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Fujisan Winter Climbing Warning

Mt. Fuji is 3776m above sea level and has conditions that kill climbers every year. The official climbing season is limited to two months, July and August. It is considered very dangerous to climb during the off-season.

Winter conditions on the mountain are similar to those found on 8000m Himalayan peaks and are dangerous for even the most professional alpinists.

Three Deadly Reasons to Stay off Mt. Fuji in the off-season:

● Avalanche. Mt. Fuji is the perfect domain for avalanches due to its steep slope and lack of vegetation. When a slab of ice breaks free, hikers are pummeled against snow, ice, and trees and buried as if encased in wet concrete.
● Winds. Strong winds literally blow climbers off the slippery slopes. There have been several cases of tents flying off of the slopes with their occupants onboard.
● Hypothermia. Though not limited to the off-season, hyperthermia is a life-threatening condition that proves fatal if not diagnosed and treated properly. It is the result of a hiker's core body temperature dropping and internal organs succumbing to the cold.

Those wishing to climb Mt. Fuji in the off-season face considerable danger and a lack of:

●Rescue Personnel
●Mountain Huts. Most mountain huts close at the end of season, but some stay open into September. After September, there is no lodging, food, or water on Mt. Fuji.
●Transportation. The road to the 5th Station is closed for most of the year. Buses, if running, are infrequent and thus climbers become stranded on the mountain over night.

To climb Mt. Fuji during the off-season winter months, the Yamanashi police department asks for the following Climbing Form to be filled out. Please download and email as an attachment or Fax to the Yamanashi Prefectural Police Department (email and fax written at the bottom of the form):

Police Climbing Plan Form:

Word Download

PDF Download

If you are climbing from one of the other routes in Shizuoka Prefecture (Subashiri, Gotemba, or Fujinomiya) you must fax the completed form (above) to Shizuoka Prefectural police: FAX: (81)54-271-3776. No email is available.

Please contact the international affairs desk for more information iadfuji@city.fujiyoshida.lg.jp