Not Easy! How to CLIMB Mt Fuji in ONE DAY/10 Hours on the Yoshida Trail (inc. Tominoko Hotel stay)

[@ShaeButtaTV]

That’s amazing! I’m going in January and look forward to the Yoshida Trail

[@gowithjo1]

How great that you're going in January. I think, however, that the trails are only open to be walked for three months in the summer starting from early July...please check...have a wonderful time though! I love this place..

[@ShaeButtaTV]

@ you are 100% percent correct. The trail is open during the warmer months

[@gowithjo1]

@@ShaeButtaTV For your sake I'm sorry that I was right!! But hopefully you'll come back and hike it another time...

[@preven2296]

I have long wanted to do Mount Fuji, ever since my first visit to Japan in 2003. I always get hung up on the overnight hut-stay. However, your way is the way I always have done my hikes-no overnight stuff-just do it! My past hikes have always been early starts like you did it. So I will plan it this way. This year is the year!Thanks for your video!

[@gowithjo1]

Glad to help. Yes, I couldn't see any value in staying overnight in a mountain hut. I'd never be able to sleep and you have to wake up at 2.30am anyway to summit for sunrise, so it really didn't sound very relaxing and was going to take up two days instead of one!! I had a nice day cycling around Lake Kawagachi the day after I climbed Fuji, although admittedly my thighs were screaming as I cycled!!

[@joemichaels4231]

Hey Jo!!! Congratulations on making that climb.......NO WAY I would even try it!!! Can't wait to see the rest of your trip! Stay safe and in touch my friend! Happy Traveling!!! XXX

[@gowithjo1]

TYSM Joe, but never say never to it though!! There's a saying that a wise man (or woman!) never climbs Fuji more than once - I think I know why! But my guide had climbed it a whopping 700 times. How mad is that?! XXX

[@joemichaels4231]

@@gowithjo1 700 times??? That's Crazy!!! XXX

[@gowithjo1]

My thoughts entirely! XXX@@joemichaels4231

[@joemichaels4231]

@@gowithjo1 You are the best Jo!!! XXX

[@kenprice1961]

I climbed Mt. Fuji in 1959 while in the Navy. Climbed at night to see the sunrise at the summit. CLOUDY and saw nothing! But it was all worth it!

[@gowithjo1]

It is a VERY hard climb, but it really IS worth it - view or no view - just so you can say you did it!!

[@phillydisc9708]

Good job! I hope to do it next year or so, this year I will do Hokkaido and Tohoku mountain trails to avoid the crowds. And I'm like you, I don't want to sleep in a mountain hut. I've seen how cramped those conditions are, and you could wake up the next morning and the weather is total crap, so better to get it over with the same day. Good to see the sun is up at 4am, no need to have head lamps.

[@gowithjo1]

Good luck - couldn't agree more with everything you say about the huts!! I went early July...not sure what time the sun will rise in August or September, so check it out!!

[@JettShum]

Glad to see someone doing it in one day! Planning on doing it myself in about a week

[@gowithjo1]

ooh good luck! I really didn't want to sleep in the mountain hut and then get up at 2am (on no sleep) to summit for sunrise..if I were to do it again, I would do it exactly the same way!! Let me know how it goes...

[@jacobjacob5735]

Did you do it? How was it? I will go soon, but I am unexperienced, but overall fit, will I make it?

[@JettShum]

@@jacobjacob5735 definitely I got up in 2:45 and down in 2 hours but if you take your time 7 hours will be plenty! Take your time and set a slow pace because I felt dead after it 😂

[@jacobjacob5735]

@@JettShum Thanks for the information, I will take my time! Is much climbing experience needed or "just" endurance and determination?

[@JettShum]

@@jacobjacob5735 I’m not someone who likes cardio however I am 18 and I guess energetic, but yeah just keep pushing and if it’s sunny don’t forget sunscreen because I got burnt!

[@markwebster323]

Well done Jo! I’m impressed that you could speak at the summit! X

[@gowithjo1]

Thank you Mark - it wasn't EASY to speak lol!!! The whole hike was very hard work, but am proud I got through it!! X

[@terrydickinson7252]

You were lucky with the weather. It rained for six hours when I climbed!

[@gowithjo1]

I know - we did feel very lucky. Before going I’d watched other videos on YT of people climbing in the rain and it looked miserable… I’m so sorry for you…

[@mikiastra]

climbing mt fuji has recently become a point on my bucket list. the thing that does scare me though is not going up but down! i can feel my knees buckling just thinking about it 😂

[@gowithjo1]

Yep, coming down was HARD. For me it was definitely harder than going up!!! And it was on tired legs too!!!

[@davidharris2363]

Very impressive.Well done you

[@gowithjo1]

Thank you so much David - I was chuffed to bits that I did it! Though I do get exhausted now just LOOKING at the video!

[@wil.d_sage]

Just climbed it last week in one day: 5 hours up, 3 hours down. Living at 7500ft has its advantages when hiking

[@gowithjo1]

Well done you! wow you were speedy on the way down!! I found it harder on the knees on the descent than going up!!

[@wil.d_sage]

@@gowithjo1 it was terrible on my knees 😭 but we were on a time crunch unfortunately

[@gowithjo1]

@@wil.d_sage 😅😅😅

[@The_Fragile]

Awesome work - looks so beautiful! What taxi service did you use and did you have any concerns or problems with reserving it for so early in the morning? I'm hoping to do something similar and then take a late bus back to Tokyo after the hike.

[@gowithjo1]

Sorry for the late reply. I don't know the taxi service - the hotel arranged it for me. I had no concerns - they turned up both ways - make sure the bus back to Tokyo is late. I left the hotel at 3am and got back at about 5.30pm - but that was in Kawagachiko near Fuji....and I was EXHAUSTED. I would have struggled to do much beyond flop on my bed and visit the hotel's onsen to rest those limbs...which is exactly what I did straight afterwards!

[@The_Fragile]

@@gowithjo1 no worries, I greatly appreciate the response either way! Super helpful. I'm planning to stay at the same hotel and I asked to make some very early taxi arrangements :) Then I got a 5pm bus departure from 5th station, so I feel good about the time limit

[@gowithjo1]

@@The_Fragile yep, as long as you start early then 5pm should be good. Good luck - when are you doing it? Love to hear how it goes!!

[@junezhang2128]

Looks like a lot of legwork. I was thinking about mountain biking up there.

[@gowithjo1]

I don't think you can cycle on Fuji - I didn't see one bike there. I also think the trail doesn't make it possible...too rocky in too many places. And too many people - there would be nowhere for the bikes to go!!

[@MrJulius1318]

Well done... and a very good short video. Just wondering how your taxi can go from Kawaguchiko to 5th Station? Many websites mention that the traffic from Kawaguchiko to 5th Station is restricted only for bus between July to September. Take a taxi sounds like a good idea as my whole family (wife, 13yrs boy, and 10yrs boy) will try to climb in July 2024.

[@gowithjo1]

Hello there - gosh, I did this last year and a taxi was NO problem. Unless they've changed their rules for this year. They've changed a whole host of other rules - did you see my video on it? It's about timings and restrictions on numbers of people who can climb etc. But I hadn't heard of them restricting taxis...you'll have to check with wherever you are staying...good luck for your climb. It is a long slog. Hope your 10 year old is ok with it....

[@hudson8074]

Submitting in daisy dukes, tank top and a 20L pack is next level!!! 👏🏻👏🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@gowithjo1]

I did start off wearing more, but it soon got hot so off came the long trousers and top! As for the 20L pack, why would you carry more if you don't need to?

[@apstarsac3004]

Hi, how much was the taxi fare from your hotel to the 5th station? Thx!!

[@gowithjo1]

So, I can't remember exactly, but it WASN'T cheap. Something like £150 or £180 return...I THINK. It was a lot. But it is an hour ride each way...and they took us there at 3am, so a very anti-social hour. Whichever hotel you plan to stay at will let you know the price.

[@apstarsac3004]

@@gowithjo1 Thats an ok price, will probably do a single ride, thx!

[@martinhelmut3776]

Your best trip

[@gowithjo1]

Yes it was! I LOVE Japan - have you been?

[@martinhelmut3776]

@@gowithjo1 yes

[@sueoh7697]

Do you have to hire a guide to climb?

[@gowithjo1]

No you don't - we could have done it by ourselves and would definitely have been fine. It just gave us peace of mind....if I were to do it again (which is unlikely) I wouldn't take a guide...

[@tkonishi9778]

music......chinese?

[@gowithjo1]

good spot - it was hard to find good, suitable free KZbin library music for this....this was the best I could do that gave the right ambience, but not ideal for the reason you pointed out...

[@tkonishi9778]

music......chinese

[@ShemBoothSpain]

good climb, but yr using chinese music..doh, great video tho

[@ttkn25]

It's not easy for beginners to climb fuji. Don't foget to bring warmer jacket and pants with you. If climate changes, rain or snow, you 're gonna die.

[@gowithjo1]

yep, it's not as easy as people think!! And yes, it's also worth having layers in your bag to take off or put on, you're quite right...

[@phillydisc9708]

If you hike within the hiking window of July to September, you should be fine with avoiding snow. Cold rain is always a possibility, along with heavy winds. Check the weather, and don't push it if the forecast is for bad weather.

[@gowithjo1]

@@phillydisc9708 yes I've seen videos where it's lashing with rain and looks miserable. The day AFTER I climbed Fuji in these wonderful weather conditions I was still in Lake Kawaguchi and could see that Fuji was covered in thick black rain cloud - I was so grateful for the weather I got!!

[@JohnKreese-iq7uv]

Wow Spectacular u n the view x x x 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💕💕💕💕💕💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@gowithjo1]

TYSM John! 🤩