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!

Emergency Relief Efforts

After our first run with supplies up to Sendai we have come back with a better idea of how to help the victims and refugees from the quake and tsunami disaster. We will be loading up again with various supplies that we have found are needed in the Sendai area.

500 people have gathered from around the Miyagi prefecture at the Sendai city hall and prefectural building. There is limited food- one biscuit per person the first day; all day and one rice ball per person the second day; all day. The city hall has electricity and heating but family members are separated, anxiety is running high, and food plus other supplies are at a shortage.

FMG will hopefully be heading out again tonight or tomorrow morning to take more supplies up in the relief effort. Will continue to give updates on the situation up north whenever possible. 

Continue to pray and keep in mind those who have been affected first hand by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan!

Luke Cummings

Head Guide FMG

Earthquake

Please pray for the victims of the recent earthquake in Japan. The highway's heading north are closed down to the public and are open exclusively to vehicles working in the relief efforts. We have received written permission from the government to head up north with various food and sanitary supplies. We will head to the city Sendai, which has been hit extremely hard by both the earthquake and tsunami. 


Fuji Mountain Guides will be working with various other networks including Second Harvest, jhelp, and Crash Japan in helping to deliver food to those in need. Response to customer inquires may take some time. Your patience is greatly appreciated! 


Praying for our loved ones,
FMG

1 Day Mt. Fuji Tour

Due to the numerous requests we've received from people looking to climb Mt. Fuji in one day, we have gone ahead and created the 1-Day Mt. Fuji Tour. The new tour is set out to start before nightfall, with participants making the climb up Mt. Fuji in the dark, in order to reach the summit in time for the sunrise.
Although the tour technically takes place over 2 days, from start to finish, the 1-Day Mt. Fuji Tour is undertaken within 24 hours.

To learn more about the 1-Day Mt. Fuji Tour please visit our website by clicking here. This link will redirect you to a page designated to the 1-Day Mt. Fuji Tour, where you will find a more complete description and itinerary of this tour.

For more information on Fuji Mountain Guides please click here and you will be redirected to the home page of our website.

Looking forward to a safe and enjoyable climbing season!

Cheers,
Fuji Mountain Guides

2-Day Mt. Fuji Tour

We have changed the name of our Mt. Fuji climbing trip from 2-Day Mt. Fuji <Pilgrimage> to 2-Day Mt. Fuji <Tour>.

Everything remains the same as before. Trip details, itinerary and prices have not changed.

Regards,
The FMG crew

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

To celebrate the new year we would like to offer all those who are looking to climb Mt. Fuji during the 2011 climbing season an Early Bird DISCOUNT! 

When making your reservation through our website all you have do is enter the Coupon Code: 1C1C5J72 and you will receive a 10% discount at checkout. Click here to jump to the FMG reservation page Now!

This offer is limited to its first 50 applicants and expires April 1st 2011. Hurry now before you miss out on this wicked deal!

All the best and a Happy New Year
From the FMG crew!