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From Shizuko Mishima,
Your Guide to Japan Travel.
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Many Japanese people dream of climbing Mt. Fuji once in their lives. Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan (3,776m / 12,388feet) and is a volcano. Japanese people love mount Fuji, calling it as Fuji-san. Fuji mountain is located about 60 miles southwest of Tokyo in Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

The official climbing season of Mt. Fuji is from July 1 to the end of August. Although all trails get really crowded, it's best to climb Mt. Fuji at this time of the year. The off season climb is discouraged due to the bad climate. It's said that about 300,000 people try to climb Mt. Fuji every year and that 30-40% of them are foreign visitors.

Mount Fuji's trails are named into 10 stations, depending on the elevation. You can go to the fifth stations (go-gome) by car or bus, so most of people start climbing Mt. Fuji from the fifth station of each trail. Fujikyu Bus
Phone: 0555-3374-2221

Kawaguchiko-guchi/Yoshida-guchi Route
It's the most popular and is the second longest route.
Access: Take a Fujikyu bus from Kawaguchiko Station in Yamanashi to Fuji go-gome (about 2,305m). It takes 55 minutes.
Take a Chuo Highway bus from Shinjuku to Fuji go-gome. It takes about two and half hours.
Drive the Fuji Subaru Line (toll road) by car. *Regular cars aren't allowed to drive up to the fifth station in mid. August.

Gotenba-guchi Route
It's the longest route.
Access: Take a bus from JR Gotenba Station in Shizuoka to Gotenba Shin-go-gome (1,440m). It takes about 40 minutes.

Fujinomiya-guchi Route
It's the shortest route.
Access: Take a bus from JR Fujinomiya Station in Shizuoka to Fujinomiya Shin-go-gome (2,400m). It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Take a bus from JR Shinkansen Shin-fuji Station to Fujinomiya Shin go-gome. It takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Drive the Fuji Skyline road by car. *Regular cars aren't allowed to drive up to the fifth station in mid. Julu and mid. August.

Subashiri Route
Access: Take a bus from JR Gotenba Station to Subashiri Shin-go-gome (2,000m). It takes about one hour.

There are many mountain huts located between 5th stations to the summit. It usually costs about 5,000 yen to 7,000 yen one night. Drinks and food are sold in the huts, but they are very expensive. Make sure to bring enough water and food. Many climbers start climbing Mt. Fuji in the afternoon and sleep at a hut. Then, they climb up to the summit at sunrise. Many people climb at night with flashlights so that they get to the summit at sunrise. Mt. Fuji tours are available from various cities in Japan.

Be prepared and have a safe climbing!

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