Miharashi-kan — Local services in Fujiyoshida

Being a solo female climber knowing most likely I won't find anyone speaking my language on Subashiri trail, I did a lot of research before choosing Miharashikan. I asked a friend in Japan to call and book for me a month in advance since the official Fuji website forcast that 12-13 August which was the period I was going was the peak time. I booked only the sleeping space without meals as I brought my own food and the arrangement cost 6,200 yen. The staff could speak English and will ask if you would like to get up during the night to walk to the summit for sunrise, or if you would get up early morning to watch the sunrise in front of the hut. I chose the latter because I wanted a full night's rest and I didn't want to get in a long queue of people squeezing for a spot at the summit (I really did a lot of research for this trip and I walked up Kinabalu before so I had an idea of what to expect near the summit in the early morning). The staff had secured a sleeping spot on the first floor not on the bunk and near the wall so it was very easy for me to get in and out without disturbing the person next to me too much which I was very grateful. The sleeping space consisted of only a sleeping bag and small pillow but was sufficient for me as I only wanted a place to rest with a roof and walls. The toilet at Miharashikan is traditional squat style with toilet paper provided but without any water so prepare your wet wipes or antibacterial gel for washing your hands. It's usually 200 yen to go to toilet for this particular hut (some other huts charge 300 or even 500 yen!). However, if you are their staying guest you can use the toilet as many times as you need for free. I think I had one of the best spots on Fuji for watching sunrise as more than half the guests walked up to summit during the night so the space and benches in front of Miharashikan was not crowded at all and everyone who chose to watch the sunrise here could enjoy the breathtaking scenery in peace. I'd recommend anyone going up Fuji on Subashiri trail to stay...

This mountain hut was better than I expected. There are quite a few benches with a very nice view for sunset. If you’re lucky you will get to see the shadow of Mount Fuji on the land below once the sun goes behind the mountain. There are two restrooms which are located outside the hut just a short walk away. They were clean enough and stocked with toilet paper. The food was ready pretty quickly once we arrived. They had two options for breakfast - a takeaway option for those leaving before sunrise, and a separate option for those leaving after sunrise. The sleeping quarters are tight but reasonable, as expected. My only complaint is the pillow was very hard as it was filled with some sort of beans. I recommend bringing your own small pillow if you have space, or use a jacket as a pillow because the provided pillow is very uncomfortable. Additionally I did feel a little rushed and in the way of everyone when checking in. They ask you many questions and tell you to write down the location of the bathroom all while taking your hiking poles and shoes and being stuck in the small entrance area (due to still wearing outside shoes) and blocking other people. But that’s not really a big deal.

I think this hut is located the perfect distance from the summit. It took us about 2.5 hours to get from this station 7 hut to the summit for sunrise. I would advise giving yourself about 3 hours (unless you’re confident and in excellent shape) to get to the top for sunrise since traffic is really slow once the Subashiri trail merges with the Yoshida trail. I recommend this station 7 hut (original) over the hut at the lower station 7 hut (new) because the distance between the two is pretty long and was one of the most difficult parts of the entire climb, in my opinion. It would not have been fun to start the sunrise summit with that stretch of trail. Overall I would...

I was disappointed that the staff complained about some of foreigners amongst themselves. My first language is English and I know some Japanese, and overheard them saying we were taking too long, which I felt was inappropriate and rude. I felt very unwelcome here. I was sad to see some hikers had to ask for their dinner several times before they received it. I had to argue to receive my breakfast on the way down, and I almost went hungry. The price gouging on emergency supplies was quite concerning to me. I was stressed there was no food or water available until 4am. I was worried about some hikers getting dehydrated overnight from altitude sickness. It made me uncomfortable that the accommodations were overbooked and spilled into the living room. I understand this is a mountain hut, but it was impossible for me to sleep in the living room because of people using the bathroom. I was very tired because wake up times were not sorted between rooms, which was common on previous hikes I have been on. I was exhausted and awake at 2am with people shuffling around. I recommend for safety someone does extensive research on mountain huts before climbing. I felt these conditions and the way I was treated were deplorable even with my low expectations of a...