Yesterday, Laura and I headed to Mt. Fuji. We woke up To get there, we had to take a 2.5 hour bus trip from Tokyo.
As we roll away from Tokyo, the skyscrapers gave way to hills and valleys. Laura napped quietly as I stared out the window of the bus and snapped pictures of the passing landscape.
Town near Mt. Fuji
Roadside view heading up Mt. Fuji
Our bus took us up to the Kawaguchiko 5th Station on Mt Fuji. The 5th Station is 2300m up the mountain and is the usual starting point for the climb up Fuji. From there, it is another 1,476 vertical meters to the top. The 5th Station was not what we were expecting. The place was quite built up with several large store/restaurants around the main square. One person on the bus remarked, “This isn’t the 5th Station. This is DisneyLand.”
Kawaguchiko 5th Station
Each store sold plain wood walking sticks with additional flags and bells tied to them. Laura and I both bought a stick and removed the flag and bells. (Most people end up removing the bells for their own sanity) The sticks serve dual purposes, the first is to help climb up the mountain. Second, the stick can be used as a souvenir. At each hut along the mountain, you can get a stamp burned into the wood to show that you were there. Each station charges 200 yen ($2) for the stamp which can add up if you get a stamp from all 25 huts on the mountain.
Before heading up the mountain, Laura and I had a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant. From the window of the restaurant, we could periodically see Mt. Fuji when it wasn’t obscured by clouds.
View from restaurant on 5th Station
Around 12:15 we started our hike up the mountain. On the bus ride we had made friends with 3 Americans who were also climbing up the mountain. We decided that at least for the first part of the climb, we would all stay together.
Fuji Trailhead
From left to right: Laura, Me, Brian, John, and Philip
Fuji Critical Information Sign (English on bottom)
All around the mountain, there was a thick fog. At some patches, visibility was less than 50 meters. The first part of the climb was actually downhill. We were concerned that we might be on the wrong trail and had to ask a person going the other way where he was coming from.
Heading towards the 6th Station
At the start, John and I fell into pace next to each other and started powering up the trail. However, our cadence was quickly outpacing the group. After being called out on it, we slowed it down to a more reasonable rate. After 15 minutes, the trail started heading back up again. We continued through the fog up to the 6th Station which probably was at the same height as the 5th Station. The fog is in full force, but it isn’t stopping a class of 1st graders.
Fuji 1st graders at 6th Station
After the 6th Station, Laura and I decided to break off from the group and continue at our own pace. From the 6th to the 7th Stations, most of the trail is a zigzagging packed earth earth. We took our time going up the trail and took breaks after each zag.
Laura taking a break
Not too far up the path, we heard the boom of thunder. Shortly after, it started pouring down rain. Luckily Laura and I had brought heavy duty ponchos.
Poncho Time
Roughly 100 vertical meters from the first station 7 (there are half a dozen of them), the trail turns into rocks.
Rock path to 7th Station
After a short climb, we arrive at the 7th station. The rain is still coming down so we buy a candy bar from the hut and take some pictures. In the picture, I am pointing at the thermometer that reads 10 C (50 F). The candy bar cost us 300 yen ($3) and we didn’t realize that we were being fleeced until we climbed another 20 meters and found out the next hut was selling the bar for 200 yen ($2).
Fuji 7th Station
Chocolate Bar
So far the climb hasn’t been too bad. Both Laura and I have a mild headache, but nothing really to stop us from climbing. We had learned to move slowly up the mountain. It is important to ascend using a series of shorter steps rather than trying to clear 6+ inches of height with a step. If you moved too fast, you could feel yourself going lightheaded.
Looks like you are having a great adventure and lots of hard work! Nice pics!