Hiking Mt Fuji (Japan)
 

Hi all,

I'm looking to visit Japan in mid-, to late-September this year; unfortunately just outside what seems to be the official season for climbing Mount Fuji. Since I don't imagine the weather will have deteriorated all that much in 2/3 weeks, I wonder whether someone could say whether it's still possible/advisable to try to hike it at this time?

Many thanks!
Stephen

You'll be there in typhoon season, so that could pose a problem. If that wasn't enough, even in September temps can get quite low at night. On a practical level, most if not all the shelters and huts will be closed, and public transport schedules to the area are cut back.

I also believe that half the aoppeal of this climb is the cultural aspect.

Hi lcuy- thank you very much for the response. All sounds inadvisable then, if not actually impossible. Unfortunately!

Out of curiosity- what do you mean about the cultural aspect to the climb?

Thanks for your help again!
Stephen

Many activities in Japan- and climbing Fuji sama is one of them- are much more about the social aspect than just doing the activity.

It is sort of like the Superbowl in the USA. It isn't just about who makes the most touchdowns durinf the game, as much as the pre-game hype, the food, the parties, the outfits people wear, even the TV ads.

Climbing Fuji is as much a group social activity or a rite of passage as it is a hike.

Are you familiar with the saying, "He who climbs Mount Fuji is a wise man, he who climbs twice is a fool"

lcuy, lol....one of my Japanese friends told me that climbing Fujisan is often an activity that new workers in a company do together....

lcuy is right.

See here for more detail, you'd be taking a chance in late Sept:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6901.html

Aloha!