By Amélie, travel-addict and blogger*
There is a Japanese proverb that goes something like this… a wise man climbs Mount Fuji once, a fool climbs it twice.
At the moment, I belong to the first category… I climbed Fuji overnight to see the sunrise in the country of the rising sun. But the climb wasn’t a great deal of fun, involving a very tough hike to 3,776m on slippery volcanic stone with a light strapped to my forehead to guide me through the hiker traffic jam. Also, it can be VERY cold at the top before the sunrise and VERY hot when you go back down. It’s a tough one but you can be rewarded with an amazing sunrise (weather permitting!) and a special atmosphere to soak up. If you want to make it even harder on yourself you can always enter the Fuji Mountain Race: a half marathon up Fuji (your participation automatically elevates you to the second proverbial category!).
Fuji-san has special meaning to the Japanese, and now it is listed as a world heritage site. However this means a fee might soon be charged for hikers. Also, you need to know that the official hiking season is limited (only july and august), you better have some proper equipment, and you need to be fairly fit to last the distance…. and also remember that from the top of Fuji you won’t see this iconic volcano in all its glory, so here are some options to view the mighty mountain:
1. Hiking Option
Mitsutogeyama is an easier, nicer and a more convenient hike to access in the Fuji area. You can enjoy many amazing views and end up at the Kachi Kachi ropeway, which is well known as being an incredible spot to gaze on Fuji. You might even have some interesting encounters: a sign warned us of the possibility of bears in the area… thankfully the only one we saw was on the board!
2. Make the Most of your Time Option
If you are planning to go to Hakone to have an onsen you can see Fuji from Lake Hashinoko; on a trip to Kamakura to see the temples you can look across to Fuji from the beach; and if you go for a stroll on Enoshima (a pretty little island close to Kamakura) you can also see Fuji. If you want to increase your chances to have clear views be at these places early in the morning and in winter…however, a word of warning, I lived a long time in Japan and still didn’t manage to get many clear pictures of Fuji from those locations!
3. The Relax Option
The Fuji lake region is perfect to enjoy a ryokan-onsen experience. We spent a night on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi (following our Mitsutogeyama hike), which is where I took the photos at the top of the article. Book a hotel on the side of the lake opposite the station side so that you can look across the lake to Fuji.
4. The Express Option
During winter, you often see Fuji from the offices in downtown Tokyo. But you don’t need to be a salary(wo)man to get those views, you can see it very well from the top of the tall Shinjuku Metropolitan Government offices, which are open to the public and for free!
5. The Seated in your Chair Option
If you take the shinkansen from Tokyo towards Kyoto, choose a window seat on the right side and if the weather is fine be ready to take pictures as Fuji is going to be your close companion for part of the trip! You can also see Fuji from the plane on domestic flights from Tokyo heading towards the west of Japan. Peel your eyes after take off!
Voyagista’s tips
- You can access the Fuji area by train or bus from Tokyo. To get to Tokyo from HK there are now direct flights to Haneda (the airport located close to the city center).
- Check the weather forecast before hiking Fuji: no point going if the weather is bad unless you want to punish yourself for little reward.
- Most people hike the Yoshida trail because it’s easily reached by direct bus from Shinjuku station. However, there are many routes that are less busy.
- Your chances to see Fuji increase if you climb in winter as Fuji is often hidden in the clouds in summer.
*Are you looking for travel ideas for you and the family? Voyagista can help you discover new places in Asia and further afield. Visit www.voyagista.com