Climbing Mt.Fuji

Do you remember what I said to you about the climbing condition in the Southern Alps the other day? I heard, this year, there are a lot of snow on climbing routes in the vicinity of the summit of Mt.Fuji, too. Therefore, though Yamabiraki 山開き ceremony will be held today, Yoshidaguchi Trail 吉田口登山道 is permitted (to climb) only up to 8 1/2th Station(8.5合目)and three climbing routes in Shizuoka Pref are also under the similar conditions. According to newspapers, the concerned people are removing snow and, as early as today early evening, you would be able to start to climb up to the summit on the Yoshidaguchi trail, but full-opening of the other three is nowhere in sight.

■INFORMATION
・Fuji Visitor Center
・Climbing Mount Fuji on "japan-guide.com"
・Climbing Mount Fuji: Guide for Getting Lost in Japan on "The Gray's in Japan"

■EDIT (July 1, 2009)
Right now (at noon July 1st), you can climb up to the summit of Mt.Fuji on the Yoshidaguchi trail due to removing snow, but the other three routes in Shizuoka Pref remain shut down in the vicinity of the summit and, because descent routes (from the summit to the 5th station) remains shut down due to potential avalanches, the climbing (ascent) route will be used as descent route FTTB.

■EDIT2 (July 5, 2009)
- Information -
・Mt.Fuji Navi (Lodge / Access Map / Traffic Information)
- Closure Areas-
・Yoshida(-guchi) Trail : the descent route from the summit to the 5th station (the ascent route will be used as descent route FTTB)
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 8th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit
・Subashiri Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 5th station to the summit

■EDIT3 (July 8, 2009)
From today at noon, the blocked descent route on Yoshida(-guchi) Trail has been opened.
- Closure Areas-
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 8th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit
・Subashiri Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 5th station to the summit

■EDIT4 (July 9, 2009)
Tomorrow (July 10 at 0:00 A.M.), all of the blocked route on Subashiri Trail and the blocked route from 8th to 9th station on Fujinomiya Trail will be opened.
- Closure Areas- (July 10 or later)
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 9th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit

■EDIT5 (July 10, 2009)
- Information -
・Mount Fuji Guide (Mt.Fuji News (update) / Travel / Event / Forum etc )
- Closure Areas- (July 10 or later)
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 9th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit

■EDIT6 (July 13, 2009)
Tomorrow (July 14 at 0:00 A.M.), all of the blocked route on Fujinomiya Trail will be opened.
- Closure Areas- (July 14 or later)
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit

■EDIT7 (July 17, 2009)
Today (at noon on July 17), all of the blocked route on Gotenba Trail will be opened.

■EDIT8 (July 25, 2009)
How to apply the climbing mountain certificate of Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi Prefecture Tourist Association)

* If you'd like to get the up-to-date information, please refer to Fuji Visitor Center.

WARNING! Although the rainy season has been over in Kanto region, Yamanashi & Nagano, the weather conditions have still continued to be poor. When climbing, you have to put on the appropriate clothes and carry the proper equipments. Please beware of your physical condition & the weather.