Here we go!

Checked out (two nights had whizzed by) and had breakfast early; at 6am. That was very convenient, 6am, as we would have time to walk to Shinjuku Station to catch the 7.30am express. Left luggage to be collected later in the day; didnt say at what time as we would be back at about 7pm and that might be too late for the hotel to hold our luggage. But, happy days! they will hold luggage for 24 hours. We'll collect luggage when we return that nigh and trundle the three blocks over to check in at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel.

The electronic board at the Keio bus office door showed that boarding was at bus stop 26 a short walk away.











We got there to discover that we were first in the queue (see the single finger? not the Japanese V sign, click to enlarge photo).
About 2 hours - give or take some minutes, and a good nap later, we arrived at Fifth Station.

Went for the nearest Shop for its restroom. 50Yen donation per person.

Lots of other climbers in various stages of dressing up for the climb.

Many were geared and togged like they were going to assault Mt Everest! which we discovered later to be good advice.


There were rental lockers, tiny ones for clean clothes and toiletries required after the climb and a bath.

And extra stuff that one may have brought along too much of.

We bought 2 climbing sticks - Must lah! - complete with bells but sans flag (either Japanese or US) at 1400Yen each. I'll bring our flag the next time.




Went thataway as pointed by the guy who sold us the flags and after a few minutes came upon the Starting point. The Fifth Station post. Had our photo taken.

The first few hundred metres up actually went down! It wasn't a steep downgrade; yet it made for a very difficult last bit on the return trip as we discovered later.




The path was very wide, and after the first downgrade slowly showed a very old folk friendly incline.

There was nothing tough about climbing Mt Fuji. The ground was firm, of a dark, soft fine sand-like material, and practically level.

And there were lots of climbers; many going briskly past us.






Please click here to continue Climbing Mt Fuji.