Mount Fuji Gotemba 5th Station — Attraction in Gotenba

This is a desert simulator, the other reviews that mentioned this is a tough hike, it is.

You will have to buy tickets and board the shuttle bus from the gotemba train station, there's a counter at the bus stop where you can enquire more details. There is also a kiosk for you to buy the bus tickets. Do remember to check out the bus schedule and plan your ascend/descend.

There's a information center and a small souvenir shop (that sells some gear too) at the 5th station. There will be a counter where they check your admission ticket and give you a wristband.

The hike is long, arduous, not sheltered at all, there are no trees. It is steep and the ground are covered in sand, stone and gravel. At steep sections(which are pretty much 80-90% of the journey), every step you take, you will slide down abit. That's the characteristic of this trail that makes it even tougher and draining on top of its long distance. Take small strides, use hiking poles, walk in zigzag, do whatever you need to make the hike less tiring.

Take note of the distance between station, plan your water and food breaks (e.g. rest every 45mins or drink water every 1hr etc).

Be it whether we are dumb to not heed other reviews' advice on it's toughness or we wanted to challenge ourselves or we love pain or we booked the hut too late and we only had gotemba hut available, come prepared for it, it is always better to bring more than to bring less.

Lastly, there are definitely times where it feels tough and you want to give up and that's part of the trail experience. It is not just physical but also mental. Remember to take it 1 step at a time.

Right, if you collect stamps, there is a stamp station at 5th station information counter and also at the warajikan...

Starting at an elevation of 1440m, there is a reason why this route to summit Mount Fuji is the most neglected. Because of its difficulty, it is why fewer people climb the Gotemba route. Be ready, physically and mentally, to take on this trail.

How does a 5-star review explain the journey without making it feel trivial like it's another adventure?

Climbing this route means one is fully exposed to the elements Mount Fuji bestows on you. Expect sunshine, cold, clouds, hail, rain, lightning, thunder, and wind. The texture of this earth is mostly volcanic rock, where some steep surfaces feel otherworldly. There are moments of natural beauty everywhere.

There is no cover for the 7 to 8-hour climb. Station 6 has the first bathroom for 300 Yen. The other stations have no vending machines. At one station, I spent 2000 yen for two liters of water.

For those reading this before climbing, reaching the summit will be unforgettable. It is an exceptional accomplishment for anyone willing to take this less-traveled route.

Honestly, it feels difficult to review this trail! It feels private and personal to share. This trail pains and made demands on my body that I didn't know I could overcome. It hurt. And then there were the few people, along a stretch of the trail, with whom I met and spoke. Their expression and tone spoke with a pursuit of joy in a quest. They gave me hope not to turn back, even as the hail and rain fell. I won't forget them either. And I hope you don't turn...

富士登山口の一つ、御殿場口はロングコースで健脚向けの登山道です。 標準で11時間以上、標高差2250m，距離は17キロにも及びます。

全編で素晴らしい眺望のコースでした。 技術を必要とする危険箇所はありませんが健脚向け、ロングコースの登山経験豊富な方にオススメしたいコースです。 麓のトイレでは「最も過酷で上級者向けのコース」とのアナウンスが流れます。

足をとられる火山灰の登山道が5合目過ぎまで連続していて、コーススペック以上に厳しさを感じる印象を受けました。 また、岩の多くなる8合目からは傾斜もキツく、とても長く感じました。

それらを乗り越え立った御殿場口山頂、半端ない達成感でした。 少し歩き富士宮山頂へ行くと浅間大社や山頂郵便局、山小屋などもあり参拝や休憩、買い物ができます。

さらにお鉢を周り、ひときわ高い剣ヶ峰が富士山の最高峰となります。山頂待ちが発生しますが、初めてなら待ってでも寄りたい所。 その瞬間、日本中の誰よりも高い所に立っていると言う事実に心震えます…！

時間には余裕があったのでお鉢周りしました。吉田口山頂の山小屋も回ることができますし、景色的にもかなりオススメですが、下山時間には注意。

当日は最高の天気と見晴らしで一生の思い出となる登山になりました。

なお、このルートの下山は大砂走りと言う火山灰の深い砂利を利用した「走れる下山」が人気です。

※...