I have long wanted to do Mount Fuji, ever since my first visit to Japan in 2003. I always get hung up on the overnight hut-stay. However, your way is the way I always have done my hikes-no overnight stuff-just do it! My past hikes have always been early starts like you did it. So I will plan it this way. This year is the year!Thanks for your video!
Glad to help. Yes, I couldn't see any value in staying overnight in a mountain hut. I'd never be able to sleep and you have to wake up at 2.30am anyway to summit for sunrise, so it really didn't sound very relaxing and was going to take up two days instead of one!! I had a nice day cycling around Lake Kawagachi the day after I climbed Fuji, although admittedly my thighs were screaming as I cycled!!
I know - we did feel very lucky. Before going I’d watched other videos on YT of people climbing in the rain and it looked miserable… I’m so sorry for you…
Good job! I hope to do it next year or so, this year I will do Hokkaido and Tohoku mountain trails to avoid the crowds. And I'm like you, I don't want to sleep in a mountain hut. I've seen how cramped those conditions are, and you could wake up the next morning and the weather is total crap, so better to get it over with the same day. Good to see the sun is up at 4am, no need to have head lamps.
Good luck - couldn't agree more with everything you say about the huts!! I went early July...not sure what time the sun will rise in August or September, so check it out!!
Hey Jo!!! Congratulations on making that climb.......NO WAY I would even try it!!! Can't wait to see the rest of your trip! Stay safe and in touch my friend! Happy Traveling!!! XXX
TYSM Joe, but never say never to it though!! There's a saying that a wise man (or woman!) never climbs Fuji more than once - I think I know why! But my guide had climbed it a whopping 700 times. How mad is that?! XXX
ooh good luck! I really didn't want to sleep in the mountain hut and then get up at 2am (on no sleep) to summit for sunrise..if I were to do it again, I would do it exactly the same way!! Let me know how it goes...
@@jacobjacob5735 definitely I got up in 2:45 and down in 2 hours but if you take your time 7 hours will be plenty! Take your time and set a slow pace because I felt dead after it 😂
@@jacobjacob5735 I’m not someone who likes cardio however I am 18 and I guess energetic, but yeah just keep pushing and if it’s sunny don’t forget sunscreen because I got burnt!
climbing mt fuji has recently become a point on my bucket list. the thing that does scare me though is not going up but down! i can feel my knees buckling just thinking about it 😂
I don't think you can cycle on Fuji - I didn't see one bike there. I also think the trail doesn't make it possible...too rocky in too many places. And too many people - there would be nowhere for the bikes to go!!
Well done... and a very good short video. Just wondering how your taxi can go from Kawaguchiko to 5th Station? Many websites mention that the traffic from Kawaguchiko to 5th Station is restricted only for bus between July to September. Take a taxi sounds like a good idea as my whole family (wife, 13yrs boy, and 10yrs boy) will try to climb in July 2024.
Hello there - gosh, I did this last year and a taxi was NO problem. Unless they've changed their rules for this year. They've changed a whole host of other rules - did you see my video on it? It's about timings and restrictions on numbers of people who can climb etc. But I hadn't heard of them restricting taxis...you'll have to check with wherever you are staying...good luck for your climb. It is a long slog. Hope your 10 year old is ok with it....
I did start off wearing more, but it soon got hot so off came the long trousers and top! As for the 20L pack, why would you carry more if you don't need to?
Awesome work - looks so beautiful! What taxi service did you use and did you have any concerns or problems with reserving it for so early in the morning? I'm hoping to do something similar and then take a late bus back to Tokyo after the hike.
Sorry for the late reply. I don't know the taxi service - the hotel arranged it for me. I had no concerns - they turned up both ways - make sure the bus back to Tokyo is late. I left the hotel at 3am and got back at about 5.30pm - but that was in Kawagachiko near Fuji....and I was EXHAUSTED. I would have struggled to do much beyond flop on my bed and visit the hotel's onsen to rest those limbs...which is exactly what I did straight afterwards!
@@gowithjo1 no worries, I greatly appreciate the response either way! Super helpful. I'm planning to stay at the same hotel and I asked to make some very early taxi arrangements :) Then I got a 5pm bus departure from 5th station, so I feel good about the time limit
So, I can't remember exactly, but it WASN'T cheap. Something like £150 or £180 return...I THINK. It was a lot. But it is an hour ride each way...and they took us there at 3am, so a very anti-social hour. Whichever hotel you plan to stay at will let you know the price.
No you don't - we could have done it by ourselves and would definitely have been fine. It just gave us peace of mind....if I were to do it again (which is unlikely) I wouldn't take a guide...
good spot - it was hard to find good, suitable free RU-vid library music for this....this was the best I could do that gave the right ambience, but not ideal for the reason you pointed out...
If you hike within the hiking window of July to September, you should be fine with avoiding snow. Cold rain is always a possibility, along with heavy winds. Check the weather, and don't push it if the forecast is for bad weather.
@@phillydisc9708 yes I've seen videos where it's lashing with rain and looks miserable. The day AFTER I climbed Fuji in these wonderful weather conditions I was still in Lake Kawaguchi and could see that Fuji was covered in thick black rain cloud - I was so grateful for the weather I got!!
