Fuji

Climbing Fuji-San

Should you do it? Here are are the top tips to get the best from your trip.

Mount Fuji is divided into 10 stations with the 1st station at the foot of the mountain and the 10th at the summit. Most people bus it to the 5th station then hike to the 8th station, which is like a 4 hour hike. You can have dinner and sleep there for a few hours, get up at 2am and then do another 2hour hike to see the sunrise at the summit which is at about 4:30/5am. Have some breakfast and then a walk around the crater takes about one hour. The huts can be pretty shabby too, and don't all change the sheets. It will get cold at night so be sure to bury yourself under the covers.

If you go with a group, it may take longer. They often take it slower, taking rests often. However, if you really hit it with a vengeance you may pay the price at the top being totally exhausted and a little altitude sick. A direct hike from station 5 without stopping for a rest can increase the risk of falling victim to altitude sickness.

There isn't that much lighting so wear a head light - it's really handy when you need your hands to pull you up some spots on the climb. It's really hard in some places, but if you take it slow its possible to conquer this mountain. Even if you are pretty fit, you may find it hard in places.

Coming down:

The climb down is difficult on the knees so zig zagging your way down is recommended. It takes around 5.5ish hours to get down. In the sun and the gravel road you use to get down its a real challenge! And if you're running on 0-4 hours of sleep, it can be stenuous.

Prices:

The huts to stay over night are about ￥5000 per person without meals and around ￥7000 per person with two meals.
Depending on what area on the 5th station the price varies to get there by bus. From ￥2000-4500 return fares from Tokyo.
There are shops on the way up if you do it within the "open" season but the food is expensive. (eg - snickers bar - ￥500)
The Keio Chuo Highway Bus (catch right across from Yodabashi at the Shinjuku station Nishi Guchi) costs ￥1700 yen to Kawaguchiko station.
There's a hostel right across from the station called Kawaguchiko Station Inn. Cost app ￥3500 for women, ￥3700 for men.
The bus to the 5th station from Kawaguchi station is ￥1000 one-way, ￥2000 roundtrip.
The huts are quite pricey too, especially on a weekend. At the 8th station, Fuji Hotel is ￥7500 for a dinner and one night's stay. Separately, curry-rice is like ￥1200, cup ramen ￥700.
There are tour packages which include return bus fare, dinner and accommodation and breakfast at the top with a visit to an onsen on the way back (but they may not allow tattoos in all the onsens). The tours range from ￥16,000-35,000.

Take:

good waterproofs, a hat and gloves (waterproof if poss), spare socks and line your back pack with a plastic bag.
oxygen which you can buy for ￥600 in 7eleven. It's much more expensive on the mountain. It's light and tough going without it.
walking sticks you can buy at Fujimomiya station for about ￥700.
head lamp
bring food or prepare to pay alot. However, don't over do it as you have to carry it all and may feel nauseous.
'sweat' drinks or salty foods to replace the sweat.
prepare yourself with lots of warm clothing even if it seems hot and good climbing boots (although some people do it in sneakers)
Cranberries and granola mix is a good trail mix and bring plenty of water.
sunscreen for the next day.

Top Tips:

Book the bus to station 5 early in advance because they book out pretty quickly.
It can get damp in the night and misty.
Beware - there are two 8th stations! The first one is the fake one, so don't be fooled.
If you have the weather we had and the views then it will be the most amazing experience ever. If you have bad weather and no views then...
Temperatures at the top can be well below freezing, especially in September

Links:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html

Around Fuji-San

One recommendation for a city around Mt. Fuji is Fuji-Kawaguchiko (or just Kawaguchiko area). It's named after Kawaguchiko Lake, which is one of the most commercialized lakes of the five that surround Mt. Fuji. There are things to do around the lake, some onsens, nice hotels, and some hiking. The area is geared towards tourists.
If you want to be more centrally located, stay in Fujiyoshida, even closer to Mt. Fuji with more things to do (e.g. visit the Fuji Sengen Shrine!). There is the Fujikyu Highland Park, a lot of restaurants with local specialities, some night-life and shrines to visit.
From Tokyo you can take a bus to go to Yamanashi, specifically to the capital Kofu. Or ride the rail from Shinjuku to Yamanashi, though this is more expensive.
Hakone is pretty nice, but very touristy - http://www.hakone.or.jp/english/index.html

Earth Embassy:

On the east side of Mt. Fuji, right next to the ice caves, about a 20 minute bus ride from Kawaguchiko. Very easy to get to from Tokyo. They have a cafe, camp grounds, a lodge and also a tree house you can stay in! They do organic farming as well. http://earthembassy.org

Japan holiday info

Fuji-san