Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
home. There are also a handful of humble restaurants. Trust us: a hot bowl of
noodles never tasted so good.
The History
The trails up the mountain are centuries-old, dating to the time when reaching the
summit was a spiritual endeavor. Many of the mountain huts have long histories,
too, having got their start as pilgrim inns.
Nearby: Kawaguchi-ko
Nearby lake Kawaguchi-ko acts as a natural reflecting pool for the mountain's
cone. The eponymous lakeside town offers year-round activities including hiking
and onsen-soaking. Keiō Dentetsu buses run daily from the
Shinjuku Highway
Bus Terminal
(
Click here
)
to Kawaguchi-ko town (¥1700, 1¾ hours).
Understand
Climbing Mt Fuji
Know Before You Go
Although children and grandparents regularly summit Fuji-san, it is a serious moun-
tain. It's high enough for altitude sickness and the weather can be volatile. You can
count on it being close to freezing in the morning, even in summer. Bring clothing ap-
propriate for cold and wet weather, including a hat and gloves. If you're climbing at
night, bring a torch (flashlight) or headlamp and spare batteries. On the mountain, wa-
ter costs around ¥500 for 500ml; make sure to bring enough of your own, or enough
cash.
The Trails
Mt Fuji is divided into 10 'stations' from base (First station) to summit (Tenth). The ori-
ginal pilgrim trail starts from the base, but most climbers begin from one of the four
Fifth stations, accessible via bus. If, like most travellers, you're taking the Kawaguchi-
