20 ~ 21 July, 2016
#31
Yoshida (5th Station) >> Summit >> Yoshida (5th Station)
[25th Anniversary]
#31
Yoshida (5th Station) >> Summit >> Yoshida (5th Station)
[25th Anniversary]
This climb was going to have added significance because it was going to mark the 25th anniversary of the first day I came to Japan. July 21st was the day I arrived back in 1991, it was also the day I left in 1993 and strangely enough the same day I arrived back in Japan in 2007. Being on the summit of Mt. Fuji to see the sunrise seemed like the best way to mark this 25th anniversary.
I had been keeping my eye on the weather and the forecast was for light rain showers during the night and the following morning. My initial plan had been to do a double climb on the Gotemba and Fujinomiya trails but in the end I settled for the tried and tested Yoshida trail.
I took the usual route via Otsuki towards Fujisan Station. At Otsuki I bought a special Mt. Fuji 5th Station two day pass which acts as a return to Otsuki and unlimited travel between Fujisan and Kawaguchiko stations plus local buses. Afte arriving at Fujisan Station the first thing I did was head to the local supermarket to pick up some food and drink. With that done I took a bus into Kawaguchiko and went in search for something to eat.
I wanted to eat houtou noodles, a thick noodle dish in a vegetable broth. The main restaurant opposite the Kawaguchiko Station happened to be shut so I headed in the direction of a very old restaurant run by some very old women. When I got to the the spot where the restaurant should have been, instead of a restaurant I found a brand new residential home. That put paid to any hopes of enjoying some houtou so I headed back to the station and picked up some onigiri (rice balls) from a convenience.
After a short wait I was on the 18:00 local bus up to the 5th Station. The bus arrived on time an hour later to a fairly quiet 5th Station. Rather than the restaurant area I usually waited in this time I headed to the space that is set aside for climbers and sat myself down. I planned to start my climb around 22:00 and head up at a slow gentle pace. Most of the climbers waiting to head up were overseas visitors. Since winning World Heritage Status there definitely seemed to be a lot more overseas visitors at Mt. Fuji.
By 22:00 there were just a couple of other climbers left and I got myself ready to leave. I paid the 1000 yen fee and received a small wooden commemorative plaque which was different from badges that had been given the last 2 years. As I set out there was virtually no wind and weather conditions were perfect. I saw a handful of climbers returning to the 5th Station but the early part of the trail was largely empty of climbers.
I kept a slow steady pace and continued onto to the Fuji trail proper which really starts just after the 6th Station Information Center. I could see the lights of some of the huts further up and a few climber's lights. I continued on up at a slow steady pace stopping sometimes at rest huts to eat and drink. I was in no real hurry but my pace was decidedly slow simply because it felt really hard. Even if I had wanted to go any faster I don't think I could have.
I had been keeping my eye on the weather and the forecast was for light rain showers during the night and the following morning. My initial plan had been to do a double climb on the Gotemba and Fujinomiya trails but in the end I settled for the tried and tested Yoshida trail.
I took the usual route via Otsuki towards Fujisan Station. At Otsuki I bought a special Mt. Fuji 5th Station two day pass which acts as a return to Otsuki and unlimited travel between Fujisan and Kawaguchiko stations plus local buses. Afte arriving at Fujisan Station the first thing I did was head to the local supermarket to pick up some food and drink. With that done I took a bus into Kawaguchiko and went in search for something to eat.
I wanted to eat houtou noodles, a thick noodle dish in a vegetable broth. The main restaurant opposite the Kawaguchiko Station happened to be shut so I headed in the direction of a very old restaurant run by some very old women. When I got to the the spot where the restaurant should have been, instead of a restaurant I found a brand new residential home. That put paid to any hopes of enjoying some houtou so I headed back to the station and picked up some onigiri (rice balls) from a convenience.
After a short wait I was on the 18:00 local bus up to the 5th Station. The bus arrived on time an hour later to a fairly quiet 5th Station. Rather than the restaurant area I usually waited in this time I headed to the space that is set aside for climbers and sat myself down. I planned to start my climb around 22:00 and head up at a slow gentle pace. Most of the climbers waiting to head up were overseas visitors. Since winning World Heritage Status there definitely seemed to be a lot more overseas visitors at Mt. Fuji.
By 22:00 there were just a couple of other climbers left and I got myself ready to leave. I paid the 1000 yen fee and received a small wooden commemorative plaque which was different from badges that had been given the last 2 years. As I set out there was virtually no wind and weather conditions were perfect. I saw a handful of climbers returning to the 5th Station but the early part of the trail was largely empty of climbers.
I kept a slow steady pace and continued onto to the Fuji trail proper which really starts just after the 6th Station Information Center. I could see the lights of some of the huts further up and a few climber's lights. I continued on up at a slow steady pace stopping sometimes at rest huts to eat and drink. I was in no real hurry but my pace was decidedly slow simply because it felt really hard. Even if I had wanted to go any faster I don't think I could have.