Climb Mt. Fuji!

Japan is an incredible country with hospitable people and breathtaking landscapes. Any trip to Japan has something for everyone and the decision to go probably is not a difficult one for most people. If you are concerned about the money than you should know that 1) yes, Japan is more expensive than countries like Thailand and Peru and 2) it's easy to find good deals in Japan and enjoy a trip without breaking the bank.

Here are some tips for traveling in Japan on the cheap:

• Japan Rail Pass is a a MUST. It makes it so easy to travel around the country by train or "Shinkansen". These trains are FAST, safe, and easily navigable thanks to English signage in most parts of the country.
  
• Do breakfast and lunch on the cheap. Grab a delicious pastry from a bakery for breakfast and enjoy sushi or ramen for lunch. I guarantee you can find a good lunch for less than US$10 in any party of the country. Most Japanese restaurants also offer lunch sets.
• You will likely pay more for dinner but if you stop at any of the convenience stores before you go out for your meal, you can grab a snack and spend less on dinner. These stores offer yummy Japanese noodles, sushi, and sweets.You can easily get by on less than $30 a day on food in Japan and still enjoy local favorites.
  
• Business hotels are the way to go in the big cities. They are tiny but you don't spend much time in your room anyway. Accommodations are small but always clean and quiet.
  

Alright, so now you've decided you can afford to go. Now what do you do? Well, you climb Mt. Fuji!

Mt. Fuji, or Fuji-san as it is respectfully known to the Japanese, is the highest peak in the country. Fuji is a beautiful volcano whose image has become a de facto symbol of the country. Make no mistake, the climb is not easy. However, if you are in decent shape, you can make the climb. It took me about 4 hours to get up the mountain and 3 hours to come down. This is about average for someone who is in average shape. If you are in excellent shape you can do the climb faster, just be careful to trust your body and its limits.

A word of note for families: When I was on the mountain in July of 2008 there was a family of four coming down the mountain after reaching the top. The ages of the children? 7 and 10. If they've had hiking experience, you can bring your children on the mountain. However, I would consult with a doctor beforehand just to make sure.

First, decide when you want to climb. Climbing season for Mt. Fuji is officially July-August. It is very cold the other months of the year and can be very dangerous in the winter. I went the first week of July and was lucky to have no crowds but it was VERY cold. August is a busier month so have that factor into your decision.

Many people decide to climb at night because in order to see the sun rise. This is a nice option but remember the climb is strenuous so could be much harder if you are tired. Another downside is fog tends to roll in unexpectedly. There is no guarantee you will see the sun rise. Finally, the mountain gets VERY crowded and you can be lined up, elbow to elbow to people, trying to make it to the top. There are also places to rest on the mountain but these tend to be expensive.

My climb was the first week of July, on a Friday, during the day. There were no crowds but I also did not get to see the sunrise. A lot of the stations were closed as well.

Next, if you are taking the bus, you MUST reserve it in advance! Do this no more than one month in advance. The ride is about 2.5 hours and costs around US$56 round trip. If you do not speak Japanese, ask your hotel to make the reservation for you. You can also request a travel agent to make the reservation.

The following link contains all the way to access Mt. Fuji as well as the phone numbers to call: http://www.city.fujiyoshida.yamanashi.jp/div/english/html/accessdetail.html

Finally, you need to know what to pack.

• Water. I recommend a camel back. There is water on the mountain but it is expensive.
• Snacks. Make sure you pack good hiking snacks. There are also hot meals available on the mountain.
• DRESS IN LAYERS! There are bathrooms along the mountain if you get cold or wet and need to change. I wore water proof pants, tennis shoes, a short sleeved shirt, a fleece, water proof jacket, gloves, and hat. I added the layers as I need them. Remember, there's a good chance it could rain when you are climbing.
  
• Bring a pair of dry socks. If it rains you'll want them to change into.
• Buy the touristy walking stick! It will make your life so much easier as the climb is very difficult. You can pay a few dollars at each station to get the stick stamped. Just having it to lean on made a huge difference in the climb.
• Remember to pack light, but smart. It gets cold.

Make sure you know when the last bus leaves for the day. If you get stuck, you'll have to pay to spend the night at 5th station.

I can't say it enough-have a walking stick!

Take lots of pictures and enjoy a wonderful trip! Mt. Fuji is an amazing accomplishment.