbers should plan on about 5 to 6 hours for the ascent from the 5th station to the summit and 3 hours for the descent.
The official climbing season for Mt. Fuji is July and August (outside these months, snow and unstable weather conditions render the mountain dangerous for all the but the most skilled climbers). Climbers should wear sturdy shoes, a warm jacket (summit temperatures average in the 40sF in summer), and raingear and be sure to pack plenty of water and food or snacks (meals are available at the huts).
Since hundreds of thousands of people climb Mt. Fuji annually, mostly in July and August, trails can be quite crowded (for the fewest crowds, aim for a weekday during the first two weeks in July). Still, most climbers revel in the camaraderie and the communal spirit of climbing Fuji-san together. The most common greeting on the mountain is "Ganbatte," a word of encouragement that loosely translates as "Go for it!"
Mount Fuji is Japan's most famous and most photographed mountain, yet even photographs fail to convey the magnitude of Japan's tallest peak. So huge that it at first glance it seems almost surreal, Mt. Fuji, at 12,388 feet, towers above everything else around it, a perfectly symmetrical cone shape of majestic proportions. The Japanese have revered Mt. Fuji since ancient times.
Climbing Mt. Fuji is a rite of passage for many Japanese, as well as for an increasing number of foreign visitors looking for that only-in-Japan ultimate outdoor experience. Although the trek to the top is strenuous and requires fortitude and stamina, it does not require any special skill. People of all ages make the climb, from children to grandparents.
There are four trails to the summit, all divided into 10 stations, with the Kawaguchi-Yoshida-guchi Trail most easily accessible from Tokyo. Most people begin their ascent from the 5th station, 7,560 feet above sea level.
The most popular method is to begin the climb in midday, spend the night in a hut at the 7th or 8th station, and arise before sunset to complete the climb. Others opt to begin their climb in late evening and walk throughout the night with flashlights to see the sunrise at the top. In all, climbers should plan on about 5 to 6 hours for the ascent from the 5th station to the summit and 3 hours for the descent.
The official climbing season for Mt. Fuji is July and August (outside these months, snow and unstable weather conditions render the mountain dangerous for all the but the most skilled climbers). Climbers should wear sturdy shoes, a warm jacket (summit temperatures average in the 40sF in summer), and raingear and be sure to pack plenty of water and food or snacks (meals are available at the huts).
Since hundreds of thousands of people climb Mt. Fuji annually, mostly in July and August, trails can be quite crowded (for the fewest crowds, aim for a weekday during the first two weeks in July). Still, most climbers revel in the camaraderie and the communal spirit of climbing Fuji-san together. The most common greeting on the mountain is "Ganbatte," a word of encouragement that loosely translates as "Go for it!"
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