Gotemba

I often take this route down because it's the quickest route down the mountain and I can walk to the JR train station where the trains runs very late. On the other routes, the last bus or the last train back to Tokyo is around 6:00 or 7:00 pm. JR Gotemba station also offers the cheapest transportation from Tokyo which is necessary if you are thinking about coming here frequently.

Gotemba route became the most popular Mount Fuji climbing route when JR Gotemba station opened. Before JR Gotemba station opened, people who wanted to climb had to go climb up from Suyama and Fujiyoshida. The popularity of Gotemba route was its accessiblity. Even though, a tunnel through Hakone too most of the traffic from away from JR Gotemba station, the JR Gotemba was was the major rail connecting Shizuoka and Kanagawa. It was even proposed to make National Railway headquarter in Gotemba.
Unfortunately, when Kawaguchiko New Fifth Station route opened, it took most of the climbers away from Gotemba simply because it is much easier to climb Mount Fuji from the new fifth station. Gotemba opened it's New Fifth Station with large parking lot, but it was too late.
Of the New Fifth stations, Gotemba route is the least climbed simply because it is the lowest located new fifth station.
Gotemba route, however, has its charm. The ashes sprewed out by the last Mount Eruption cover this side of the mountain. They make climbing very difficult but it makes the descent very fun.
There is, also, a Gotemba Ekiden.

Route Pictures

  1. JR Gotemba station to Umakaeshi (Return horse)
  2. -> New 5th Station
  3. -> New 5.5 Station
  4. -> Old 5th Station
  5. -> Old 6th Station
  6. -> New 7th Station
  7. -> Gotemba Summit
  8. -> Descent - New 9th Station
  9. -> New 8th Station
  10. -> Hoeizan
  11. -> Old 6th Station
  12. -> Old 3rd Station
  13. -> JR Gotemba Station

Climbing Log