Pre-Climbing Study for Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture
Mount Fuji is a World Cultural Heritage Site. Please understand its value recognized as a World Heritage Site and take actions to protect it.
- Mount Fuji was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site for its sacredness as a "subject of worship" and its beauty as a "source of art". Historically, Mount Fuji has had a significant impact on Japanese views of nature and culture. The coexistence of people and nature through faith and art is a major feature of Mount Fuji.
- We have a responsibility to protect and transmit the value of Mount Fuji as a World Heritage Site. Please be fully aware of this responsibility and confirm the basic knowledge, rules, and manners related to Mount Fuji.
There are four routes to Mount Fuji with different characteristics (Fujinomiya, Gotemba, Subashiri, Yoshida). Please confirm their respective characteristics carefully and strive for safe climbing.
- Each route has its own characteristics, such as the number of mountain huts and the time required to reach the summit.
- Choose a route that suits your physical condition.
- Characteristics of Each Route
For safe climbing, it is important to make a climbing plan that is not strenuous.
- Climbing with an unreasonable plan can lead to accidents or getting lost. Consider your physical strength and make a detailed plan that is not strenuous.
- A night blitz climb is very dangerous. If you start climbing from the 5th station after 2:00 PM without staying in a mountain hut, you will not be able to start climbing.
- Except for the Gotemba route, the other three routes have private car restrictions, and the main means of transportation are shuttle buses or taxis. Please pay close attention to the following points.
- ・ Check the start and end times of the shuttle buses and make a climbing plan that includes the return.
- ・ After the last shuttle bus, the number of taxis will also decrease.
- For beginners of climbing Mount Fuji, please also consider guided tours to ensure safe climbing.
For safe climbing, please prepare appropriate clothing and sufficient supplies.
- Although Mount Fuji is crowded with many climbers every year, it is an active volcano with an elevation of 3776m, the highest in Japan, and many rescue operations occur.
- There is about a 23°C temperature difference between the base and the summit, and there is nothing to block the wind, so even in summer, the wind chill can sometimes drop below freezing.
- Since the terrain is natural, you will walk on rocky areas that are easy to slip and gravel that is easy to trip over. Make sure not to forget to prepare climbing boots, trekking poles, headlamps, warm clothing, and rain gear.
Before heading to the mountain, be sure to check the weather and consider revising your plan if bad weather is expected.
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Imafuji and the official Shizuoka Prefecture X account, "Shizuoka Prefecture Mount Fuji Climbing Safety Information," provide daily updates on the weather, congestion, and conditions at the trail entrances during the open season.
Imafuji
Official Shizuoka Prefecture X "Shizuoka Prefecture Mount Fuji Climbing Safety Information" - Climbing in bad weather increases the risk of hypothermia and falls due to strong winds and rain, and consumes more physical strength. Therefore, it is important to decide to halt the climb early, even if you have confidence in your physical strength.
- In recent years, lightning strikes have been increasing. Not only rain, but lightning strikes also occur with climbers on Mount Fuji, which has no tall trees. If you hear thunder, take shelter in a nearby mountain hut. If there is no mountain hut, crouch on the mountain side of the trail with your feet together, lower your head, and wait for the storm to pass.
Altitude acclimatization is important to avoid altitude sickness.
- Many cases of altitude sickness occur when climbers start climbing before their bodies have acclimatized to the low-oxygen environment. Spend about an hour acclimatizing near the 5th station.
- If you experience symptoms of altitude sickness (such as "nausea," "headache," or "fatigue") during the climb, descend without pushing yourself.
For safe climbing, make use of your smartphone – signals reach all areas of Mount Fuji.
- If you register with the "Shizuoka Prefecture FUJI NAVI App," you can receive location information and push notifications of weather information. Please register with the app when climbing Mount Fuji.
To protect both climbers and Mount Fuji, follow the country code (manners and rules).
- Removing plants, animals, and lava is subject to punishment.
- Additionally, always take your trash back with you, do not walk off the trail to prevent falling rocks, do not shout near mountain huts where people are resting or sleeping, and refrain from using fire. Follow these rules and enjoy climbing comfortably.
- Detailed rules and manners
Be very careful of falls and slips at the summit.
- The summit is the most crowded place, but there are no rails to prevent falls.
- Falls and slips can lead to serious accidents, so follow the instructions of the summit guides.
Most climbing accidents happen during the descent. Do not let your guard down during the descent.
- In fact, most accidents occur during the descent.
- Fatigue and downhill paths make falls more common, so take your time descending.
- The Subashiri and Yoshida routes split into descent paths below the 8th station, so be careful not to get lost.