Technically, I suppose we could make it up and down Mt Fuji with our kids – some 105-year-old made it, I suppose we could train… We like to hike, but 4-5 hours is the longest the family has ever done. (The kids aren’t old but they can easily outlast P2… and probably myself.) But given tight timing, altitude sickness, weather at the top, gear we’d need, I don’t think we will be ascending – this time.
So I’m looking for suggestions for nearby hikes, ideally ones that might yield a view of Mt Fuji if the view from below is blocked by clouds etc. We’ll be there in mid-August (just before Mountain Day), so rain / clouds looks like a significant possibility. I think we will likely have a rental car for a few days, since the Fuji Marriott seems pretty isolated.
I have run across mention of Mt. Ishiwari, Mt. Ohira, Mt Kintoki… for Mt Tenjo, we’d probably just take the ropeway to that one, if lines aren’t crazy. But I would love to hear from someone who did some hikes in the area, esp with kids. Thanks!
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The Gotemba Trail starts from 1400m, that’s about 2300m altitude gain and takes more than seven hours to the top — are you looking for something similar?
We did two hikes in March with 500m altitude gain, each took us about 4-5 hours with breaks, but it don’t think that’s what you’re looking for?
There are hikes on Mt Fuji that go to the lower peaks, these can normally be done fairly easily. A few years ago the wife and I did one because it was off season and I wouldn’t let her go to the top of Fuji herself.
I personally haven’t done this hike, but I have it on my tentative itinerary for October. I would read some of the reviews and determine if your kids are capable. A few stated that later parts of the trail have steeper drop offs. I watched a few youtube videos about the hike, and it seems to be a fairly simple hike.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/japan/yamanashi/mount-shimoyama-tenjoyama-kokoku-shrine?u=i
Hello, I recently (in February) did a 3-hours hike right at the skirts of Mount Fuji for a writing gig for Shizuoka Tourism Office. There are many trails that start at Mizugazuka Parking Lot, which can be accessed from Gotemba with a public bus. The trail was in most parts quite flat and on a sunny day offers – in certain sections – very close-up views of Mount Fuji. I personally found the hike very interesting and atmospheric – you can also visit a cave during the hike. There are various trails that you can chose from – and although it is in Japanese, this [website](http://www.kyuyorin.jp/) includes an overview of the trail options.
My vote is for Lake Yamanakako! I just got back from Japan and I wanted to see Fuji but without the insane crowds and a killer hike. I took a quick Kaba bus tour around the lake which gives you a perfect view of the mountain. Afterwards I took a long, slow stroll on the beach, with a beautiful view of Fuji in the background. There was a local udon and soba spot about 1/4 mile from the bus station as well as a hammock cafe with Fuji in plain view. This might be too little activity but for someone older or injured it would be perfect.
Mount Fuji isn’t this massively difficult hike to do especially if you go the route most people do. You do not need any specialized gear for it. They’ve made many of the paths so wide and flat that you could probably do it in tennis shoes. While I did sleep in one of the huts up on the mountain overnight total hike time up to the peak was probably 4-5 for me. I was an average shape at the time I would say.
My friends and I started hiking from the 5th station, which is the highest the bus takes you, and going to the top and back down took us about 10 hours. This was their first time climbing a mountain, and my only experience was Mt. Vesuvius. We had no special gear, and we did not really have the correct clothing either. Sneakers and a warm sweater did the trick. Though from the 8th station or the 9th, we did see 2 children with air canisters, from seperate families, but there were also Japanese children who talked to us and said they climbed Mt. Fuji for the second time that week so if your children are used to heights because you climb often, it shouldn’t be a problem, but be careful.