Extreme tours, which travel companies are happy to offer today, can amaze anyone. Tourists are offered travel to the center of the Earth, swimming in mountain rivers and waterfalls, visiting active volcanoes and much more. But the most popular is the ascent to the top of Mount Fuji, which is located in Japan. Today we will tell you how you can organize such a trip and make your dream come true.
The locals call it Fujisan, emphasizing the special attitude and deep respect for one of the most beautiful mountain peaks in the world. The ideal, cone-like shape of the mountain cannot leave indifferent any tourist who finds himself at its foot. It is not surprising that thousands of tourists from all over the world go to conquer the mountain every year.
Recently, the ascent does not require phenomenal training and expensive climbing equipment. Almost everyone can look at little Japan from the highest point of the island. All that is needed for this is the presence of zeal, a great desire and small financial savings. In our time, the land of the rising sun has widely opened its arms in front of the millions of tourists from all over the world.
Life hack on the most interesting sights of Japan - I recommend to study.
Have patience, a camera or camcorder, suitable clothing and hit the road. An unforgettable journey to one of the most beautiful peaks in the world, vivid impressions and unique photographs await you. Let's go on this exciting journey together!
How to get to Fuji
The extreme journey begins in the capital of Japan - Tokyo. Therefore, the first thing a tourist must get to this city.
Next, you will have to change to a bus that will take you to the town of Kawaguchiko. By the way, on the northern side of the mountain there are several beautiful lakes with clear, cool water. And one of these reservoirs has a name that is consonant with the name of this small town. The whole journey will take a little more than an hour, despite the decent distance from the capital of Japan to the mountain range. This is facilitated by the first-class road surface of the local road. By the way, in order to be able to drive on it, you need to pay a certain fee.
You can see a lot of interesting things along the way. For example, everyone knows that Japan is one of the most populous countries in the world. But when you see with your own eyes how dense the buildings are here, you understand how the Japanese value every square meter. And how valuable are the few places where Mother Nature remains the rightful owner.
Escaping from the concrete jungle, you find yourself in hilly places that, it seems, have not been touched by humans at all. One gets the impression that the huge Japanese construction vehicle has not yet reached these places. Here the plain gives way to the first hills, and the main mountain of Japan is just a stone's throw away.
This impression is misleading. It's just that the Japanese are very clean and do their best to maintain cleanliness and pristine condition in these wonderful places. Here and there elderly people with green bandages are scurrying about, who volunteered to collect garbage, which often remains on the slopes of the mountain after another group of tourists. And what is surprising: mostly elderly people are engaged in cleaning the slopes.
First halt
It is recommended that you make your first stop for the night right at Lake Kawaguchiko. There is a small camping here, where you can spend the night and gain strength before the ascent for a symbolic fee - $ 10. If you have your own camping tent, overnight stays are free of charge. Well, for connoisseurs of comfort even in the harshest conditions, one of the many houses will be to the taste. The cost of living in it is $ 40 per night.
Do not forget about the additional costs that will be required as payment for access to water, toilet, as well as the use of some other amenities. Of course, if you are an avid traveler and always visit the sights in a small group, you can provide for such pleasant and useful things as a primus stove, a tent, folding pieces of furniture. It is with this set that most Japanese come to Lake Kawaguchiko. They set up first-class tents, equipped with electricity, in an instant, and continue to enjoy the delights of civilization even hundreds of kilometers away.
It is worth considering in advance the issue of drinking water (other refreshing drinks). During the ascent, undoubtedly, you will meet a lot of machines, but you have to pay for everything. At the same time, the higher you climb, the higher the price flaunts on the machines. If you can buy a can of beer or a drink at the bottom for an average of $ 1, then closer to the top the cost will be 3-4 times higher.
Second day
After enjoying the beautiful view and gaining strength over the night, we set off. You must be nimble to get the best seats on the buses. It is on this transport that you have to overcome the last segment of the path before the direct ascent.
By the way, earlier climbing Mount Fuji was equated with a real test, which only brave and strong samurai could pass. And the Japanese set off to conquer the summit from the most remote corners of the country on foot, taking with them only the most necessary things. This path made it possible to realize the entire insignificance of a person, to look into the farthest corners of the soul and be alone with the pristine nature. Even now, among the Japanese there are such brave and courageous people who are able to walk this segment of the path of a real samurai.
Now, from the foot to the top, there are 10 stations, five of which are easily overcome by a comfortable bus. So today we will drive from the camping to the fifth station. It is located at an altitude of 2300 meters. There is no further way for transport, and you will have to do the rest of the way on foot up a special ladder-stairs.
If you wish, you can go all the way from the plain to the top on foot. But be prepared for the fact that on the way there will be dense forests, through which you will have to wade through and sheer cliffs that you will have to bypass. If it takes no more than 40 minutes by bus to get to the fifth station, it will take several hours to climb on foot.
Fifth station
This is where the crazy trade starts. Here and there shouts of vendors can be heard, furiously beckoning tourists to their tents, furnished with all kinds of goods. There are restaurants and eateries at every corner. Most of the souvenirs and gifts are bought at the local market.
It is very easy to find a guide here. They climb to the top every day. It is even difficult to imagine how many times each of them visited the top of Fuji. It is not difficult to recognize them. There is a peculiar system of distinctive signs here. For example, the guide can be recognized by the blue bandages on the sleeves and flags. Well, organized groups of tourists scurry about in the same uniform.
Since here and there tourists are scurrying about in city clothes and slippers, it becomes clear that the ascent will not require any superpowers and special equipment. Although, it's all a matter of taste.
There is another interesting point here. Each pilgrim who goes to the top has an unusual staff in his hands. It is decorated with bells, and some have some marks on the shaft. You can buy a staff here for only $ 10. But only those who have covered the entire path receive marks.At each station that will meet along the way, travelers put marks on the staff. Therefore, below you can immediately determine who is just going to conquer the top, and who has already had the honor of meeting her.
The path to the top of Fuji
The entire road is a kind of huge ladder with rope handrails. All along the way you can find signs in two languages - Japanese and English. From time to time you come across a kind of platforms that are lined with bags of volcanic rock. They will make the journey much easier, giving you the opportunity to take a break.
It is always crowded here. One gets the impression that you are in the midst of the May Day procession or you are at a large bazaar. You will have to rest only at the command of the escort. Although one can witness how exhausted travelers exhausted themselves sink directly onto volcanic ledges, greedily swallow cool water or absorb oxygen from special cylinders.
Oxygen needs to be discussed in more detail. Since its content in the air decreases with height, such cylinders with an increased oxygen content will be very useful. You can buy them at the fifth station, from where we started, or in the shops along the way. In addition, there are dozens of shelters and places along the trail where you can not only rest, but also have a good meal with one of the local dishes. It is in one of these shelters that you will have to stop for the night in order to hit the road in the morning, when the body regains its spent strength. After all, what could be more beautiful than a sunrise in a country whose old name is associated with this heavenly body ?!
Special extremists prefer to continue their ascent at dusk in order to spend the night on a mountain peak, which is considered the highest point in Japan. Even at the top, each traveler will have a familiar set of shelters, vending machines with cool drinks and beer, as well as a relatively cozy apartment for the night. Have you ever slept on the asleep crater of a volcano? Not? Right now such a unique opportunity has appeared. Try it and be sure to share your new impressions of this unusual type of extreme vacation. I bet that among your friends there will not be a single one who could boast of anything like that.
It is here, at an altitude of 3776 meters above sea level, that amazing landscapes open up. Ocean views, tiny villages and a huge one, twinkling with all the lights of Tokyo. Yes, the journey to the top of Fuji is amazing and moving. Everyone who wants to experience new feelings, to feel like a real conqueror of mountain peaks, must definitely find the time and energy for this most interesting journey.
The top of the mountain is very similar to the surface of Mars. Well, at least the one we've all seen in NASA photographs. At the very edge of the crater is a modern weather station. Although a few decades ago there was nothing here except a dilapidated hut forgotten by God and people. Nowadays, a whole town will open before the eyes of tourists, where pilgrims can hide from the rain, spend the night and even refresh themselves. It is clear that the price for all these services will be much higher.
Return trip
When you have plenty of admiring the sunrise, breathe in the freshest, tart mountain air, it's time to get ready for the return journey.
The path to the foot turns out to be an order of magnitude easier. Just have time to touch your feet, going down the tangled stairs. It's like a game, when you need to go down the steep stairs faster than anyone, here and there, jumping over two or three steps. It is easiest to start the descent early in the morning or at dusk. Because at this time the stairs seem to be empty, and all the tourists disperse to numerous shelters or wait out the night at the top. Having reached the already familiar camp on the first night, you can enjoy the local beauty a little more. Well, then go back.
What you need to know
Today, climbing to the top of Fuji is possible only at certain times of the year. The doors of hospitable Japan are open to all extremists from July 1 to August 26. At this time, shelters are open, the weather is good and the most favorable conditions for climbing, especially those tourists who go along a difficult route with children. But a hike to the top in the autumn-winter period or in the spring is possible only after going through a lengthy procedure of coordination with the local police department.
To simplify the route and reduce the time to climb, you can rent a car. As mentioned earlier, you can take it directly to the fifth level.
The average time it takes to climb to the top is 5 to 10 hours. It all depends on the preparation and excursion program. Interestingly, the local population has a tradition associated with climbing Mount Fuji. Every Japanese is obliged to pay tribute to the gods, ancestors and the whole country. This can be done only after having traveled such a long and difficult path.
Since along the entire path there are stairs with reliable railings and cables, even the most unprepared tourist can make a pilgrimage to the holy peak of the Japanese.
Equipment
The obligatory set of equipment includes:
- comfortable clothes
- sun hat
- special stick-cane with bells
- flask with water
- flashlight and spare batteries
- route map
In addition, you can take with you a few more useful things in the form of an oxygen canister, a camera and so on. For clothing, it is better to give preference to a waterproof jacket, boots or other clothing suitable for the season.
Where to book a tour and how much does it cost
Going to conquer the Japanese summit, it is imperative to take care of a reliable guide. Today in Russia it is not so difficult to find a decent company that specializes in such extreme travel. Let's take a look at some of them.
The 7 Summits club is already known to many tourists and lovers of unusual recreation. Experienced staff will be happy to show you the shortest route to the top. The tour cost is 3.5 thousand dollars (almost 200 thousand rubles).
The excursion tour includes:
- full escort from Tokyo Airport to Mount Fuji and back
- accommodation in a Tokyo hotel, in a house on Lake Kawaguchiko, as well as breakfast
- accommodation and breakfast in a house on the fifth level of the mountain, stop for the night
- availability of an English-speaking / Russian-speaking guide
- food at the top of the mountain
In addition, you will have to independently take care of the flight from Moscow to Tokyo, the acquisition of a visa and medical insurance, and the preparation of a passport. All these nuances will require additional financial investments. For example, just getting a visa will cost $ 100.
If you are an experienced climber and have traveled half of the world, you can significantly reduce costs by organizing extreme leisure on your own, and a good company will become the best guide even on such an unusual and difficult journey.
In addition to these mandatory costs, additional costs must be foreseen. You are not going to return home empty-handed, are you?
I hope our brief overview of the extreme tour will be useful to every tourist who is thinking about conquering the highest point in Japan. Successful travels and reliable companions on the road!
