Tokyo Trip #2 - Can you Hike Mt. Fuji in early Oct?

[RKC]

Thanks to everyone for the Tokyo/Yokohama advice. But now a guidebook has me thinking about hiking Mt. Fuji on Oct. 2, 3 or 8. Is there usually snow in early Oct?

Anyone done Mt. Fuji? How hard is it compared to - Eagle Scout Peak? Mt. Whitney? Four-Mile Trail? Hike to back/top of Half Dome?

40 years old, but in good shape (triathlons, Master swimming...)

Thanks.

[Tanick]

I usually go to Osaka/Tokyo every October and go past Fuji-san on the Shinkansen. Never seen any snow on it. Walked around the lakes at the bottom of it in late September once. It was hot!

[masraum]

Shouldn't be a snow problem in early Oct. I lived at the northern tip of the main island. The first flurries of snow that didn't stick to the ground usually came in late Oct early Nov. If snow isn't a problem up north then it shouldn't be a problem at Fuji. I suppose there may be some snow on top, but I'm not sure how hight the trail goes.

[gavinlit]

It's fairly high (3770 odd metres) but not a difficult climb. More of a steep walk. About four and a half hours is the climbing time from the 5th station. Start early & you'll be up there & back on the same day no problems. You may get snow in October - it's a reasonably high peak. But at least it won't be stinking hot like the middle of summer.
Official climbing season is July to end of August so you won't have the crowds but the transport won't be as great and some of the stations/huts on the way up may not be open. Most people don't go right from the bottom but instead get transport to the highest station (5th) and walk from there. Check out the touris information centre in tokyo for climbers guidebooks and stuff. If you've got a bit of time, staying in the Hakone area and looking around for a day is also worthwhile. Last time I was there they had the winter marathon going - guys running in shorts & singlets from Tokyo to Hakone. Absolutely nuts.

edit - during climbing season the most popular thing to do is get up there the night before and climb up for the sunrise. I'd guess it would be way too cold in October to do this.

[rcecale]

If you're considering climbing it in October, you would be well advised to bring along some cold weather equipmet. It's been known to drop well below freezing overnight!

Here's a link that should provide a little more info on the hike.
Click here.

I will add this though. There is an old saying that says, if you visit Japan and do not climb Mount Fuji, you are destined to return. I know of several people who were stationed there in the military, some for a few years, that did not climb it while they were there. Almost to a man, each one had returned at one time or another, just to do the climb.

Randy

[gavinlit]

There is another saying to the effect that you're wise to climb mt fuji.....and a fool if you climb it twice.

[RKC]

Thanks for all the info. Fuji-san is calling me.....