UKC

Has anybody got any useful info about climbing Mt Fuji?

All the useful(less) websites suggest that one should only climb the mountain during the months of July and August when one has to queue to get on the trails....

Bit like waiting for the Unconquerables then...

I'm going to be there in April. Is it likely to be a shooting gallery of falling stones, seracs and avalanches, or just a bit chilly?

Do I need my axes and screws, or a light picnic and a few cans of Sapporo?

A dirty Scottish grade V horror, or a nice day out...

Any info welcome.

Ta.

In reply to zakalwe:

I 'climbed' Mt Fuji about around 14 years ago, I think it was in July so I can't give you any early season info.

The hike up the peak was like a giant scree stair master. Restaurants, pay phones and vending machines on the summit. Oxygen was sold in cans that looked like hairspray. Altogether very strange.

There are eight huts on the way up, an hours walk apart. Spent the night at the highest one and got ripped on Sake and missed the sun rise from the summit.

I think the most amazing thing was seeing the pyramidal shadow of the mountain stretch off to the horizon at sunset.

A Japanese saying (something along the lines of) "A wise man climbs Mt Fuji once, only a fool does it twice".

In reply to zakalwe: Will you have transport. The Japanese season is July and August, when it gets really busy. You are allowed to climb it anytime, but outside of the season, public transport is does not fit well into any schedule, one bus a day and at the wrong time, also huts on the mountain will not be open. It is not technical in the slightest but weather can be unpredicable and obviously the summit is 3700m+, most people climb it over night due to the heat in the day and to watch the sunrise. Hope this helps

In reply to Himalaya: About 11 years since I did it, but don't count on all the stations (huts along the way) being open out of the official season; though I'm sure you will be able to get a drink from the vending machine at the summit

I climbed Mt Fuji in April 2002 - and snowboarded down.

It is just over 3700m high, true, but you can drive right up to the station at 2305m and park. (Rent a car for the day from Tokyo for less than 50 pounds - ask for snow tyres, though the road was completely clear when we did it.)

It is probably better to drive up to the carparks and not walk the whole mountain - the lower parts looked a long slog by the access road through woodland scrub.

It is a pretty mild gradient all the way - crampons might be useful to stop you slipping but we saw other foreigners without. The Japanese were generally well kitted out and skiing back down. No need for ropes, ice axes etc.

We walked up a large gully for most of the walk because we got bored zigg zagging back and forth on the path and it gave it more of a mountain feel - away from the vending machines...

No real hazzards except the wind which occasionally whips people clean off the mountain!

Many Japanese think the mountain is closed in winter. There are official seasons for most things there. Some guides say you have to report at the koban (police box) in the nearby town before climbing in winter but this wasn't true 4 years ago.

We were back in Tokyo by early afternoon!

Have a great time and get to some onsens (hot springs) if you get a chance. bliss.

I've nearly climbed it three times (once to the summit, the other two times turned back for various reasons), every time "off-season".

Kamon's advice is good, except I'd add that crampons and a single ice axe are DEFINITELY necsesary. If you get warm weather and super-soft snow, you may not need them however when we did it in April you'd've been nuts without them.

As of 2002, there was a bus in April getting you to the Fifth Station (start of the main climb). But watch out the logisitcs are bad - you don't really have enough time to do the climb from the first bus in to the last bus out (this is why we didn't make it).

Be advised that no huts are open above the Fifth station. The one single hut at the Fifth station may or may not be open.

It's 3700m and in winter weather can be harsh - very different from summer. Be prepared in the same way that you would for an easy Alps 4000m peak, minus the glaciar travel gear.

The night climbing with Sapporo only happens July/August. Winter = daytime, obviously.

Bring skis or a snowboard is my advice.

Any authority (police, etc.) in Japan will try to talk you out of climbing the mountain no matter what your experience level or how well equipped you show up to their office. Don't bother with them.

If you want more exercise, you can actually start right from Kawaguchiko-town. Long walk across the town from the train station or short taxi ride gets you to a carpark at the "first station" (Ichi-gome). From there, it's an obvious and long trail through the old hiking route passing 2nd station, 3rd station, etc. until you reach the 5th station where the same people start. There are some abandonded huts so you can just bring a bivy sack and sleeping bag or something. It's around 2300m vertical ascent. Recommended!

Fuji is sort of a boring and kind of ugly mountain. It's still worth it because of the fame, it's the highest, easy access from Tokyo, good for skiing. But if you want a better mountain experience, get yourself to the Kita (North) Alps. You'll need skis in April though.

Fuji outside of the "official season" is a great experience so enjoy!!

In reply to kamon: I 2nd the Onsens!!!

Just be aware that you can be unlucky with the weather, i was on a trip around Japan last year went to see Fuji and it was covered in cloud! Weather is about as fickle as the UK!

Matt