The Fujinomiya Trail, on the Shizuoka side of Mount Fuji, is the shortest of the four trails leading up the mountain. More climbers take the Yoshida Trail, which is said to be the easiest, but the Fujinomiya Trail starts at a higher altitude (2,400 meters, about a mile and a half up). It’s also unique among the four trails in that you ascend and descend the same rocky route. On other trails, you’ll go up the mountain one way and come down another way.
This picture was taken just as we were beginning our climb—on Yama no hi, or Mountain Day, weekend, appropriately enough. It’s probably the best view we had looking straight up the mountain, not far from the bus stop at the 5th station. I’ve seen Mt. Fuji veiled in clouds often enough, but on the Fujinomiya Trail, we walked through some of those clouds. I may share some pics of misty Mt. Fuji in a future post, but for now, just imagine looking at blue skies one minute, then thick fog.