Climbing from Gotemba i3/13j

Click on the picture to enlarge.

  1. Click on the picture. The building at the center of the picture is a shop. The bus stop is at the front of this shop. If you are going to come down and take a bus down, remember this shop.
    The shop sell some snacks and drinks. There are also some vending machines.
    The Gotemba climbing route starts at the wooden torii near the center of the picture. There is a map of the route next to the entrance.
  2. Click on the picture to enlarge it.
    Check on the map to confirm the route and the average time.
  3. The official climbing season ends at the end of August. There will be a road block with a sign telling the climbing season is over and not to enter. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.
  4. The trail made up of pitch black ash.
  5. After about 5 minutes, you'll reach the old second station hut, Ishichaya (Stone Tea House). During the summer months (July and August), the hut is open and you'll be able to buy some water. It used to be 100 yen for all you can drink, but after people began to bring large containers, it became 100 yen for a small bottle.
    During the summer months, there are always some people sitting on the benches by the huts. This is also the checkpoint for the Fuji Ekiden.
  6. The route is to the left of the Ishichaya.
    There are two trails - the left trail leads to Futako-yama (Twin Peaks) and the straight trail up the slope leads to the summit. DO NOT TAKE THE LEFT TRAIL.
    The trail to Futako-yama merges with the trail from the back of the parking lot.
  7. Once up the slope, the trail branches again. There will be a trail marker post. The official ascending trail is to the left. The right trail is the descending trail.
    These trails merges again so it really doesn't matter too much which you take. The left ascending trail zigzags to lessen the strain on your legs and is easier to walk. The left (straight) trail goes straight up so it's a shorter distance, but it strains your legs walking on the sandy surface.
    If it's getting late, you might want to take the right/straight trail to same time. If you have time, take the left trail up the steps.
  8. This area can get very foggy. Try not to loose the trail. There should be a rope of the right hand side.
  9. The picture below is the descending trail. As you can see from the tracks in the picture, tractors use this trail to bring up and bring trash down the mountain.
  10. In about an hour, the trails merge. This is the New 5.5 Station. (11:00)
    The trail branches again into a climbing route and descending route. Go right to the ascending route. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT and up the descending route. It's very steep and you'll exhaust yourself before you reach the 7th station.
  11. There should be a remaining of a hut to the left hand side. I usually take a break here become the trail becomes steep from here on and there isn't any huts for some time after this.