Fuji-san (Mount Fuji Volcano)  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  12,388' Lat, Long:  35.3628, 138.7307 Map Page Views:  1,827. Good page?    Administrators:  Eddie Gianelloni, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Forestvonsinkafinger on Oct 23, 2009 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Surugacho (Suruga Street) (1856) shows Edo (pre-To...

Description 

富士山 Fuji-san is an active volcano that is the highest mountain in Japan. The summit currently stands at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). The last eruption ended in 1708. You will hear it called Fuji-yama (Mount Fuji), which is actually a faux-pas. The Japanese call it Fuji-san, as a sign of respect. It is one of Japan's three holy mountains.

With an average 200,000 climbers a year, and an estimated 10,000/day during a few weeks in August, Fuji-san may just be the most heavily climbed mountain in the world.

Climbing is done by stations, or posts with restaurants and toilets. Most climbers start from a "fifth station" of which there are four major routes. One may also choose to begin from the base (station 1) of which there are four major routes.

This is a mountain that anyone could get up, however people often underestimated the mountain. Even with comfy heated huts every 45 minutes, the Fuji-san still takes lieves in the high season. Many die from hypothermia, while others have died from heat exhaustion, still others are blown off the mountain or died of dehydration. Perhaps this is why it is important to call him Fuji-san. The most common mistake is clothing, at 12,000 ft. weather can be brutal. Wear comfortable clothes, but be prepared with a minimum of: quality rain suit (jacket & pants), thermal base-layer, and fleece mid-layer.

It is vague whom could claim first ascent on Fuji-san. "It is written in an old book that Shotokutaishi climbed it in 900 years at the Christian era." ~ Shizu Nishimura

Getting There 

From the WORLD: Fly to Tokyo Narita airport
From Japan: By TRAIN: Go to Gotemba and take a bus, or be real and start your hike from there 8+ hrs.
By AUTO: Get you self an amazingly detailed map with English and Japanese labels of everything, go to Gotemba and choose a route.

The Classics

Featured Route For Fuji-san (Mount Fuji Volcano)

Yoshida (Kawaguchiko 5th station) 4th Easy Snow  International : Japan : ... : Fuji-san (Mount Fuji Volcan...

One of the most popular and easier routes on the mountain. From the Kawaguchiko fifth station, get a trail map, they are free and it can be am important tool for getting back to Kawaguchiko. Follow the hoards of people going up a gravel road, enjoy the shade, it is the only section with it. You will stay right and traverst the mountain, through tunnels, to a viewpoint where the approach meets the Yoshida trail. Here you begin the ascent. It is pretty hard to get lost on the way up. The tra...[more]   Browse More Classics in International