Day 1 (1 PM - 5 PM)

I boarded a bus from Tokyo's Shinjuku station heading to Fuji Subaru Station at the 5th station trailhead. Heavy rain began immediately, and I admit being unprepared: "I was in a spring jacket and jeans...ever so slightly under dressed." Finding a discarded pack cover on the trail proved fortunate. By evening, I reached Toyokan Inn (between 7th-8th stations) exhausted and soaked.

Day 2 (1 AM - 5 AM)

At 1:30 AM, climbers heading down informed me the summit is closed due to severe weather. I initially retreated but reconsidered at 5 AM, deciding to push forward after observing small groups continuing upward.

Day 2 (6 AM - 10 AM)

Two Japanese teachers noticed my struggling and generously shared water, food, and companionship. This chance meeting transformed the experience. Together we reached the summit around 10 AM, where weather briefly cleared, revealing spectacular views. The group shared ramen at the summit hut.

Return Journey (11:30 AM - 8 PM)

Facing time constraints to reach Kyoto by 6 PM, I rushed down the Fujinomiya trail. Back at 2:20 PM, I caught a city bus to Shin-Fuji Station, then two bullet trains to Kyoto. A chaotic taxi ride through rush hour finally delivered me to a traditional guesthouse, where I enjoyed fresh sushi prepared by a non-English speaking chef.

Key Lessons Learned

I identified four major mistakes:

1. Wearing inadequate clothing for mountain weather
2. Carrying an umbrella instead of proper rain gear
3. Bringing both large packs instead of leaving supplies at the base
4. Not obtaining the guesthouse address in Japanese characters

Themes

The narrative emphasizes how unexpected challenges—severe weather, missed sunrise, tight schedules—ultimately enriched the experience through encounters with kind strangers and personal resilience.