Mountain Fuji, experience you cannot forget in Japan

   Climbing Mount Fuji – Japan’s tallest and most famous mountain – is an unforgettable experience for a lifetime. But what to prepare for this journey to be convenient and fun? Let us give you great tips in this article!

 

The right time to climb the mountain 

Every year in July, August, there are many foreign tourists as well as Japanese people participating in the journey to conquer this mountain. In July, August, the weather in Japan is summer, the air is slightly humid, the average temperature is about 31 to 33 degrees Celsius, sometimes it will rain. Therefore, most people choose the time when Japanese students have summer vacation, so families often organize trips, camping, and mountain climbing. 

Items to prepare

 

a) Backpack You should choose a compact, lightweight, waterproof backpack. 

 

b) Climbing stick You can order it on Amazon (metal cane, customizable short length) with keywords ウォーキングスティック or トレッキングポール. For those of you who want to celebrate your climb, buy wooden sticks at the 5th station to stamp them at the rest of the stations on the way to the top (there is a fee for carpentry). There are 2 options for you: a short stick for easy carrying or a long stick to make a climbing stick.

 

c) Mountaineering shoes

 

Mount Fuji has a way to climb, but climbing the mountain for a long time will make you feel more burdened than you can imagine. You should prepare climbing shoes that can hug and protect your feet. The shoe has a width that is comfortable for the foot and should be water resistant. 

 

d) Raincoat 

 

The climate in the mountains is easy to change, so even on sunny days, you should prepare a raincoat. The shirt should be of a large size that can be worn to resist the cold.

 

e) Hats, headbands,…

 

In summer, the sun will shine very strongly, so there is a high risk of heat stroke. Please bring a wide-brimmed hat or headband. 

 

f) Gloves

 

Mount Fuji has a lot of rocks so you also need to bring gloves to avoid scratches. Gloves also work to avoid the cold. 

 

g) Cold coat

 

The time to climb Mount Fuji is right in the middle of summer, but the peak area is about 5 degrees, equal to the temperature of winter. So you should bring a cold coat to use in winter.

 

h) Underwear

 

While climbing, you will sweat, but during rest, that sweat will lower your body temperature. So, you should prepare your bra in advance so that you can change it when necessary. 

 

i) Pants

 

Pants made of fabric like jeans have poor elasticity and are difficult to absorb sweat, so you should avoid them and prepare specialized pants when climbing.

 

How to move

There are many ways to get to the foot of Mount Fuji. You can refer to the website (not yet supported in Vietnamese): sunshinetour.co.jp. Most people still choose to travel by bus. Those of you in Tokyo can buy a bus ticket from Shinjuku Station (新宿駅) going directly to the 5th station of Mount Fuji. The fare is about 2,700 yen for a single ride. Remember to book in advance because the climbing season will sell out very quickly.

Trekking team mounting mount Fuji

The journey to climb Mount Fuji

 

There are many ways to go up the mountain and there are specific instructions, so even if you go for the first time, you can still climb the mountain. However, Mount Fuji has 10 stations (stops), so you should start climbing from the 5th station onwards to ensure health. Because the journey is very long, reaching stations 8, 9, 10 is steep and very difficult to go, so if your climbing group has female friends, you should start the journey from the 5th station. 

 

Climbing time

You can book a bus to go in the morning and at noon to reach the 5th floor of Mount Fuji, then you rest and check in, at about 4.5 pm you start moving, then climb the mountain through the night and reach the top around 2, 3 am & wait until morning to watch the sunrise. In my opinion, you should climb the mountain at night, when climbing to the 8th and 9th floors, you will have the opportunity to admire the starry night sky and at the foot of the mountain are the lights of the mountaineers.

 

Rest in the middle of the road

Usually at the stations there will be motels, if you want to sleep again you need to book in advance. There are also snacks and drinks for sale here. (I see some western friends don’t book rooms, but they are all located along the cliffs to avoid the wind and rest. 

 

Things to pay attention to 

Stations 5 and 6 are quite easy to go, but when you go up high, the air becomes thinner and the temperature decreases, so it is easy to lose strength. Especially station 8, 9, and 10 is when you are quite tired and sleepy (if climbing at night), so you need to adjust the speed of movement as well as take a reasonable break in the middle. Dawn time is around 4:20, if the base is not standard you will not get to the top because everyone has to follow the line, the person in front can’t go, you also have to stop. 

 

Hope this article has provided you with useful information. Wishing you all the best of luck and success!