14:45 taking a break in front of Toyo-kan. If you look below clouds are spread out for us to see.

Continuing on, we climb a steep rocky area. Above the climbing routes there are chains prepared, so you can use them to help you climb as well.

We take a break on a steep slope. Make sure to not overwork yourself and take enough breaks.

An amazing view spreads about.

15:30 We arrive at Taishikan which is located at the 8th. The height is 3100 meters. At the 8th there are emergency health facilities as well. (Due to it being the end of August it was closed)

Due to altitude sickness our heads started to throb.

■ Just one more push until we reach our place to stay for the night! (from 8th to hon-8th)
After passing the Horaikan right after the Taishikan, you will be climbing up a hill of pebbles.

We met two elderly men on our way. They were breathing from oxygen cans to make sure they didn’t get altitude sickness.

From this point on perhaps due to altitude sickness, we felt our feet become heavier. We continued taking breaks between walking very short distances.

Right under our eyes, there are climbing paths and huts, and the foot of the Mountain.

We began to see the tori. This is a pioneer room at the height of 3250 meters.
It is still long ways to go.

While fighting with altitude sickness, we take each and every step, and finally arrive at the Mountain Fuji Hotel at 3400 meters.
The time is 17:00. Because the sun had moved behind the clouds, it had become dim.

Under our eyes there is the Mountain shade of Mt. Fuji reflected onto the sea of clouds, we were able to see a “Fuji shade”.

■Staying the night at the Mt. Fuji Hotel
When we arrived at the hut, after giving the staff our ticket, we were taken to our rooms.
We were told to put our climbing shoes into a shoe box.

There are bunk beds placed on tatami mats and we were assigned sleeping spaces.
The space is big enough for two people. A pillow and blanket were prepared, and there was a shelf and hook above your head to hang your backpack.
There were already people there, it seemed like they were taking a nap.

The temperature outside had started to decrease down to 7 degrees.
Because it was past 17:00, it was dinner time.

Dinner was curry and rice. At the same time we received the next morning meal in the container of a bento.

Perhaps due to arriving at the hotel, we were relieved from our nerves, and suddenly felt a great sense of tiredness. Having been attacked by the altitude sickness symptoms such as headache and nausea we could barely touch our dinner.
We could only eat about half of the curry rice.

After dinner our physical conditions worsened pretty severely, so we decided to sleep.
We could not fall asleep easily, and our breathing became heavy. The idea of giving up climbing to the top also crossed our minds.

Same as the other huts, on Mt. Fuji there were bathrooms with fees compounded. 200yen.
It was a very cleanly kept bathroom that we used often.

The next thing we knew we had fallen asleep and when we woke up it almost felt like the night before was a lie, the headaches and nausea were gone. It was around 1:00 am.

■We make our way towards the top in a midnight climb (from the 8th to the very top)
Because our bodies had returned to normal, we decided to make our way to the very top.
Due to it being a midnight climb, preparation of equipment became necessary. Going outside it was cold as midwinter, so there was a great need to protect ourselves from the cold. After preparing and putting on our a head lamps, we depart the Mt. Fuji hotel at 2:20.

We were surprised when we went outside. There were lines of climbers with head lamps already climbing the paths.
This is the midnight climbing rush that we had heard about.

While forming lines with the other climbers, we continue climbing the paths.
Due to pebbles and rocks it became difficult to walk.
Finally, after passing the hut to see the sunrise, we continue further above to the very top. This is the most difficult place. We climb hard with each and every step.

Right under our eyes there was a streak of lights from the head lamps of the climbers.

3:15, we pass the 9th (3600 meters) where the torii is located.
We continue up on a zip zagged path. There are large rocks also rolling around but if you choose your route carefully, you can climb safely.

■Related Post
*Mt. Fuji experience report (Yoshida route) Part1
*Mt. Fuji experience report (Yoshida route) Part3
*Mt. Fuji experience report (Yoshida route) Part4