I would like to visit Japan and climb Mount. Fuji, any advice?

Question

I've never been to Japan. I'm 17 and would like to go the summer of my senior year alone because noone is interested in going with me. I've always wanted to climb Mount.Fji, i'm not sure why but something about this mountain fascinates me. Are there any things i should be aware of? Any helpful advice is appreciated.

Answer 1

My friends have climbed Mt. Fuji before with family. It's a pretty crowded trail to climb. If you stay at a rest house so that you can go to the top for sunrise there's basically no space. People are cramped in thought it's a beautiful view at the top. Just check out the tourism sites and they will have ways for you to climb Mt. Fuji. Japan is fairly safe for a 17 year old. Fuji has mesmerized many people before. Make sure you have a visa if you need one because they are pretty strict in my experience. You can buy a walking stick and get it marked at different stations. It's also fairly expensive. Japan in general is expensive especially in the Tokyo area. Best bet for transportation is taking the train or bus not a cab. If you have friends in the area, stay with them because Japanese hotels are amazingly expensive. They charge per person per room per night. Trains and buses are punctual. If a guidebook says it will leave at 1151 then it will leave at 1151. And the Japanese name for Mt. Fuji is Fuji san. And it gets cold up there so bring some cold weather gear.

Culturally, be respectful. Don't litter. If you hear the word gaijin, don't worry that only means foreigner. If you enter a house, take off your shoes at the entranceway. Don't leave your chopsticks in the rice bowl sticking up because it means death I believe.

Answer 2

Good choice. Climbing Mt. Fuji is a tiring but fulfilling experience and I strongly encourage it, you'll remember it for the rest of your life. You usually start very early in the AM so that you can reach the summit at sunrise. Bring your camera and wear warm clothing because it is cold. The bus will drop you off halfway to the summit so the several hour climb is really the top half of the mountain. Watch out the tough part is the climb down, it's hard on the feet and the muscles of the calves and ankles so wear hiking boots. Any reputable travel agency should be able to book the trip. You should also look up the Japan Times on the web, it's an English language newspaper and may have some advertisements for the Fuji trip. The Fuji stop is around an hour from Tokyo by bullet train.

Answer 3

I live in Japan. I climbed Mt. Fuji just 20 days ago. You will need to complete or arrange a few things.
1. Prepare your travel and hotel. I suggest looking into a college exchange program. Start off with the foreign language department at a college near you. Your other alternative is to just spend money for hotels and inns. At age 18 you probably don't have credit cards, which make booking hotels difficult.

2. Train for climbing. If you play and HS sports, that will be a good base to start with. I exercise regurlarly, and for 6 months I trained especially hard for climbing Mt. Fuji. I aimed to increase my endurance, and VO2 Max to my limits. Sometimes I engaged up to 3 hours of serious aerobic, bike and ellipitical training in one session. The climb was not a cake walk, but I was able to enjoy it and make it to the top by sunrise. The climb took me and my group a total of 7 hours, 5 hours of climbing with about 2 hours of small rests at each station. The return to the 5th station takes another 3-4 hours.

3. Gear, you will need the proper gear. Most people already own rain gear and cold weather jackets. I suggest buying a camel back hydration pack and integrating it into a good outdoor worthy backpack *I do not suggest using a school book backpack.* You should pack gear for wind, rain and cold. I also highy suggest a LED clibing light that can be worn on your head, to keep your hands free. The clim is not a rock climb, but you will have to use your hands often to negotiate up the climbing route.

4. Depending on your language ability, you may need local help to book travel to and from Mt. Fuji's 5th station and to Tokyo or wherever you will stay. The more Japanese you know, the better.

5. If you are really motivated and have the funds, you can achieve your goal. Japan is not cheap, and you cannot climb Mt. Fuji outside of the summer climbing season.

Your age is your challenge. I suggest to invest time and effort into finding your way to Japan. Maybe you can find a academic program somehwere that can help you. Travel in genreal costs money, travelling to Japan is no different.

Good luck

Answer 4

I'd go with you. I, too, have always wanted to visit Japan. I am not much of a climbing person, but I hope that you have fun. Advice? Let's see: First off, make sure you know a few Japanese phrases. A lot of Japanese also speak English, I've heard, but you still want to be on the safe side. Make sure you have good shoes for the climbing trip, and make sure you know the proper way to do it. You know, like you have all of the information, and people know where you are going to be. Climbing by yourself can be dangerous. You might also need a guide. Also, make sure you have enough money on you, so that you can have a good time and be able to buy things that you want and need. I hope you have lots of fun, and that you enjoy the experience. I am so jealous- I wish I could go with you... :( Have fun for the both of us- but be careful about it.

Answer 5

climbing Mt Fuji during the summer season is not difficult activity, but, I heard climbing Mt Fuji is not much exciting because the upper parts of mountain do not have tree, but are mostly sands and stones. May be it is more beautiful to watch mountain from near area such as around Lake Yamanaka, and etc. And there are many other mountains which are more worth climbing in Japan.

Answer 6

Yes, get on a plane, go to Japan and Climb Mt. Fuji. Do it.

Do your research on the web - maybe cultural problems, best time of year come into play. I put one web site below, there are many more. They will have the best advice.

Answer 7

Awww... did you know that biggest volcano in Japan is activated again recently???

Scientists are saying that it'll be another 50 years for Mt. Fuji to be exploded but they are having many earthquakes because of it and I was just asking my family in Japan to evacuate to Canada...

Well, it might be a good idea to visit before that happens, I guess.

Answer 8

Mt.Muji is closed during Winter.
Probably late July and August are nice season to climbing up Mt.Fuji.
I have done it before, it was 1 Aug. The top of the Fuji was very cold then, even in August. It is about 3776m high.
And there are low oxygen. Many Japanese climb Mt.Fuji during this season. However, they are not climber usually and not trained.
Some ppl bring small oxygen cylinder (I wanted it actually). You had better train before.
And you need proper climbing boots too.

Japanese usually go to Gogo-me(5go-me), the Fifth Station, halfway up the mountain by Bus or car.

10go-me(jyugo-me) Top
9go-me(Kyugo-me)
8go-me(Hachigo-me)
7go-me(Nanago-me)
6go-me(Rokugo-me)
5go-me(Gogo-me) Starting point.
4go-me-------------------
3go-me
2go-me
1go-me

Buy a wooden stick at 5go-me(Gogo-me). It will help your climing and be a commemorative.
http://www.mccullagh.org/db9/milana-1/japan-after-fuji.jpg

Collect as much information as you can, and make a plan. Climbing Mt.Fuji is
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Fuji+climb&btnG=Google+Search

PS:I remember, I started 8AM at 5go-me, and arrived at the lodge on the top around 4PM.
Stayed there one night and saw the rising sun.
Getting down took only 4 hours, because we found Suna-bashiri(sand run) course.
http://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&q=Fuji+suna-bashiri&lr=
http://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&q=Fuji+climb+sunabashiri&lr=

Answer 9

Go for it^_^ I want to walk across Japan and I will go for it so you go for your dream, man!

Answer 10

.....Try saving some money.....