FAQ
Where does the tour leave from and how do I get there?Your tour departure location and time is listed in the itinerary page for your tour. Here are links to the 1 day Mt. Fuji tour itinerary, 2 day Mt. Fuji tour itinerary and 2 day off season Mt. Fuji tour itinerary.
All tours depart from the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinkuku (Tokyo). The location and directions can be seen here. Will I be able to store baggage anywhere before climbing Fuji?
Once we have left Shinjuku station there will not be any place to store your baggage. Since we sometimes take a different route to and from Mt. Fuji you will have to bring only what you plan to take up and down the mountain. The exception being our off season tour. On this tour, there will be room to store on our bus, a small bag with change of clothes and towel, for our trip to the hot springs.
How much money should I bring? Are credit cards accepted?
FMG tours include all transportation and lodging costs plus two hot meals. You will only be required to provide for yourself 2 lunches, as well as snacks for the climb. If you wish to buy this on the mountain, the average cost for lunch is around ¥1000. We recommend you buy snacks before hand as prices are extremely inflated once on Mt. Fuji.
If you are only planning to spend money on lunch then ¥3000 will be sufficient. If you wish to also buy souvenirs it would be wise to bring at least ¥5000. You must bring cash, as mountain huts on Fuji do not accept credit card. Will there be restrooms?
At each mountain hut there are public restrooms. Toilets on Mt. Fuji cost ¥200 per use. It would be wise to keep a pouch or ziplock full of coins handy for whenever you need to use the facilities.
How long does it take to get up and down Mt. Fuji?On the 1 day tour we will climb to the summit of Mt. Fuji in about 6 hours, with the descent being another 3 hours. On our 2 day tours the climb is spread out over two days. On the first day we will hike about 6 km to our lodging for the night in about 6-7 hrs. From here to the summit it is about a 1 1/2 hr. climb. These are just approximations, as the time it takes to hike up and down Mt. Fuji varies from group to group.
Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag?
Bedding is provided by our mountain hut. Sleeping bags are lined up on top of futon mats, with an extra blanket available for when you get cold. Pillows are also provided, but most westerners find them hard and uncomfortable. Fill your stuff sack with some extra clothes and you've got yourself a makeshift pillow.
Will I need a reservation to stay at a mountain hut?It is definitely recommended that you make a reservation at a mountain hut, if you intend to spend the night on Mt. Fuji. Price range is usually between ¥6,000-¥9,000 depending on whether your stay lies on a weekday or weekend or if you choose to have dinner/breakfast included. Making a mountain hut reservation can sometimes be difficult, based on the language barrier, as well as a lack of information on mountain huts online. Recognizing the difficulty faced by foreigners in making mountain hut reservations, the Fujiyoshida City Hall has compiled a list of mountain huts along with trail information for the Yoshida trail, which you can find here.
In cooperation with the Fujiyoshida City Hall, FMG has started to take mountain hut booking requests. If you would like more information on this, please visit our mountain hut reservations page. Please note, mountain hut reservations will start the beginning of April. When's a good time to climb Mt. Fuji?If you're looking to avoid the crowd's try climbing during the first three weeks of July or some time in September/October. During Japanese school's summer vacation, approximately July 20 thru the end of August, Mt. Fuji takes on an extra amount of pedestrian traffic. Especially avoid weekend's and the the 'Obon' period, August 11-15 2014, as most companies will give their workers vacation during this time.
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What is the official climbing season for Mt. Fuji?The official climbing season is said to be from July 1st - August 31st but is subject to change depending on the weather conditions. Usually this means that the season starts a little after the first week of July. Most mountain huts are only open during this time, although on the Yoshida trail you will find that most huts are open through to the first week of September. FMG provides guiding services to the summit of Mt. Fuji, June thru October. If you wish to climb outside of the official climbing season, see our 2 day off season Mt. Fuji tour or our 1 day Mt. Fuji tour.
What level of fitness should I be in
Visit our physical fitness guide page and come ready to tackle Mt. Fuji. We have provided a detailed program to help people prepare for their Mt. Fuji ascent.
What sort of equipment will I need?Good question. Check out our equipment lists for a complete guide on what to bring on your climb up Mt. Fuji.
Do you offer rental equipment?We sure do. A full list of our rental equipment may be found here
Where can I find a weather forecast?
Take a look at our Mt. Fuji weather page to see a 5 day weather forecast on Mt. Fuji. This forecast is for 3014 meters.
However, be aware that conditions on Mt. Fuji may change suddenly. Therefore at FMG we make it a priority to make sure our clients are prepared for cold weather, wind and rain. Check out our equipment lists for more info regarding proper wear on Mt. Fuji Are there trash cans available?
Trash cans are not available on Mt. Fuji. Climbers are asked to use leave no trace methods of “pack it in, pack it out”, in an effort to maintain the natural beauty of Mt. Fuji. This is why we require everyone on our tour to bring a ziplock bag or something similar, for storing trash and packing it out. Read more about FMG philosophy.
How many trails are there on Mt. Fuji?There are four different trails leading up to the summit of Mt. Fuji, each starting from its own separate 5th station. The Subashiri, Fujinomiya and Gotenba trails are on the Shizuoka side of Mt. Fuji with the Yoshida trail being on the Yamanashi side. Very often you will hear just the words, 'Mt. Fuji 5th station', without a specific trail defined. This can be confusing, seeing as there is more than one 5th station on Mt. Fuji. Please be aware that, 'Mt. Fuji 5th station', is primarily used in reference to the Kawaguchi-ko 5th station. The Kawaguchi-ko 5th station is the largest, most developed 5th station on Mt. Fuji and is connected to the Yoshida trail. Fuji Mountain Guides conducts its tours on the Subashiri trail, while some times descending using the Yoshida trail.
Do you offer pick up and drop off in the Mt. Fuji area? Photograph by Seán Ó Crabháin
Yes, we offer the option of starting and ending our Mt. Fuji tours in Gotenba. For those choosing this option, we will meet right by the convenience store located INSIDE Gotenba train station. Depending on your tour, the pick up and drop off time will vary. Please see the one day tour itinerary, two day tour itinerary or off season tour itinerary for more details on what time your Gotenba pick up or drop off will be.
Gotenba pick up and drop off is especially popular for those wanting to spend time in Hakone before or after our tour. Do you provide guiding services during the off season?
Yes we provide guiding during the month of September and sometimes October, weather permitting. See our Off season 2 day Mt. Fuji tour for more information.
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