Fuji Things to Do

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You can buy walking sticks with bells and flags at the 5th station. Apart from being very useful for the climb, the stick can also be a nice memento of your trip. At each station,5 trough 10 you can get markers burnt into your stick to prove you made it thus high.

Personally, I forewent all the markers from 6-9 and just got the level 10 one burnt into my stick on top.

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Never once thought about seeing the sunrise on a mountain until I hiked Mt. Fuji. I have to say, seeing the sunrise of Fuji-san is a religious experience. It really is! Its a pilgrimage for Japanese to do this, like going to Mecca.

Literally, people were crying around me when the sun rose. It was a powerful moment!

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There is a post office on top of Fuji-san, so please bring some post cards to mail out to your friends. My advice to pre-write them and get the correct postage on them before you climb.

One last thing to note, the post office on top of Fuji-san is opened for the full hiking season, which I sadly found out. It closes a week or 2 before the official end of the season.

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A walk around the crater takes about one hour. The mountain's and Japan's highest point is located immediately next to the weather station on the opposite side from where the Yoshidaguchi Trail reaches the summit. Expect long lines there.

A walk around is highly recommended. As mentioned before, Fuji isn't much to look at, however, the views from the top are. Walking the crater was the most memorable part of the hike for me.

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High up on the list of MUST SEE for all visitors to Japan is MT fuji. This world famous mountain has its home in shizuoka prefecture...its graceful outlines are recognized worldwide.Mt fuji serves as a symbol not only for the prefecture, but for Japan itself..

The sheer elegance of this mountain has inspired woodblock print and other artist for hundred of years...

In Japan, it is considered , a sign of good luck, just to catch a glimpse of this graceful mountain.
You haven't seen Japan if you haven't seen Fujisan, as its known in Japanese....

THE BEST TIME TO CLIMB

The best time to climb is during the july 1 - august 31 open season.

With the right planning and clothing and without overdue exertion, people of all ages can make it to the top....There are several routes to the summit, with mountain huts, food and drink available along the way....

Bear in mind that since this is one of Japan's most popular hikes, you'll be joined by many others on your chosen trail...Also, while Mt fuji is impressive from a distance, close up its slopes are gray and strewn with volcanic ash and lava...But it's well worth the effort to make it to the summit, becasue on a fine day the view at dawn is spectacular....

The ASCEND of Mt fuji is divided into different stages..Most people start climbing from the 5th or new 5th stages, which can reached by car, bus or taxi..which takes 5 to 7 hours...
DESCEND will take 2 to 3 hours , but the times will vary according to your physical condition and the number of breaks you take...

Many people aiming for the summit choose to walk through the night, reaching the top shortly before dawn, but it's possible to break the journey along the way...
How to reach the highest point in Japan (click)

the web link below provide a few of Mt fuji

As you would have abviously google'd the net to find that July-Aug is the official climbing season for Fuji, as the weather before and after this will not permit a safe trek.

I would advice anyone planning to do a Mt.Fuji trip from Tokyo to take the bus from Tokyo to take the bus from Shinjuku station. The bus will directly drop u at the kawaguchiko 5th Station. From here the climb starts. The bus reservation can be done by calling the Highway Bus Service on 03-5376-2222. Press '0' to talk to the operator and make the booking.

It is also possible to reach the Kawaguchiko station by train. From Shinjuku(Chuo Line)>Otsuki>(Fuji Kyuko Line)>kawaguchiko station. But from the station you will have to take a 45 mnts bus ride to the Kawaguchiko 5th station, the actual clmbing route. If there is a huge rush(like on weekends) then getting a place in this bus can be difficult.

Also the direct bus from Shinjuku would be cheaper.

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Ascent:
The common practise is to start the ascent early in the evening and climb through the night to reach the summit before sunrise. The target is to make it to the sumit before sunrise. Start early. The best time to start the ascent is around 6-30 PM.
Start: Kawaguchi 5th station.
5th -> 6th station = around 40mnts.
6th -> 7th station = about 1 hour. Take 15 - 20 mnts rest at the 7th station. Keep hydrating.
7th -> 8th station = bit tough, about 2 hours.
Also this is not very tiring since you will be in a queue and there is latent rest involved. Once at the 8th station, the cold will start to get you. I would advice having a small break here.
8th -> 9th station = gruelling journey taking about 100mnts.
Altitude effects will start to show here. Do have something hot to eat, Cup Noodles available here is best choice. If u made it here by 2:00 AM, then u are on time. Take adequate rest.
9th -> Summit = Before Sunrise.
There will be a huge crowd of people from various trails lining up to the summit. Do not look at the top, summit will look far far away. Just watch ur step and keep moving. You shud be on the summit just in time for the sunrise. Once on top the sunrise u see there would be so enticing that you will only watch the sun and think about nothing else. People usually sleep off for about an hour or so. You also have plenty of photos to be taken.

Descent:
Initial 5 mnts of the descent will look like cake walk. Simple muddy slope all the way down. But dont be mistaken. This will be an endless downward slope of 5.5 Kms. Trick: DO NOT BRAKE with YOUR KNEES. Knee jerking for 5 Kms will surely cause serious damage. Use the stick to balance. Keep your knees bent, body tilting backward. Walking down that way so that your knees are slightly bent always. Strategy - taking small rest after every few slopes. Daytime weather on Fuji is pleasent. So look around and appreciate the nature around you. Descent slowly. Takes 3-4 hrs .

Note that although the heat may be unbearable in Tokyo.. you will find the temperature at SUB_ZERO levels on the summit. Believe me... this is true even if the weather sites may actually be showing 4-5 degrees. This will be made worse by the strong winds on top. If you want to enjoy even an hour's stay on the summit you will have to be prepared with sufficient warm clothing.

The following are necessary:
1. Warm clothing : Layered clothing would be best. Dont go wearing Shorts !!! Good shoes. No Floaters !!!
2. Gloves
3. 2 pairs of socks (u will thank me for mentioning 2 pairs).
4. Sunscreen cream.
5. A Hat/Cap.
6. A RainCoat/Poncho : Buy the one available from the 100Yen store. Also if you buy a 2 piece version, then it will also spare u from the chill wind. This is a must.
7. Flashlight/Headlamp: This is a must whether u climb at night or not. Also at 100Y Store.
8. Drinks: Carry 2 litres of fluid. I can swear that u will finsih all of it there.
9. Food: Buy foods with Carbs. Also take enuf quantity of food. Those Energy Jelly packs are really helpful.
10. NO Alchohol: Do not drink while climbing. If u think u can beat the cold by having a shot or two...u're wrong. It will not only dehydrate u.. but also make u less sensitive to the surroundings.
11. Respect for the environment: U will have to carry all your garbage as there are no bins on Fuji. Please keep it clean.
12. Camera: U dont want to take all the pain of reaching on top and returning without having a photo of yours on the summit. The Mt.Fuji is a treat for a photographer. Even if u dont have a good camera.. i would suggest buying one of those disposeable cameras for 2000 Yen.
13. A backpack to carry all the above.

PS; Please leave a comment in case u feel something else needs to be added to the above list. These are the bare necessities.