The primary three images present the view from the summit of Mt. Fuji at dawn on August 8, 2025. The final photograph, which was taken in Fujiyoshida city on the day after I summited the mountain, exhibits a snow-free Mt. Fuji.
TOKYO, Japan – Climbing Mt. Fuji has all the time been on my Japan bucket record. And at last, on August 8 this 12 months (about 2 weeks in the past), I made that dream occur. However how did I do it? The planning? The preparation? Was the climb laborious? Properly, in contrast to many climbers preferring to affix a gaggle tour, I went for a “DIY plan” to hike Japan’s 3,776-meter highest mountain.
Take notice: the planning begins months forward of your precise climb date, particularly for the reason that prefectural governments of Yamanashi and Shizuoka, the place Fuji is positioned, have imposed restrictions to handle overtourism.
The official climbing season for Mt. Fuji is from early July to mid-September. That is the one time when the paths and mountain amenities are open. It is smart as a result of throughout this time, the mountain is often freed from snow, the climate is comparatively gentle, public transport is accessible, and the mountain huts are open.
On the Fuji Subaru Line fifth Station, the trailhead of the Yoshida Path.
Mountain hut reservation
One of the crucial essential components of your climbing plan is securing a mountain hut reservation. It’s essential ebook this months earlier than the season really begins. Often, reservations open round Might, and it’s first come, first served, as a result of climbers from Japan and everywhere in the world rush to safe their slots.
The hut I booked (positioned on the seventh station, known as Fujiichikan) price me round 12,500 yen (₱4,830) an evening. That included dinner and breakfast, that are each served early within the night, as most hikers would go away the hut earlier than daybreak the subsequent day.
The mountain hut the place I stayed, known as Fujiichikanis positioned at an altitude of two,800 meters above sea degree.
Staying in a mountain hut is inspired by authorities to stop hikers from trying “bullet climbing” (climbing by the evening with out resting), which is taken into account to be unsafe. For that reason, trailheads are closed between 2 p.m. and three a.m. Solely hikers with a hut reservation are allowed to begin their ascent throughout these hours.
That is our mountain hut — a easy relaxation cease for climbers, with solely dividers separating every area.
Pay the mountaineering price
After securing my hut reservation, I additionally paid prematurely the “obligatory” mountaineering price, which is now 4,000 yen (₱1,550) as of this 12 months. Paying prematurely additionally allowed me to ebook my climb date on-line. This on-line reservation system additionally turns into accessible a number of weeks earlier than the climbing season.
Climbing Fuji was once free, however Japan began accumulating this obligatory price final 12 months to assist regulate overtourism.
So, these two—mountain hut reservation and mountaineering price—are probably the most essential components of your total plan. As soon as I had these, I moved on to making ready the opposite particulars of my climb.
Climbers persevering with their ascent in the midst of the evening to catch the dawn on the summit of Mt. Fuji.
Different necessities
Mountain climbing gears. You’ll want a climbing backpack, correct garments and footwear, a headlamp, meals, money, and even a mountaineering stick.
Logistics. I took the direct freeway bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal in Tokyo all the way in which to the Fuji Subaru Line fifth Station, the trailhead of the Yoshida Path. The one-way fare is about 3,800 yen (₱1,470).
I wakened earlier than midnight to organize for my hike from the mountain hut to the summit, with my necessities equivalent to my fully-equipped backpack, headlamp, power snacks, and so forth.
Timing. Like most climbers, I timed my ascent to witness the dawn from the summit, as a result of the possibilities of clear skies are highest within the early morning.
That is the principle constructing of the fifth station, the place climbers can have their last-minute shopping for of important provides earlier than beginning their ascent. This additionally homes memento outlets and eating places.
The gate of the Yoshida Path, which has since been put up since Japan began imposing restrictions for Fuji climbers. This gate, together with these on the trailheads of the opposite three trails on Shizuoka aspect, are closed from 2 p.m. to three a.m., aside from hikers staying at huts.
I began my climb from the fifth station at round 10 a.m. on August 7. After about 4 hours, I reached my hut on the seventh station, the place I rested and had dinner. Staying there additionally gave me the possibility to satisfy different hikers with the identical purpose, and that’s reaching the summit at dawn.
Earlier than midnight of August 8, I continued my hike with “David”, a fellow hiker whom I met on the hut the place we have been each staying at.
Meet David, a 78-year-old French climber whom I met on the mountain hut. We each agreed to hike collectively to the summit on the day of his birthday!
After we continued our hike in the midst of the evening, the path turned rocky and steep, however I pushed by the darkish with solely my headlamp and willpower. It was actually difficult, particularly since I had a cough and colds on the time, which made my climbing even harder.
However, as they are saying, while you actually need to obtain one thing, something is feasible with God’s grace. And true sufficient. By previous 3 a.m., after over three hours of that grueling climb, I lastly reached the summit. I simply couldn’t clarify the sensation the second I entered the torii gate resulting in the summit. I had blended feelings. I used to be really glad to lastly set foot on Japan’s highest level, and a bit emotional due to the wrestle it took to get there and the overwhelming sense of achievement simply standing on the summit.
It was freezing up there (2 levels Celsius) after we reached the summit, however I endured the chilly together with a whole lot of different hikers, ready for the primary gentle to interrupt over Japan.
Fujisan dawn
And when the solar lastly rose, it was price each step. I’d say the dawn from the summit of Mt. Fuji was probably the most lovely I’ve ever seen in my life. Merely magical! Standing there, above the clouds, it felt like witnessing the very essence of Japan, the Land of the Rising Solar.
The dawn on the summit of Mt. Fuji is just magical!
They are saying a dawn on Fuji isn’t only a view, it’s an achievement. After hours of climbing by rocky, steep trails, gasping for breath at each flip, that first burst of golden gentle makes all the things price it. All of the exhaustion melts away, changed with awe. You realize, in that second, you don’t take into consideration the wrestle, you simply take all of it in, grateful to be standing on the prime of Japan.
From the summit, climbers take pleasure in a 360-degree view of Japan. This photograph overlooks Lake Kawaguchi and the city of Fujiyoshida, whereas the one under exhibits Lake Yamanakako.
What you possibly can see on the summit
The summit of Mt. Fuji is a vacation spot in itself. The large crater is astonishing in scale, about 600–800 meters throughout and 200–250 meters deep. Taking a look at it, you’d be amazed by how huge it’s! This crater was formed by the mountain’s eruptions 1000’s of years in the past.
Mt. Fuji crater. The photograph can not do justice to how enormous it’s in individual!
The rim has eight distinct peaks, which is why the path round it’s known as the Ohachi-meguri or “circling the bowl.” I did the complete loop and made it to Kengamine Peak, the best level of Fuji at 3,776 meters. On clear days, you possibly can catch breathtaking views of the Japanese Alps, Tokyo within the distance, and even the Pacific Ocean stretching out on the horizon.
The summit additionally has its quirky, very Japanese touches. Think about consuming steaming scorching ramen on the highest ramen store within the nation, or discovering merchandising machines perched at 3,700 meters above sea degree, introduced up solely throughout climbing season. And sure, they really work!
Climbers having fun with their bowls of ramen — which I additionally had — after a grueling hike.
The best merchandising machines in Japan!
Considered one of my favourite moments was visiting Japan’s highest submit workplace on the summit. I despatched postcards to my sister within the US, as a result of how typically do you get to mail one thing from the roof of Japan? I additionally claimed my climbing certificates there, which I think about my most treasured memento from the hike.
Fujisan-cho Submit Workplace, Japan’s highest! The photograph under additionally exhibits the climbing certificates I received from the submit workplace.
After which, there was my mountaineering stick. Alongside the way in which, I had it stamped at mountain huts, every mark just a little reminiscence of the journey. On the summit, I added the ultimate stamp, the proof that I made it to the highest. These imprints, easy as they’re, now really feel like my most valuable keepsakes.
My climbing persist with the flags of Japan and Philippines
The descent
The descent took me about 5 hours, and truthfully, it was simply as difficult because the climb up. The Yoshida Path follows a unique route on the way in which down, and it examined me in new methods with its lengthy, slippery, sandy stretches and rocky paths that made every step really feel unsure.
Climbers making their means down the Yoshida Path — the descent is simply as difficult because the ascent.
I discovered myself pausing typically, not simply to catch my breath, however to soak within the shifting views. The fog rolled in throughout my descent, and I spotted this is able to be my final probability to stare upon Japan from the heights of Fujisan. I lingered, figuring out I wished to carry onto that second for so long as I might.
That is the marker of Kengamine Peak, the best level of Fuji at 3,776 meters. While you step on this platform, you’ve actually reached Japan’s highest level!
Climbing Mt. Fuji will all the time be one of the crucial valuable experiences of my life. You see, with willpower, endurance, and grit, issues that when felt inconceivable can unfold fantastically, identical to this climb.
“Someplace between the underside of the climb and the summit is the reply to the thriller of why we climb.” – Greg Youngster
Standing on that summit, and even within the quiet fog on the way in which down, I realized that typically all it takes is the braveness to start, and the remainder will observe. – Story and images by Carl Ong
