Mount Fuji for First Timers

There is nothing like watching the sunrise over the clouds.

Preparing To Climb

I recommend physically and mentally preparing for your climb. You should also consider consulting a physician if you are at all worried about how this hike could affect your health. There are a few different things you can do to prepare for your hike. I recommend mixing up your training between workouts in the gym with hiking outdoors or up and down stairs with a weighted pack. Start off light then gradually add weight until you are comfortable carrying the amount of weight you will carry while climbing Mount Fuji. Be sure to add time or distance to your hikes as you get more fit. After all, you will be hiking up Mount Fuji for several hours or even for a couple of days.

A little bit of knowledge can make getting to the summit a lot easier.

Do Your Research Before You Hike

My trip to Japan was a last minute trip with very little planning. I paid dearly for that while trying to get around Tokyo. However, I did have enough time to purchase several guidebooks that helped me get by. The one guidebook that helped my more than any other with my Mount Fuji ascent was Richard Reay’s fourth edition of Climbing Mount Fuji. It was very useful for a last minute trip like mine, but could have been so much more useful if I had more time to plan. There are also plenty of resources out there on places like YouTube.

Acting like making it to 3,200 meters wasn’t a struggle. It was.

Self-Climbs vs Guided Climbs

There are a few pros and cons to doing a self-climb or doing a guided climb. Both options make sense depending on the time of year, skill level of the climber making the attempt, language skills of the climber, and schedule flexibility of the climber. No matter which option you go with, it is always a good idea to have a hiking partner.

Self-Climbs

In most cases this option can be the cheapest of the two; however, it will also require more pre-planning. For a self-climb the hiker must plan the route to get to Mount Fuji. If you have some experience with the Japanese rail/bus system then the transportation to Mount Fuji can be done with a small amount of forethought. However, a lack of Japanese language skills can make it a little more difficult reserving a mountain hut for a two day climb or renting hiking gear that you forgot or could not bring with you. If you run into trouble on the mountain, then there is no one to translate for you unless you are hiking with someone that can speak Japanese. Self-climbs are more freeing in that you can plan to ascend and descend on the same route or descend down another route for a change in scenery.

Guided Climbs

In most cases this option can prove to make the experience less difficult as the only real thing you will most likely have to accomplish is hiking up the mountain. Most companies will take care of the planning, transportation, booking the mountain hut accommodations, providing guides that speak your language and Japanese, arranging meals, and if you’re lucky something relaxing like a hot spring afterwards. However, selecting a guided climb will ensure that you are no longer flexible with the date you are going to make your attempt. Guided climbs can also mean a large group going up together.

My group about to make our final push to the summit.

Safety

Mount Fuji is still considered an active volcano. It is just one of over a hundred live volcanoes in Japan. The last time Mount Fuji erupted was in the early 1700’s. However, there was a much more recent eruption at Mount Ontake, Japan’s second tallest volcano. It is located a little over 60 miles from Mount Fuji and in 2014 that eruption killed many hikers. When Mount Ontake erupted it was at the lowest level on the risk scale for an eruption and at the same level as what Mount Fuji is currently. Please understand that there is a risk in hiking Mount Fuji, but also know that the mountain is being monitored and the likelihood of an unforeseen eruption is slight. For the latest updates, weather warnings, natural disaster warnings, daily weather updates, and more take a look at the Japan Meteorological Agency’s website https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html.

Altitude sickness is no joke on Mount Fuji. Symptoms can vary person to person. I personally got slight headaches a couple times that wouldn’t go away until I took altitude sickness medication. I recommend drinking plenty of water, giving your body time to acclimatize to the altitude gain, take your time hiking up the mountain, and if necessary, using an oxygen canister or altitude sickness medication.

I recommend that if you are planning a solo day hike then be in the best shape possible and do not start from the fifth station later than 07:00 AM. I also recommend limiting your hiking at night unless you are experienced and know what you are doing. There were more than a few steep drop offs along the trail.

Climber Etiquette

Those that are hiking up the shy mountain have priority over those descending. If possible, please get off to the side and allow those going up to pass you on your way down. I recommend taking breaks along the way. If you take a break, then do so on one of the sides of the trail or in a place where you do not block other hikers. Fires and littering are absolute no nos on Mount Fuji. Please do not do either. In recent years there has been a major push to clean up Mount Fuji. I highly encourage you to leave no trace as you spend time on the shy mountain. Do not deviate from marked paths and stay off the tractor routes. Those tractors are how supplies are brought up to the mountain huts and how the rubbish is brought down off the mountain.

It takes some strong legs to make it through the volcanic sand.

Subashiri Route

Most people no matter what route they take start at the fifth station of that particular route. I was no different. Most people that I met took the Yoshida route due to the beginner level difficulty, how easy it is to get to Yoshida’s fifth station, and the fact that it is the best maintained of all the routes. However, I used the Subashiri route. I really enjoyed the parts of the Subashiri route like passing through the forest and the great views when the clouds went away. My absolute favorite part was going outside at night and early morning while staying in one of the mountain huts on the trail. The clouds were gone and I could see for miles. The city lights from as far away as Tokyo could be seen. It was a truly beautiful sight to behold. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures, so you’re going to have to climb Mount Fuji to see for yourself.

There are a couple downsides to the Subashiri route that I feel obligated to warn you about. First, if you go on a weekday you won’t have to deal with the crowds really until about the eighth station where the Subashiri and Yoshida trails merge, I never found the trail in the forest hard to navigate, but it might be difficult during fog or at night. The sand section on the decent is a killer if your legs are not conditioned or are already tired. There were times during the sand section that I would take a step and slide another couple inches. It got to the point where at times I felt as if I was skiing or ice skating. Also, I suggest topping off your water before you begin the sand run part of the descent. You won’t have another chance to visit another hut until you complete this portion of the mountain.

Imagine trying to walk through here at night without a light.

Mountain Huts

The mountain huts are spread out along the different routes. They typically offer some services other than a place to rest. If you do not have a walking stick, then I recommend you pick up a traditional wooden walking stick at the fifth station when you begin your journey. This is an awesome souvenir to have as you can pay money along the way to get stamps added to your walking stick. Each hut will either have a sticker or a stamp to add to your walking stick. Each marker will be added over the last one. Eventually the stamp you obtain at the summit will be the topmost stamp on your walking stick. When you return to the fifth station you can have your stick cut if there is any excess wood left without stamps. Having your hiking stick cut shorter will make it easier to get it home. Another service these mountain huts offer would be selling food and drinks. As mentioned above, if you give the person back the empty bottle you bought from them at that hut then they will take it from you. However, if you walk off with an empty bottle then you will be carrying it for the rest of your hike. Last but definitely not least these huts will offer toilets, but they will cost you. Most of the toilets I used cost around 200 yen, so remember to bring coins. I must warn you that some of the toilets are squat toilets and some are western toilets. Just imagine trying to use a squat toilet if your legs are tired and sore and you aren’t used to using a squat toilet. I recommend using the toilets at every opportunity to avoid any mishaps.

The sleeping accommodations can be cramped inside the huts.

Mount Fuji offers different kinds of terrain and weather that can change without warning.

Hiking Equipment Recommendations

Do not attempt to climb Mount Fuji without breaking in your hiking shoes or boots, a lightsource, water, and proper clothing.

I recommend using hiking shoes with some leg gaiters. The gaiters will help keep the volcanic dust and rocks out of your hiking shoes. I didn’t use gaiters when I hiked Mount Fuji. The lack of gaiters didn’t really bother me on the way up. However, I paid for it while I was descending. The amount of volcanic dust and rocks that I took out of my shoes during the descent could of filled a large coffee mug. Also, the interior of my shoes, my socks, and toes were covered in volcanic dust for days even after cleaning all three multiple times a day. I’m still not sure if I will end up trashing my hiking shoes. I just keep finding more volcanic dust every time I use them. To sum it up, use gaiters.

I recommend using a headlamp. Anyone that has gone camping or hiking in the dark will tell you having a headlamp will make things easier compared to using a traditional handheld flashlight. Since I was using a headlamp while I hiking to the summit in the dark, I was also able to use my walking stick and get water without having to stop and rearrange things.

I used a camelbak as my water source while on Mount Fuji. I highly recommend you do the same if you plan on refilling your water at each station along the way. The workers at the mountain huts will only take trash from you if it is something you purchased from them. If you use a camelbak, then you can refill your camelbak in front of the workers or nearby and return the empty bottle to the worker. This will drastically cut down on the amount of space being used in your backpack for trash.

Consider using a backpack with a capacity of at least 25 liters. Do not fill it all the way up, so you have room for trash and souvenirs at the summit. Most backpacks are not waterproof, so bring a cover for your backpack or at least a waterproof bag to store items inside your backpack.

I won’t go into too much detail for clothing, however I will mention a few things.

Dress in layers. During my push the summit I was able to warm up and cool off pretty much on command by dressing in layers.

Bring waterproof gloves. Thankfully I didn’t need mine too much, because it only rained lightly a couple times. I mostly used mine during the early morning push to the summit when I felt cold.

Bring a hat. I saw some that opted for a large brim hat to protect themselves from the sun. I opted to spend most of the time hiking with a trucker hat. I used a fleece skull cap during my early morning push for the summit.

Bring water resistant and waterproof clothing with a hood. These clothing items can serve as an outer layer and as protection from the elements.

The huts will sell you basic things like snacks and drinks.

Recommended Extras

I decided to include a list of a few things that the first time hiker might not think about. I hope it helps. I would love to hear from other hikers as to what items they would recommend the first time hiker take with him or her.

Camera

Although it is not entirely necessary to bring a camera to enjoy Mount Fuji, it is nice to have one to document the experience. How often are you going to be in the area and have the opportunity to experience a sunrise at the summit of Mount Fuji above the clouds?

Ear Plugs and a Face Mask

I tend to be a heavy sleeper, but you might not be. If you are a light sleeper and plan on staying a night inside one of the mountain huts, then you’ll want to bring ear plugs and a mask to cover your eyes. The sleeping conditions inside the hut I stayed in consisted of sleeping on a pad laid out over wood, a sleeping bag, and a small pillow. There was no personal space for most of the people sleeping in the hut. I was lucky and slept on the end with a few empty spots next to me, so I had some room. I wouldn’t count on you being so lucky, especially on a weekend when more people are able to hike.

Photo Copies of Your Medical and Insurance documents

Photocopies of your important documents could play a crucial role in seeing that you get aid as quickly as possible if you are unconscious and/or hurt.

Trash Bags

Trash bags can be useful in a few different ways. You can use them to secure any trash you might accumulate during your hike. They can be used to hold any dirty laundry you might have if you are making a two day trek and brought a spare change of clothes. They can also be used, if big enough, to act as a cheap alternative to a waterproof bag to line the interior of your backpack if you get rain while hiking Mount Fuji.

Spending Money

Beyond bringing coins for the bathrooms, you might want to bring some extra cash to spend on souvenirs or at least some drinks or food along the way. Personally, I like to think of my photographs as my souvenirs, but I still found myself buying a couple pins at the summit with the date stamped on them.

Sunscreen and Sunglasses

You will need protection from the sun while hiking. If it isn’t cloudy and raining, most of your hiking will have you exposed to the sun.

The lockers at Gotemba are really close to where the busses arrive and depart from.

What To Do With Your Extra Gear

Unless you plan on taking everything with you on your hike up Mount Fuji, you’ll need somewhere to put everything you won’t need on the mountain. There are three options that I saw being used. First, if you are planning to hike it all in a day then leaving your excess stuff in a locker at a place like Gotemba Outlets makes sense. The outlet mall has a bus station with buses that can take you to places like Tokyo. However, I do not really recommend that option to hikers planning to make Mount Fuji a two day experience. Instead I recommend leaving your gear at the hotel you will be staying at afterwards or paying the extra money for the night you won’t actually be in that hotel. I chose to leave my stuff at the hotel. I made a reservation at the hotel for the nights before and after my hike up Mount Fuji. The staff at my hotel were accommodating when I made it clear that I was coming back for another night. I did not do what other hikers did and pay for a night in a hotel just to act as a storage locker. Also you can ask your tour guide if you have one, if they provide storage for items while you are hiking. My tour guide did, but it was small and for everyone that was going.

A little bit of reading can save you a lot of time and effort later.