wafox / Mount Fuji Guide

Yeah, we're taking the Kawaguchiko trail...

Just make sure you do your research. Since I originally posted this thread, I've searched online and found dozens of blogs, guides, and tips for Fuji. Here are some websites to get you started:

1 - http://mountfujiguide.com/guide/Kawaguchiko_Fujiyoshida_Trail (This website's guide. This is one of the most resourceful sets of tips and information out there)
2 - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6922.html
3 - http://wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Fuji

Some of the other most useful information, such as info and tips and MOST importantly, what NOT to do, are found on various blogs online. This is one of the most useful I've found. It's long, but well worth the read. (You dont want to end up going back down the wrong path and paying for a taxi to take you back to Kawaguchiko like this guy did his first time up.)

http://www.globalcompassion.com/climbing-fuji.htm

Getting the necessity "Make sure you do your research" out of the way....

We're staying at K's House also, checking in on the 4th. So perhaps the evening of the 4th we can discuss the agenda in detail and times, but roughly, the schedule will look something like this:

Hotel Checkout at 10AM. Catch 10:50 bus to Kawaguchiko 5th Station for relaxing lunch and adjust to altitude.
Bus from Kawaguchiko to Kawaguchiko 5th Station:
Kawaguchiko Station 09:50 10:50 11:50 12:50 13:50
Kawaguchiko 5th Station 10:40 11:40 12:40 13:40 14:40

Kawaguchiko Station - Kawaguchiko 5th Station bus:
one way 1,500 yen
round trip 2,000 yen

Have lunch and buy hiking stick at Kawaguchiko 5th Station. Start the hike in the afternoon and arrive at mountain hut around 5pm. (Based on guides, time between 5th station and 8th station is 3h30m).

Mountain huts approximately 5,000yen/night. maybe 6,000 because of weekend. Hostel can probably help with reservation. Sleep few hours then leave hut to arrive at summit at 4AM.

To get stick at top branded with Sunrise, "After more searching, I finally found the guy burning sunrise stamps. He was in the back of a long room with a barbecue grill and surrounded by a huge pile of sticks". On the hike around the summit, mail a postcard.

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You're pretty lucky. That's all sourced from about 6 different websites in the itinerary I built :). Please read it carefully. I don't mind if you want to tag along with us two, but I will say that we will stick to our itinerary and cannot risk catering to others'. Not to sound prude or anything, I've just also read some stories about people not being prepared enough and having to turn back because of cold (which it WILL be. Avg temp @ summit in sept is -0.5 to 5.5 degrees C). But like I said, if you want to tag along, that's fine, but do so at your own will, knowing that we can't afford to deviate from our plans.

Thank you for your very helpful & comprehensive response. Can I just confirm that you will be checking in to K-House on 4 Sep, staying the nite and then starting out only the following day- which would mean starting the climb on the 5th Sep for sunrise on the 6th Sep, right? (as opposed to start on 4th Sep for sunrise on 5th Sep, as suggested in your original posting ). I also take it that you will organise accommodation at the mountain hut only when you get into K- House, right? I read somewhere that it is advisable to register your climb with the Fujiyoshida Police Station. Have you done this or are you intending to do this only when you get there. I would really like to tag along ( I am flexible and your itinerary looks fine ) although I must admit I am concern that I may not be of the same fitness level as yourselves. You look like a young person and I am assuming your partner is just as young. I am in my forties, but I have managed to climb Mt Kinabalu ( in Borneo ) 3 times although the last trip was in 2004 so I guess that doesn't count. I do keep to a 3-4 times gym regime per week ( 45 mins each ) , so whilst I did not specifically train for this, I think I am not totally unfit. If this is OK with you, how do we meet on the 4th of Sep? We are coming from Tokyo and would probably arrive by 2.00pm on 4th Sep. Perhaps we can make further contact outside this forum- my email contact is looching.loh@gmail.com or looching.loh@didasko.com. Thank you.

I'm terribly sorry, but somewhere along the way I had gotten my dates switched up....I've been extremely busy at worked (trying to already start "catching up" on work. We are actually checking in *on the 3rd of Sept*, and spending a day in Kawaguchiko/Fujiyoshida so that I can adjust to the time change. Then on the 4th, as my original post had said, we'll be starting the climb. I apologize for the confusion.

But I'll go ahead and answer the rest of your questions. Accommodations on the mountain I plan on making from K's house the night before. I do not suspect of ANY problems, since it is just outside the official climbing season. We won't be worrying with notifying the police station, I'm not expecting any inclimate weather severe enough to worry about.

However I do suggest that if you are still very interested in doing it, to do so. As far as fitness goes, I do have youth on my side, but it sounds like you exercise enough to make it NO problem. I would advise that as soon as you get to K's house to immediately ask around for people going to hike the following day, and see if you can tag along with them. You WONT want to miss out on it. IN 2007 I went to Fujikyu highlands and being that close to Fuji and not climbing it was a huge tease, hence, why I am back. You'll be fine, on a physical fitness level, but just make sure to have a climbing partner or group. Always safer that way. Shouldn't be a problem finding people at K's House, I think most stay there for the hike anyways (we are, we're just one day ahead of you).

Sorry again for the confusion, and good luck!

I thought you might have had your dates messed up. Somewhat disappointing but anyway, I still hope to find a partner/group to climb with. Unfortunately, its outside of the official climbing season, otherwise I think I could persuaded to do it on my own. You enjoy yourself and a climb safe!