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Mt. Fuji is a real mountain!

We just wanted to take the time to remind everyone that Mt. Fuji is a real mountain and should be taken seriously! Seriously, don't believe all those crazy blogs which say anyone can climb Mt. Fuji! Yes you might see pictures of grandma's climbing Mt. Fuji, but these grandma's have actually been training for months if not years, and are accustomed to climbing mountains. You might also see people climbing Fuji in just shorts, t-shirts and sneakers. If it were to rain, which it does a lot on Fuji (all of the sudden like) these hikers would be in mad trouble. On our tours this year we have run across numerous people on Mt. Fuji which have gone unprepared both in terms of fitness and equipment. Mt. Fuji is not a walk in the park! There have already been 3 deaths this summer alone... one person died merely from being too cold at the summit, and two others were blown off the mountain. Take Mt. Fuji seriously, come prepared both physically and mentally and you will be sure to have a much more enjoyable experience. 

Please check out the review written by one of our participants this summer on our 2 day Mt. Fuji tour (click here). Due to a typhoon we were not able to make it up to the summit. On my next trip up Mt. Fuji the owners of the mountain hut at the summit said that they shut the outside doors and closed themselves in for 3 days since the wind was so bad! To everyone who's looking to climb Mt. Fuji, PLEASE everyone come prepared to climb a real mountain!

-The FMG crew

Mt. Fuji Kawaguchi-ko 5th station

Fuji Mountain Guides first tour of the season is coming up in just a few days. The trail we ordinarily use (Subashiri) is still unpassable due to snow, therefore we will be using the Yoshida trail on our first tour this Thursday. Here are some pictures of Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchi-ko 5th station taken this past weekend by Luke Cummings.

Gear Rental

Fuji Mountain Guides is offering rental climbing equipment beginning this season. 

When you book your Mt. Fuji tour online, you will have the option of renting various items from FMG. Renting means that you won't have to haul all of your outdoor gear through airports and train stations. When you meet your FMG guide he will present your gear to you--when the trip is over, you give it back and never have to think about it again, Its that easy.

 

Items currently available for rental along with there prices are: 

 

Head Lamp ¥750

Hiking Poles ¥1,000 for a pair

Gaiters ¥700

Backpack rain cover ¥700

Polarized Sunglasses ¥1,000

 

More items will most likely be added in the near future. 

What about the radiation?!

For those who are worried about the radiation situation in Japan please click on this link American Embassy (Tokyo)   

to read an updated version of the American embassies assessment of traveling to Japan.

Tokyo is NOT going frantic due to a radiation scare! The pictures you see of people wearing white masks all over Tokyo is due to hay fever season, not as a guard from radiation. 40 % of the Japanese are affected by hay fever and it is not uncommon to see almost everyone in Tokyo during this time of year wearing a mask! It's sad to hear how foreign news services have been using scenes like this in order to hype up a story they merely want to report! 

 Tokyo is 250 km away from the damaged nuclear plant in Fukushima. Mt. Fuji is another 130 km from Tokyo, all in all about 400 km away from the nuclear plant, a very safe distance away from any harm due to radiation!

 

Is it safe to climb Mt. Fuji...?!

The March 11 Earthquake/Tsunami has left many to ponder whether it is safe to travel to Japan, let alone climb Mt. Fuji. Amidst all the calamity, Fuji Mountain Guides does not wish to downplay any of the affects this disaster has had on Japan, its people, and the surrounding country side.

For the past month, our company has been dedicated to serving those afflicted by the tsunami in Northern Japan by delivering various supplies, as well as volunteering to help clear debris out of peoples houses and various schools which are being used as evacuation centers. FMG's head guide, Luke Cummings has been volunteering up north with his house church since March 14th, 3 days after the quake. To read more about the work FMG has been involved in over the past month please read the house church blog http://www.kamizoku.wordpress.com 

During this time, we also feel it is necessary to leave a message of reassurance for those who still wish to travel to Japan and climb Mt. Fuji. Although Mt. Fuji is an active volcano, the recent earthquake has not caused any rise in activity on its part. The Fuji-Yoshida city (one of the cities surrounding Mt. Fuji) continues to take readings on volcanic activity and has reported there to be nothing abnormal following the M9.0 earthquake. The road leading up to the Kawaguchi-ko 5th station is set to open on April 27th. The climbing season is still set to begin in July although this is never set in stone due to the varied amounts of snowfall each winter. 

Please rest assured that the earthquake has not caused an increase in volcanic activity on Mt. Fuji. Therefore, FMG will continue to offer its advertised tours for the 2011 Mt. Fuji climbing season!

We will continue to monitor Mt. Fuji for any possible changes to the 2011 climbing season and updates will be posted here in the future!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and we hope that this has encouraged you to come and climb Mt. Fuji! 

Cheers,

The FMG Crew

Early Bird Discount

Less than a week left on the Early Bird discount! Enter the coupon code 1C1C5J72 during the booking process to qualify for a 10% discount off the tour of your choice. Offer expires April 1st!