This plan is typical (or "model" as the Japanese say) for the Kawaguchiko hiking/climbing course, during the July and August official climbing season.  By referring to information or links found elsewhere in this web site, you can apply the outline of this basic plan to any other hiking/climbing route on the mountain.

This plan was designed for the "average" urbanized citizen who does not spend weekends hiking, climbing, or even doing much of any other kind of physical exercise.

This plan is based on an overnight event.  The overnight part of this plan is marked with blue text.  If you are just doing a one-day climb, skip the overnight part to get on with the course.

This plan is based on the use of public transportation.  In case you're not aware, driving in Japan can be dreadfully expensive.  From where I live, about two-and-a-half hours from the Kawaguchiko 5th Station, the round trip tolls are about 11,000 Yen.  The cost to get there via public transport, for me, is about half that amount.

This plan WILL get you to the top of Mt. Fuji and back down to your starting point (on the Kawaguchiko course), as long as you follow the common sense safety and preparation guidance in this site.

This plan was NOT designed or intended to contain directions on how to get to or from Mt. Fuji, or places on or around Mt. Fuji.  Links to that kind of information can be found ..... on my Links page (imagine that!) and elsewhere throughout this site.

Any reference links that might be found in the text below should open in a new browser window.  Just close the new window to get back to this page.

The links at the bottom of this page are part of this web site and will not open in a new browser window.

• Review all the basic pages in this web site (go ahead - it's okay, they're free - for now.)

• Download and print out the bilingual maps from my Links page.  Decide which course you will take, but remember that this plan is based on the Kawaguchiko course.

• Check the weather (via my Links page.)

• Start your travel as early as possible on the day of your climb.

• Take the train to the Kawaguchiko train station.

• Take the bus from there to the Kawaguchiko 5th Station on Fuji, at the end of the Subaru Line highway, and use the Kawaguchiko route to ascend.  Remember the name of the mountain highway (Subaru) and the name of the trail (Kawaguchiko.)  This information will "save" you later.

• Get a climbing stick at the 5th Station Rest House (looks like a big 3-story log house).  Heck, as long as I'm spelling this out for you I might as well tell you to get your supplies and souvenirs from my friends' place.  About 1,200 Yen for the stick, flag and bells.  Remove the flag and bells.  If you keep them on the stick you will trash the flag, and the bells will drive you nuts.  Put them in a plastic bag and stash them in your pack, and preserve them as a nice souvenir.  If you want to get your stick branded at each of the huts, and at the top shrine and hut (for the Gaijin stamp), you'll need about another 5,000 yen just for that purpose.  Really.  When you finally get home, "dress" your branded stick with the clean flag and bells. 

• Follow the signs (and the people) up the Kawaguchiko route.  Take your time.  There is no "slow route." You just have to force yourself to go slower than the speed demons who think they have something to prove by racing to the top.

• Stop once in a while to take a short breather and to check out the scenery (if it isn't cloudy or foggy.)

• Stop at each of the huts for a few minutes.  Get your stick stamped if you like (should be 200 yen each.)

• Check your progress.  Try to get as far as the Fujisan Hotel (hut) at the top of the 8th Stage, at 3,400 meters.  The upper hut of Fujisan Hotel is run by Osakabe-san, another friend.  This hut is VERY friendly to foreigners.  You can't miss it.  Just look for the US flag that he usually has flying outside, and a possibly a bunch of Gaijin hanging around.

NOTE:  If Fujisan Hotel is not within your reach by the time it gets dark, Taishikan hut or Hakuunso hut are good alternatives at the bottom and middle of the 8th Stage.

• You can spend the "night" at Fujisan Hotel (or any other hut) for 5,000 Yen.  1,000 Yen extra will get you a set meal, something hot to eat (noodles, rice, curry/rice, etc.) before you turn in for the evening.  You can also order "a-la-carte."  Keep in mind that there is NO privacy at a mountain hut.

• Ask for a general wake-up call about 2:00 AM.  Get your stuff together, have some coffee or cocoa, and head on up the trail.  It will be quite cold, probably near freezing.

• There will probably be a LOT of people on the trail, forcing you to go slow.  It will be DARK.  VERY dark.  Make sure you have a good flashlight, with good batteries.  You'll be on top within about 90 minutes, if the trail isn't too crowded.  Sunrise should be sometime between 4:30 and 4:45.

• Once you get to the top, get your stick stamped at the shrine.  This makes the effort "official."  Ask around for the Gaijin stamp.  Last time I checked, only a couple of the huts adjacent to the shrine had it.  Each of these stamps (shrine and Gaijin) will be 300 to 500 yen.

• You can take the trail around the crater if you want, and if time allows.  If you're feeling okay, the circuit around the crater trail should take an hour to 90 minutes.  There is another group of huts to the east.  Visit them, but do not go down the trails from there.  Go back to the place where you arrived at the top.

• Descend via the bulldozer trail at the end of the row of huts opposite the shrine.  It's steeper than the ascending route, so go slow.  DO NOT run.  Stay close to the inside wall, where the dirt trail is softest.  Stand straight, get your balance, and step down the trail heel-first, keeping your toes out of the dirt.  If you step down the slope toes-first, you can lose your balance and slide or fall very easily.

• Within an hour, you'll be near the Fujisan Hotel (group of huts) at the top of the 8th Stage.  The huts will be at your left.

• Take a short break at this flat spot, if you like.  Continue down the bulldozer road FOR A FEW MINUTES until you come to a small hut all by itself.  This is the EDO-YA hut.  There is a large sign posted next to the hut, pointing to the two trails that diverge from that spot.  The trail to the left goes to KAWAGUCHIKO 5th Station, SUBARU Line, and YAMANASHI Prefecture.  The trail to the right does not, so don't go that way.

• You probably haven't had your stick stamped at the EDO-YA hut yet, so head for their front door and get the stamp.  Voila!  You're now heading in the correct direction to continue your descent.

• In a FEW MINUTES you will come to a junction of three trails.  One goes up.  Not a good choice.  One goes straight across and down to the Hakuunso Hut about 200 meters away.  Not good either, and there's usually a chain or rope across the path.  The third trail is another bulldozer route, and there is a bilingual sign pointing the way to KAWAGUCHIKO, SUBARU and YAMANASHI.  That sounds like my kind of trail.

• Take your time, once again.  This is a long route.  Stay to the "inside" of the trail, next to the wall ... as described above.  Before you know it (actually about a couple of hours) you'll be rounding the bend under "Lion Rock" and heading for the two huts at the 6th Station (Anagoya above and Unkaiso below).  Unkaiso is a new hut, having been rebuilt in the spring of 2003 for business after a disastrous landslide and fire in the early spring of 1999.  If you're very lucky, they'll be selling some very delicious watermelon from the local farms of Yamanashi prefecture.  Stop and get a piece to celebrate your successful Fuji adventure.

• After your short break, head on down to the 5th Station and the buses, etc.  It should take you less than 45 minutes from the 6th Station to the 5th.

• And there you have it.  For what it's worth, I'm over 50, over weight (somewhat), and less than fit.  I can still do this trip without any difficulty.  All it takes is some stamina and a bit of patience.  And a couple of days, if you do the overnighter.