Attacking the highest peak in Japan!
"Mt. Fuji, once an animated horse and deer, twice a horse and deer."
(Chinese: "A person who doesn't climb Mt. Fuji in his whole life is a fool, but a person who climbs it a second time is also a fool.")
When I first heard this phrase, it sent a wave through my heart. It was during a casual conversation with an elderly Japanese man who smiled and said this philosophical phrase to me. Mount Fuji, an active volcano 3776 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in Japan and is known as one of the "Three Famous Mountains of Japan". Since I came to Japan, I have often seen the elegant and magnificent figure of Mount Fuji on postcards and posters. However, what is the view from Mount Fuji? This aroused a strong desire in me to climb this sacred mountain during my exchange program.
Preparing for a climb
The night I returned to the dormitory, I was busy cooking Taiwanese food in the kitchen, preparing to serve the Europeans, Mr. P. and Mr. L. Central, who had just come down from Mt. Fuji. They had just finished their hiking trip and looked exhausted.
"How was your trip? You're all exhausted." I asked with concern as I stirred the vegetables in the pot.
"Yeah, we haven't slept in over 30 hours." Senior Patrick sat down wearily in his chair and took a sip from his teacup.
"Oh, my God! Didn't you guys take a break at the cabin? This is crazy." I looked at them in surprise.
"Ha-ha-ha. We've chosen to climb a mountain of bullets.1I'm going to climb the whole thing in one go." Mr. L said with a smile.
"But I think you'll be fine. Even I made it to the top." Mr. P patted me on the shoulder and encouraged me.
"Really? What about the climbing route to Mt. Fuji?" I asked curiously.
"We took a bus from Shinjuku in the afternoon, bought all the hiking gear, like poles, at Gohome, and started climbing at 6:00 p.m.," Liao recalled. Mr. Liao recalled.
"How was the hike?" I asked as I served the warm quiche.
"The descent was very boring, there was nothing but rocks. And the terrain is very steep, so it's easy to slip and fall." Mr. L shook his head.
"Yeah, he slipped five times and broke the stick he borrowed from the dorm," P added with a laugh. Mr. P added with a smile.
"Wow, I'll have to be careful next time. Did you guys see Mikuromitsu (sunrise)?" I asked.
"Of course! The sunrise from the top of the mountain is really breathtaking." Mr. P showed off his photo and bragged about his achievement.
"That's enviable! I guess I'll have to plan something soon." I said excitedly.
"Right, remember to book the bus back in the afternoon, otherwise you'll miss the bus like we did and have to wait until three in the afternoon to get a bus back." Mr. P reminded.
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind." I nodded.
"Wow, this omelet is really good! But it feels a bit westernized." Mr. P praised.
"Thank you for the compliment! I added a little bit of cheese to it to make it to your liking. I'll make you the original flavor sometime." I said with a smile.
That night, we talked for a long time. Looking at the beautiful photos they took of Mt. Fuji, my heart had already flown to the top of the mountain. I made up my mind that I would go up to Mt. Fuji this summer vacation to see the legendary sunrise with my own eyes.
Preparation before climbing
When I got back to my room, I started to plan my hiking itinerary. After checking the climbing routes of Mt. Fuji, I realized that there are four main climbing routes: Yoshida Exit, Suji Exit, Gotenba Exit and Fujinomiya Exit. Below is a brief introduction of the differences between these four routes.
Characteristics of each route
- Yoshida Line
- It is the most popular and has a large number of climbers.
- Government-approved route with easy access to public transportation.
- There are many mountain huts for beginners.
- Need to walk the line
- A major route alongside the Yoshida Route.
- The scenery is beautiful and the climb is relatively gentle.
- Compared with other routes, the level of congestion is relatively low.
- Gotemba Route
- The longest and most physically demanding route.
- Tougher for beginners, but challenging for the experienced.
- The scenery is spectacular and the view from the top is stunning.
- Fujinomiya Route
- The shortest route has a shorter ascent time.
- More rapid ascents, requiring stamina.
- Although the gradient near the summit is steep, the start is relatively gentle.
| Route | Starting point | Distance (round trip) | altitude difference | Time Required | Difficulty | Number of Yamaya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoshida Line | Mt. Fuji, five symbolic nodes of the eye (idiom); fig. a famous sightseeing spot | Approx. 15 km | 1,405m | Uphill: 6hr Downhill: 3.5hr | lower (one's head) | 20 |
| Need to walk the line | Need to go to the mouth to get a five-holed eye | Approx. 14 km | 1,740m | Uphill: 8hr Descent: 4hr | lower (one's head) | 13 |
| Gotemba Route | Gokamae, the entrance to the Imperial Palace | Approx. 20 km | 2,260m | Uphill: 9.5hr Descent: 4hr | your (honorific) | 4 |
| Fujinomiya Route | Fuji Miyaguchi Five Elements | Approx. 10 km | 1,320m | Uphill: 5hr Downhill: 3.5hr | center | 9 |
Since the Yoshida-guchi route is considered to be the most suitable route for beginners, I decided to start from Yoshida-guchi.
Reserve a Mountain Hut
The next step was to book a mountain hut. I learned that if you want to spend the night in the mountain and watch the sunrise in the morning, you need to book a mountain hut in advance. After a lot of comparisons, I finally chose a mountain hut in Yakkome called "Genjo Room". I was told that the accommodations and services here are very good, and many seniors have recommended it.
Preparation of mountaineering equipment
As for my gears, I didn't bring a full set of mountaineering gears with me to Japan, so I went to the nearest outdoor store to my dormitory to buy what I needed. Below is my preparation list.
- Warm Socks: Comfortable warm socks can reduce foot fatigue and prevent lower limb insensitivity caused by cold feet.
- hiking boots: Provides protection and support for the feet. In order to walk on slippery ground or uneven terrain, wear specialized hiking shoes to prevent slipping or foot injuries.
- Clothing: Comfortable and functional clothing needs to be considered. In particular, it is easier to manage your body temperature by layering a moisture-wicking undergarment with a windproof jacket. Although it is summer, it is very cold at the summit, so be sure to bring warm clothes so you don't catch a cold. In addition, there are
- rucksacks: For carrying essentials. Consider the appropriate size and weight, and choose the capacity according to your physical strength.
- water bottlesThe high altitude makes you dry easily, so it's important to stay hydrated. In addition, since water is precious in the mountains, the price of bottled water in mountain houses is 2-3 times higher than that in the flatlands, so it is recommended to bring along some bottled water beforehand.3 cans of 1 liter (3 liters total)bottled water.
- foods: It's important to pack light, calorie-packed snacks to energize your body. In particular, energy jellies and high calorie bars are good choices.
- HeadlampsNo matter if it is late at night or early in the morning, climbing without a headlamp is basically the same as having no mobility, which is very dangerous. Therefore, you must prepare a headlamp.
- Personalized First Aid Kit: Prepare emergency medication or equipment as needed for your individual situation.
- GPS device (watch) or map: As a location-confirmation device to prevent getting lost, it is a good idea to carry it with you for added peace of mind.
- Gloves and hats: A must-have item that I highly recommend. It is especially useful at the Peak when the wind is strong and the temperature is low.
- trekking poleI'm going to buy some wooden poles from Gohyakumo, and I'm going to have fun collecting stamps while I'm hiking.
- Oxygen CylinderIf you are suffering from altitude sickness, you can bring an oxygen tank to make yourself more comfortable.
After a lot of bloodshed, my loot is as follows:
However, later on, my friend told me that there is a store called "やまどうぐレンタル屋" that offers rentals, so you can try the following store.
"Since its establishment in 2010, Yamadougou Rental House (English: Yamarent, Chinese: 山設備租借屋), a professional mountaineering, hiking and camping equipment rental company, has served more than 190,000 customers. The company offers a full range of outdoor equipment rental services, featuring no security deposit, an extensive inventory that meets the needs of all body types, a comprehensive equipment maintenance system, and pickup and return services for Mt. Fuji destinations, bringing customers a convenient rental experience. The following are the features of this store:
- In addition to the Shinjuku location, there are pickup and return locations at the fifth station of Mt. Fuji (Yoshida Exit and Fujinomiya Exit).
- Offers a wide range of outdoor gears for rent to meet the needs of different ages and sizes.
- Free nationwide shipping for rentals over 10,000 yen.
- Complimentary professional hiking socks with rental of hiking boots
- Replacement is free of charge in case of size difference.
- There is no additional handling fee for canceling or changing the day of use due to bad weather.
View Weather Forecast
Finally, I checked the weather forecast for the day of the hike. Although the weather in the mountains is unpredictable, it is still necessary to know the general weather trend. I checked the weather condition of Wuhope on the website, and realized that there might be light rain on that day, but the overall weather was quite stable. Here is the updated weather forecast for those who are interested in planning.
For more information on other weather forecasts, you can also check the following two highly reliable weather forecast websites.
So, everything was ready and I couldn't wait for the day of the hike.
Annotation Area
- Danganjo (だんがんとざん): Danganjo is a method of climbing Mount Fuji at night without staying in a hut, with the main purpose of viewing the sunrise at dawn. However, there are high risks associated with this behavior, including the risk of losing physical strength and altitude sickness due to lack of sleep. In addition, climbing at night may be subject to sudden changes in meteorological conditions that may affect the safety of the climbers. ︎
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