On the 9th of July 2014, I had the opportunity to climb Mt Fuji in Japan as I was traveling around the country. I had been planning the climb a week prior, and as I had everything booked and ready, I heard the news that a super typhoon (Neoguri) was on its way to collide with Japan. The news mentioned that it would hit Okinawa and would slow down and disappear by the time it reached the mainland. I knew that sooner or later, the typhoon would hit Mt Fuji, but I was hoping it would hit in the evening when I was already down from the summit and with less violent wind.
I have never been so wrong. When I was at the mountain hut on July 9th, 2014, the typhoon hit while I was sleeping. As expected, when I woke up at 2 am the next morning, I was faced with a life-threatening decision: to climb or not to climb. Several people had already abandoned their plans at this point. Only two Swedish pals and a British couple were still undecided. The staff feared that we would die up there, but I was so close to the summit! Only two hours of walking, and I would be able to proudly say that I climbed Mt. Fuji. The two Swedish pals and the British couple agreed that we should at least give it a go, and if we were unable to continue climbing, we could always turn back. So we went.
After two hours of crawling up Mt Fuji with a wind that could knock me off the cliff in seconds, hail with the speed of a bullet, and slippery mud that was the current state of the trail, we eventually reached the summit at around 5 - 6 AM. As I was about to get hypothermia and the fact that we could no longer walk any further because there were no shelters to protect us from the violent wind of the typhoon, we left after 10 minutes at the summit and climbed down.
This is how NOT to climb Mt. Fuji if you want to live a long life. I was able to survive purely because of luck, and if you are going to climb Mt. Fuji, please prepare accordingly and do check the weather before you go. Don't risk it like I did. Below are a few tips before you attempt to climb Mt. Fuji.
When is the Best Time to Climb Mt. Fuji?
Mt Fuji's summit is only open from the beginning of July to the end of August when the snow has dried up. If you are an expert climber, you can climb it in early September to avoid massive crowds. However, keep in mind that mountain huts are not open after August, so you either have to camp out or go for the summit in one day.
I highly recommend that you go for the climb early in July, during weekdays, before the school is on break later that month. I also DO NOT recommend that you visit during a super typhoon, like I did. You can always check the forecast here.
Getting Around Japan
If you are planning to travel around Japan after visiting Tokyo, I highly recommend you get the JR Pass as you will get the best bang for your buck if you want to travel around Japan on a bullet train. The JR Pass is perfect for those who are planning to travel in Japan for longer than 7 days.
- Mt Fuji, Hakone Lake Ashi Cruise Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo (11 hours)
- Private Sightseeing to Mount Fuji and Hakone guide photographer (10 hours)
- 1 Day Private Mt Fuji Tour (Charter) - English Speaking Driver (10 hours)
You can get the 7, 14, or 21-day pass, and you will have access to the Shinkansen bullet train nationwide for the duration of your stay at no extra cost. Be sure to order it prior to arriving in Japan, as you won't be able to get it while you are in the country. Hit the link below to order one for your trip:
Summiting Mt. Fuji Difficulty
Easy to moderate. There are some steep climbs, and it can take you 5-7 hours to reach your accommodation nonstop. However, since it only takes a maximum of 2 days to reach the summit, I consider it pretty easy.
Mt. Fuji Trail Options
The easiest, most popular trail is the Yoshida trail, which starts at the Subaru 5th Station. This trail has the highest number of mountain huts available, and it is recommended for first-timers.
If you want to go off the beaten path, check out all the other trails' info provided by Japan Guide.
What to Pack and Things to Prepare for Mt. Fuji Trek?
Even though July is the start of the rainy season and the weather in Japan can be quite hot and humid, the temperature near the top in the morning can be as low as 5 - 10 degrees Celsius, so do prepare layers of clothing. Below is the list of things I had with me:
- Daypack: I locked everything I don't need in a locker at the 5th Station before I went for the summit. Climbing a mountain is no joke, so don't bring unnecessary things up there. During this trip, I used the classic Herschel Supply's Little America Backpack to carry everything with me. It is light with good capacity and stylish as hell.
- Bottles of water: If you are going on the Yoshida trail, as I did, there may be a few stops before you reach your mountain hut, but the price of everything up there is through the roof. Prepare enough water and food before you start the climb. I always carry my 2-liter hydration pack, which I recommend so you don't have to stop to stay hydrated.
- A Fleece Jacket and A Down Jacket: As mentioned earlier, it will be cold up there, and if you are going for the sunrise, you will need to climb as early as 2 AM, which can be very chilly. There are no shelters up at the summit, so the jackets are your only hope for keeping yourself warm.
- Raincoat and Backpack Cover: July and August are rainy seasons, and trust me, it will rain up there. So, do prepare a raincoat and a backpack cover. You don't want all your clothes to be soaked when you arrive at the mountain hut. Here are the jackets I recommend you get for the trip: fleece jacket and the beautiful orange Columbia outer-shell jacket.
- Trekking Shoes: The trail consists of some steep climbs both ways, so do prepare adequate trekking shoes that will protect your ankles. These Timberland Shoes are my go-to hiking boots in most situations.
- Headlamp: As mentioned earlier, you will be climbing as early as 2 AM, so you will need a headlamp to do so. I recommend you get the Cree LED headlamp.
- (Optional) Trekking poles: You don't need a hi-tech metal trekking pole; a stick would do just fine. You can buy a traditional climbing stick at the 5th Station and get it stamped at each mountain hut (200 - 300 Yens per stamp) as you pass along the trail as a souvenir.
And that is how you should climb Mt. Fuji, NOT the way I did. I wish you the best of luck, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me in the comments below. Stay out of the typhoon!
More Fuji Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
Where to Stay Climbing Mt. Fuji?
It is possible to climb Mt. Fuji in a day, but it is not recommended because the summit is over 3700m above sea level, and altitude sickness can kick in at any moment when you are at 3000m or above sea level. I recommend starting the climb in the afternoon (at the latest) on the first day and sleeping at a mountain hut for 5-7 hours. Wake up at 2 AM and start heading for the summit between 2:30 AM and 3 AM. During this time of year, the sun is expected to rise around 4-5 AM (ask the staff at the mountain hut, and they will wake you up for the summit).
There is a range of mountain huts available on the Yoshida trail, but only one allows you to book online. You can ask the hostel staff to call the place up, or you can pay USD25 extra and book online like I did. The trail can get very congested during this time, so booking prior to arriving is highly recommended.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Japan
Looking for more information for your trip to Japan? Here are a collection of articles about Japan that you might find useful:
- Looking for a comprehensive list of things you shouldn't miss when traveling in Japan? Check out: 16 Best Things to Do in Japan.
- What is it like to climb Mount Fuji during a super typhoon? Here's A Backpacking Travel Guide To Mt. Fuji And Kawaguchiko.
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Tokyo? Check out: 14 Best Things To Do In Tokyo.
- For a complete itinerary of Tokyo, check out: 3 Days Backpacking Tokyo Itinerary.
- Planning to visit Nikko soon? From hiking to best temples to visit, here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Nikko.
- Another awesome place to visit in Japan for a great view of Mt. Fuji is Hakone. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Hakone.
- A day trip to Hakone from Tokyo is possible, but you need to be smart with your time. Here is a complete One Day Hakone Itinerary From Tokyo.
- Kyoto, the old capital city of Japan, is a one-of-a-kind city that you should not miss. Here are the 16 Best Things To Do In Kyoto.
- For a complete itinerary of Kyoto and Osaka, check out: 3 Days Backpacking Kyoto-Osaka Itinerary.
- There are more to Hiroshima than the war memorial. Here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Hiroshima.
- Want to go off the beaten path in Japan? What about exploring Kyushu island? Here is a 3-day road trip itinerary for Kumamoto and Aso.
- Not convinced by my words about Japan? Watch this: Just Japan Travel Video.
- Wondering where to go after Japan? How about hopping over to China or visiting the islands of Taiwan or Hong Kong?
- For all articles about Japan, please visit the Japan Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to East Asia? Check out all my articles about East Asia here: East Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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1 Comments
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