I Suffered On My First Mt. Fuji Climb | 12 Hours of Pain

I Suffered On My First Mt. Fuji Climb | 12 Hours of Pain

Welcome to Ryoto Japan. Right now I’m in Tokyo, Shinjuku to be precise, and I’m doing something I’ve never done before. Climb Mount Fuji. That’s right. After 50 years of being a professional Japanese person, the time has come. I’ve decided So, this particular tour will pick you up at the Sinjuku station and take you straight to the fifth station by bus. All you have to do is get there for half 7, which is another reason Chris isn’t with me. Buy some breakfast for a trip and you arrive at the gear rental shop about an hour or so later and a tool will prepare everything you need for the climb. Shoes, a backpack, a jacket for if it’s cold, as well as climbing sticks. You just need to bring a t-shirt and some long trousers. And today is the official opening day for the climbing season, which means lots of people, lots of television crews desperate for their interview with John Sang from California. hamburger. And since it’s the first day of the climbing season, there’s also a lot of rituals and rides going on to make sure that everyone who climbs can get back safely. So, we made it to the fifth station, which is about 2,300 m. And so, today’s plan is to get up to eighth station, which is about 1,000 m from here, hiking up and sleep at Mountain Hut. So, uh, I’ve got snacks, I’ve got water, I’ve got questionable confidence. So, let’s see how far it gets me. But, of course, it’s not just Japanese people climbing. So, guys, how you doing? Really good. All right. So, whereas from Australia, Sydney, Sydney, Bayon Bay, and Sydney. Sydney. So, um, it’s your first time. Are you feeling good or like are you ready? I love me. Oh, really? So, let’s do it together. All right. Okay. Okay. Thanks a lot. Okay, now all fully prepared, especially with my cool new red helmet, it’s time to start climbing. A AO authent. So now um I’m going into Mount Fuji for the first time in my life. So then now I think checking my wristband. So, you know, as a as they only permit the ones with this one to get in. Okay. So, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. That’s how they say. Okay. Okay. So, I’m in. Let’s see how it goes. It takes about 6 hours to get to the uh the eight station today. 6 hours. I don’t know. I don’t know if I can do it, but I will do it. So, from here is actual climbing. will be happening 6 hours of climbing and I think every half an hour there’s a break but that actually uh is good good for me cuz I don’t think I can just walk straight like 6 hours or anything but uh let’s see how it goes. In fact, the walk from the fifth station to the sixth station isn’t all that bad comparatively. The thing about mountains that they tend to get a lot harder to climb at the top. So, as of now, this is pretty easy. So, we are now at the sixth station. I’m already sweating like hell. a. So, um uh this sixth, right? And then we are going up the seventh and the eighth. And the eight is the place where the mountain hut is that we’re going to stay at. And then tomorrow morning wake up at like a 4ish I guess. And then we’re going to attack the peak. I mean it’s I’m already like exhausted. I don’t know what how how steep it’s going to be the Well, let’s see. Let’s see. Mount Fuji. I’m going to conquer you. Only one station down. I’m started to f it already. But luckily the people around me seem to be in high spirits. So these guys right I mean they do the u the the stone scissors paper and whoever lost has to carry all the bags crazy. But as we get higher and higher up the mountain climbing becomes a lot more tricky. And where are those beautiful views I was promised? So I’m climbing this rocky rocky hill. It is very steep. I don’t know for those of you have done a mount f climbing. I think you know why I’m climbing right now. But this is bit hard. It’s really hard to stabilize my camera. That’s the only thing I’m caring about. That’s it for Bushi for now. I’ll see you later. Still, it’s not all bad though. I just got a pack of Kit Kat. 11 of these are inside and they costed uh 700 yen. So, that’s about like $5. So, not bad actually being at 3,000 m high. But apparently uh uh they’re selling cup noodles here. I don’t know how much they are right now, but at the peak uh they actually selling at insane price. That’s what I heard. So, and I just wonder like how much they are. Need to check that out. Can you see? And through the magical part of Kit Kat. As we approach the seventh station, things start to look better as we ascend through the clouds. I mean I I know it’s it’s a beautiful view behind me the scenery from Mount Fuji but the thing is when you’re m when you’re climbing Mount Fuji you can’t see Mount Fuji and what you see is just the rocks and the people queuing. I mean, today is um the official opening day of Mount Fuji. That’s why there’s so many people climbing. But uh it’s my first time again. I said as I said and uh I don’t know this is Oh I wasn’t I didn’t expect the this to be this rock. But anyway, uh, still I’m coping with it. And here is seven station. Made it. After a while, you do stop thinking about how hard the climb is and it just becomes second nature to keep climbing. That may be part of the reason that mountain climbs like these are often used as rituals for Shinto, as a type of meditation. And Mount Fuji self is meant to be the home of the goddess Konohana Sakuyaime who is also the god of all volcanoes. So there is also a spiritual element to his climb too. As in a way we are praising her by visiting her at the summit. So please Mount Fuji please don’t erupt while climbing. I’ll give you a kick card. Excuse me. Is that our hut over there? Oh no that’s the last station seven. So we still have to go up to eight nowhere. How far is it from? An hour and a half maybe. You know what? Every time I see a building, is that like is that ours? And then someone says no. Oh, you can tell. Oh my god. You’re doing You’re doing it. Every single station you’re doing it. So here I am. That place I thought it was eighth station was actually seventh station. It was far away from there. Now I’m finally reaching the the real eighth station. Now I see the sign of it which is a toy gate. Everyone’s taking picture right in front of it. So there’s a traffic jam at the altitude of 3,00 whatever 200 whatever. I thought traffic j is something that only happens in a flat land but it’s not. It’s happening muji. Almost there. Almost almost there. Everyone come ready. Almost there. There you go. This is why there’s a traffic jam because there are people taking selfies and Insta 360 simultaneously. Exactly. That’s why there’s a traffic jam. You see station. Wooh. Made it. Oh, what a view. Ah, beautiful. God, this is a lot harder than I thought. I mean, it just went on and on and on for like 2 hours. Seven station kept went on and 2 hours, bloody 2 hours. And now finally, I am at real real seriously real a station. But this is not where we staying. We still need to like walk another half an hour and a half. Hour and a half. Yeah, an hour and a half. All right. Up there. Up there to uh the mountain hut. Uh I’m just so starving. I’ve been having Kit Kat for like last 2 three hours, but that’s not enough. I need something. So uh but anyway, I’ll try my best. No, I’ll see you later. But just as we were approaching the mountain hut, the heavens opened up. A sudden heavy downpour. No warning, no mercy. Hi again. I’m at uh I think 50% between the eighth station and ninth station. But uh it’s been raining for like last hour or so that like it makes your body cold and stuff. And but overall, I just want to say is that I’m just so starving. And then tonight, looks like we are having Japanese curry and a hamburger. Uh but besides that, I need a cup noodle. And uh but I need to check out the price first. Right. Okay. By the time we reached the hut, we were soaked, dripping from head to toe. But waiting at the entrance were people armed with blowers and towels. Not to dry us, not to greet us, but to cleanse us. One by one, we were gently but firmly blasted with air patted down like sacred artifacts as if entering a shrine. Are you well cleansed? Well cleansed. How is your uh climbing? It’s a a superb experience. One of its own kind experience I can say. Right. How was yours? Painful. Painful. Exhausting. Yes. Are you ready to climb up to the top tomorrow? Yes. Yes. Yes. Are you sure? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Let’s do that together. Right. Need a good night’s rest. Good night’s rest. Okay. Good. Thank you very much. So, uh, we are at Tommoan, which is the mountain hut that we actually staying tonight. And, um, the mountain hut in Japan like actually serves kind of special meals. And this Tommo Khan actually serves the hamburger on the rice and also special curry. Look at that. Look at that. Look at that. Look at that. Look at that. So, this is my dinner tonight. And then if this is not enough, then like I think I’m going to try the noodle. And I just saw the price. I was like 700 yen. And I don’t know um uh if uh you know because down there it’s like you know 200 y like even sometimes like 150 and 700 I don’t know if it’s worth it but if I’m hungry I think I’m gonna go for it. Anything that you eat after such exercise with 6 hours of climbing anything is good even this white rice. Good morning everyone. It’s 300 a.m. and I don’t want to wake up. Uh, this place is actually the mount is open 24 hours. It’s like a comini without pichiki. That’s what it is. So, we are leaving this place. We’re at 4:00 4 a.m. of course and attack to summit and weather forecast says it’s a bit cloudy and but you know I’m wishing for my luck to see just just bit of sunrise and I’m fine. So, um, you guys wish me luck as well. So, it’s 400 a.m. and we about to uh do the tack to the summit of Mount Fuji. I’m so excited. Uh, people are excited. We are like, you know, uh, have the hearts together to make it to the goal. All right. So, I will see you later. By the time we started climbing around half 4, the sky had already begun to light a soft bluish glow rising behind the ridge line. Climbing in that half light in silence, surrounded by the dozens of others moving steadily upward felt otherworldly. I couldn’t see the summit yet, but the path ahead was clear, illuminated by the soft glow of the morning sky. Look at this breathtaking view behind me. H air is still thing can’t breathe like normally at all but with this scenery I can cope with it I think since and this is the uh official opening day of uh Mount Fuji and this is the very morning the first sunrise you actually see this congestion of like of people coming down and these are the ones that who actually went up and to see the first sunrise in the like early in the morning. We had late ones. We actually had to see the little bit of a sunrise. That was really nice. But look at these people coming down. It’s pretty amazing to see like this this many people and such a high altitude. It’s the last 100 meters of the path to Mount Fuji. I just barely speak because of the the path has been like so rocky that and also that there’s a somehow the traffic jam at altitude of 3,800 which is pretty amazing and like you know my breath hear me can’t barely speak. This is the pig. This is the pig. It’s the pig. It’s the pig. Yes, it’s the pig. Oh, thank you very much. Thank you. Big the summit of Mount Fuji. This is the view from Mount Fuji white. But you know, we’re just so lucky that on the way here, we got to see the uh the sunrise. That was quite lucky. And uh you know, at least we actually made it to the top, the summit of Mount Fuji. Even though all I see is a gas and obviously it was tiring and exhausting and sweating and all that but I mean once in a lifetime. I mean one of the the participants said definitely once once in a lifetime. This is my first time I did it and I think it was worth it and and I really enjoyed it. Yeah. So maybe I don’t know if I want to do the second time but I really want to see sunrise right here at the summit. How was it? It was good. It It was really fun with a beer, of course. Worth every second. We need more air here. That wouldn’t happen. New Zealand. You need to go to New Zealand. New Zealand. New Zealand. You have to do it once in your life. Oh, there you go. How was it? Best beer ever. How was that? Must do, but very exhausting. Well, well, well, well. Thanks a lot. So, probably I think everyone enjoyed. Yes. So, for the ones who are interested in coming Fuji breathe. Yeah. Yeah. That is breathtaking. That’s what it is. Breathtaking. All right. So, thanks everyone. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. After hours of climbing, I’d made it to the highest point in Japan and I could barely see by own feet. So, no, I didn’t get the classic summit view, but I did get the sunrise. And in the mountains, that’s all you can really hope for. And besides, climbing Mount Fuji isn’t about what you see at the top. It’s about the challenge, the journey and the soul legs you’ll be talking about for next few days. So that’s it for the video. Uh what you think of it? I would not do it for another decade though. But it was totally worth it. So it just was just such a once in a lifetime experience and you really should try especially the uh the tour I joined. It’s called Wanda Wonder Japan Tour and uh it’s got the thing called gear package that it came with this helmet and backpack shoes and raincoat and all that. So if you’re interested in joining tour, please check out the description box below for the details. So I got to go back to Sai. So I got to hurry. So I will see you in the next video. So I made it. I made it to the fifth station where a bus will pick me up and take me back to Tokyo. Gosh, I did it. One of Oh, this is super good.

I joined a 1-night Mt.Fuji tour thinking, “How hard could it be?”

Answer: very.

Between the freezing wind, noodle-like legs, and a “mountain lodge” that felt more like a human storage unit, sleep was optional. But with new friends from around the world, we laughed, suffered, and somehow made it to the top. And that sunrise? Totally worth it. If you’re thinking of climbing Fuji… maybe watch this first.

👉 The tour I joined:
Wander Japan Mt. Fuji Climbing Tour 2025
https://willer-travel.com/en/tour/fuji/climbing/
📸 Instagram: @wanderjapan_trip

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