https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html Gary J. Wolff's blog keeps you up-to-date with my everyday life in Japan, as well as recent additions/changes to the GaryJWolff.com website. en-us Gary J. Wolff's blog Mon, 5 Oct 2026 09:24:06 -0400 Mon, 5 Oct 2026 09:24:06 -0400 garyjwolff.com https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#leo0ab436294a77bef49e4b1489be6d9a9aEver seen a performer who can impersonate BOTH Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll, AND Michael Jackson, the King of Pop? Me neither, till yesterday when internationally acclaimed tribute artist Leo Days from Arizona, USA thrilled a packed house in Tokyo at one of the first stops on his 2026 "Two Kings" Japan tour (17 shows in 18 days). WOW, it was very surreal, almost as if the Two Kings had returned! (click link to watch exciting 29-min. video!) Mon, 5 Oct 2026 09:24:01 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#mief6cf862a35bd0976370e794316aeac7fClick link to hear the sweet voice of this amazing Japanese vocalist on the occasion of an early celebration of her birthday! Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:22:25 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-9-2502bb553210ea24fe1c39b379d0290b28Shizuoka Prefecture will impose an administrative penalty of up to 50,000 yen ($315) on people rescued on Mount Fuji during the off-season who did not previously submit a climbing plan. Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki announced the policy at a news conference on Sept. 24, adding that the fines will start in the next off-season and that they are intended to prevent reckless climbing. The off-season usually runs from mid-September to the end of June, and the winter weather can create hazardous conditions on the mountain... (click link to learn more) Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:42:07 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#turbo9f26ee4944e46a3b83f2a27155b6e3dbDr. Peter McCullough, one of the most published cardiologists ever in America, & Dr. Drew Pinsky, a globally recognized addiction medicine specialist, share their views on what we can do now in the wake of the tsunami of post-Covid-19 pandemic turbo-cancers. (click link to read more & view 2-min. video) Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:54:13 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#100712f76fd57195ddaa89514bc03610a37The number of centenarians in Japan has topped 100,000 for the first time and hit a record high for the 56th consecutive year. Japan's health and welfare ministry says the number of people aged 100 or older in the country as of September 1 increased by 7,914 from last year to 107,677. Women accounted for about 88 percent of the total at 94,298, while there were 13,379 male centenarians. The oldest person is 114-year-old Kishimoto Fuyo of Kyoto City. The oldest man is 112-year-old Kato Hikaru of Kumamoto City... (click link to read more) Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:59:33 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-9-11a4ca3e8a2a6ce9c491601668ce04a03eMt. Fuji's climbing season ended on Thursday, with foreigners accounting for 32 percent of climbers during the season that began about 2 months ago. The figures were compiled for the first time using an online trail reservation system introduced this year, which collected hikers' information including their nationalities. The number of hikers on the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of Mount Fuji in central Japan, the most popular of the 4 trails, rose 17 percent from the previous year to around 170,000, according to the prefectural government... (click link to learn more) Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:13:55 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-9-10c8f478c4255819fd5b432324c7a32fd5On September 9, two solo climbers were found in cardiac arrest along the Fujinomiya route. One, a man in his 50s, was discovered near the summit; the other, a Thai man in his 60s, was found near the New 7th Station. Both were later confirmed dead. Neither showed obvious external injuries, according to police, and their causes of death have not yet been reported... ...On September 6, a 62-year-old man from Tokyo was found dead around the 8th station of the Gotemba route after another climber reported that he was unwell. He was believed to have been climbing alone. (click link to learn more) Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-9-81dac554b012c4e4dc65945076241ecd0It has been learned on the 8th, through interviews with multiple sources, that Yamanashi Prefecture is in the final stages of negotiations to charge for rescue operations by disaster relief helicopters following accidents caused by reckless climbing on Mt. Fuji. Following a series of accidents on Mt. Fuji during its closed season, the prefecture is considering charging for rescue operations by disaster relief helicopters... ...The prefecture plans to announce details about charging for rescue services on Mt. Fuji soon. (click link to learn more) Wed, 9 Sep 2026 03:55:22 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#tom2bd0fb2d13e23380df24ec498ea28153fOnce again 13-yr-old wonder child Tom knocked it outta the park impersonating Elvis Presley at Kento's Shinjuku on Aug. 30, 2026. 0:00 Jailhouse Rock 2:33 Let It Be Me 5:26 Can't Help Falling in Love You 8:21 Love Me Tender 11:07 Unchained Melody 14:22 I Just Can't Help Believing 17:39 All Shook Up (abbreviated unexpectedly by Paddington Bear!) :-) (click link to view video) Wed, 2 Sep 2026 08:31:41 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#morida354eea20c2893774ff22aff7e1b4bbIn 1992 a young Japanese man became the first and only Asian Elvis tribute artist ever to win the International Elvis Impersonator Contest in Memphis, Tennessee. That's right.... he beat out all American contestants! Since then Mr. Yasumasa Mori (森泰正) has continued to actively perform live on stages both in Japan and abroad and has appeared in all major TV & print media in both Japan & America, including all 3 major television networks in the U.S. So yesterday in Kento's Live House in Shinjuku, I was honored to see the amazing Mori-san, along with other accomplished pro musicians, perform in celebration of the 44th anniversary of his debut as an Elvis tribute artist. Now in his 60s, as you will see in this video, this remarkable Japanese entertainer hasn't skipped a beat!... (click link to read more & view video) Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:06:26 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-8-2200f84ba5486bdfdd7b93a7308b17e628On the morning of August 19, a 33-year-old German woman began hiking the Fujinomiya Trail, beginning at the trail’s 5th station. In the afternoon, the woman reached the 8th station, when she was suffering from altitude sickness symptoms. After undergoing a medical examination at the 8th station’s medical center, the woman secured accommodations in a mountain hut and rested through the night. The next morning before dawn, the woman got back on the trail and pressed on to the summit. She eventually made it to the peak, but at some point, the woman began to once again suffer from altitude sickness. She was able to make her way back down to the 8th station, but felt so unwell, she had to be transported in a bulldozer back down to the 5th station, after which she was then transferred to the hospital for examination and treatment. (click link to learn more) Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:01:26 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#7-y-oa81d9e467f81063877dc3a01978c4373A 48-year-old father from Nagoya, Japan, was reprimanded by police after leaving his 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji while continuing a climb toward the summit with his older child. The father was climbing Mount Fuji’s Fujinomiya Trail on Aug. 20 with his 2 sons, ages 7 and about 12 or 13. The younger boy became tired around the 6th station, roughly 2,500 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level. The father told the child to “wait here” and continued climbing with the older son... ...A mountain hut worker found the 7-year-old sitting alone on a bench around 7:40 a.m., brought him inside and contacted police. By the time police reached the father, he had already climbed near the 8th station. Police ordered him to return for his son... (click link to learn more) Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:58:20 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#quake73bce576636bcf54aafc134df6d3fff0If you've ever wondered what might happen if a major quake struck while you're undergoing surgery, here's how it looked last week in a hospital operating room during the M7.1 Kumamoto, Japan quake. Scary stuff! 😲😱 (click link to view shocking 2-min. video) Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:52:57 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#august3af8bf5270f1fc4dac5e029f12a9a7bd- Trees are whistling for dogs.<br> - The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.<br> - Hot water now comes out of both taps...<br> ...(click link to see rest of the list) Thu, 6 Aug 2026 06:18:51 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#tomatoes58fd515282ffb40fb26681dec1ccd90bIt's a bumper crop season for Japanese mini-tomatoes on my veranda this year. Yay! 🤙👌👏🙏 (click link to view photo) Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:27:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-7-229a62c679709877c531bfc73ac6a97b59On July 17, a 65-year-old man from Nara was making the Fujinomiya Trail ascent as part of a tour group. At around 6:30 in the morning, as the group was continuing upward between the 8th and 9th of the 10 stations along the trail, the man fell and struck his head against a hard surface. Emergency rescue and medical services were called for, but the blunt impact resulted in the man’s death. Four days later, on July 21, a 58-year-old Swiss man was hiking along the same trail with his son in the afternoon. They stopped to rest in a mountain hut near the Fujinomiya Trail’s new 7th station, but while they were there, the father lost consciousness. His son alerted the hut’s staff and they summoned the Shizuoka Prefectural Police’s mountain rescue team, who reached the hut shortly before 4 p.m. (click link to read more) Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:11:49 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-7-19ececa06d8bf8bb2298a41acf324b7ad3The unemployed woman from Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture attempted to reach the summit over several days but fell on the 16th, injuring her waist and hips. After taking a break, she resumed climbing but became unable to move near the original 7th station on the Fujinomiya trail and called the police. The woman was then rescued by the Shizuoka prefectural police's mountain rescue team on the 17th. The prefectural police are calling for "the promotion of reasonable climbing plans that take into account climbing experience, physical strength, etc." Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:15:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/does-the-mt-fuji-summit-post-office-sell-unique-stamps.htmlae8ce2959a4d10ac914fd26580c2bbf6I've researched this question and have been unable to find an answer. I'd like to avoid standing in line to buy stamps for my postcards and will buy the stamps before I climb unless there are stamps at the top that are unique to Mt Fuji and can only be purchased there. I assume it's just the cancellation that's unique. Thanks for your help. Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:10:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-7-150d8de8d440677c1d71f0111798208b6cOn the morning of July 11, a 54-year-old man from Kobe arrived at the start of the Fujinomiya Trail... The man started hiking and, by around 2 p.m., was getting close to the trail’s 8th station... He’d become so exhausted during the hike, though that he now knew he didn’t have the stamina to make it the rest of the way to the peak, and so he called for an emergency rescue. A team of Shizuoka Prefectural Police was dispatched and transported the man back down to a mountain hut near the trail’s 7th station, where they instructed him to rest, as he hadn’t suffered any injuries during his attempted ascent. The man followed his rescuers’ directions and slept overnight in the hut, spending around 11 hours in the facility. The next morning, at around 6:45 a.m., he began walking back towards the bottom of the mountain, but after an hour or so on the trail, he once again called for a rescue, saying “I was worried this was going to happen” and “I’m too tired to walk any farther.” (click link to learn more) Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:05:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/Gary-J.-Wolff-blog-archives-jan-mar-2026.html73bd9ea221696c92979b9e58a52bd3c5This page shows archived posts for Gary J. Wolff's blog from January-March, 2026.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:00:04 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fujis-fujinomiya-trail.html8747e41b425085cf37aa5b2f0cb42f34Pics, video, maps, and trail description of my Aug. 2012 climb of Mt. Fuji's Fujinomiya Trail, the shortest route to the highest point in Japan.
Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:15:14 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-7-149e2cc1440df387915b763025e7d88f09On July 10, Shizuoka Prefecture recorded 1,487 climbers on Mount Fuji's opening day for the Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails. This figure represents an increase of over 550 people compared to the same day last year, which local officials attribute to calm weather and a favorable calendar date. ...International tourists accounted for approximately 28% of the total crowd, with 425 foreign climbers marking a slight increase from the previous year's numbers. (click link to learn more) Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#pan1eecd226c165b9926f340d6d1ce4d0afI guess I’ve been living in a cave, but last week was my first time to ever see an automatic pancake making machine. Just wave your hand over the sensor and in just about a minute later out p​ops a cute little golden brown ready-to-eat, pancake. Wow! At first I was thinking, hey, this is a pretty cool new Japanese invention, but according to Wikipedia, the earliest known pancake machine was invented in the US in 1928. The Popcake-brand machine that I saw was invented by an Australian man and now over 7000 of his machines are used worldwide… (click link to watch video) Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:56:46 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-7-78debf1326188d18ce9c18688e83f180bAs of July 3 bus operator Fujikyu Bus now runs a nightly bus that leaves from Busta Shinjuku, the bus terminal adjacent to Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station, and arrives at Mt. Fuji’s Fifth Station the following morning... The bus departs at 11:25 p.m. and goes directly to Mt. Fuji, arriving at 2 a.m. That gives you around one hour to acclimate and take care of any final pre-hike preparations before the Yoshida Trail opens at 3 a.m... The bus fare is 5,800 yen (US$36) if purchased at a convenience store or the bus terminal, or 5,500 yen for those making an online reservation through the highway-buses.jp website... The overnight bus is scheduled to be offered through to the September 9 departure/September 10 arrival, ending on the final day of the 2026 Yoshida Trail hiking season. (click link to learn more) Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:41:14 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-reach-the-summit-of-mt-kitadake-from-the-hirogawara-trailhead.htmlb9a7fd1d898bf382ba3b177e252bacc6Hi, can I check how long it takes you to start from Hirogawara (広河原) trailhead to reach summit of Mt. Kita-dake? Sun, 5 Jul 2026 00:39:34 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-7-13d9a44e7d73abe7b7bae2d8eeb8bd12cMount Fuji climbing season opens with 2 trails, new fee kiosks ease crowds Mount Fuji's climbing season commenced Wednesday as two of the four main hiking trails opened, with hikers making their way to the summit greeted by a clear sunrise breaking through clouds around 4:30 a.m. in fair weather. Yamanashi Prefecture has set up two self-service payment kiosks for the 4,000 yen entrance fee at the 5th station on the most popular Yoshida Trail this year, to ease congestion for those who had not preregistered. The Subashiri Trail on the Shizuoka Prefecture side also opened on Wednesday, earlier than in past years. The 2 other trails (Fujinomiya & Gotemba) on the Shizuoka side of the 3,776-meter mountain will open on July 10 as usual... (click link to learn more) Thu, 2 Jul 2026 20:55:36 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#shltr438ba78f2d7d156891955b567c614941As Mt. Fuji prepares for the start of the 2026 climbing season on 1 July, 2 new emergency shelters have been installed on the Yoshida Trail, improving climber safety in the event of a volcanic eruption or other mountain hazards. The reinforced concrete shelters have been built along the Yoshida descent route near the 7th and 8th stations, and are designed to withstand volcanic debris. Inside, rubber flooring has been installed to help reduce the risk of electric shock during lightning strikes. The shelters have been built into the mountainside to minimise their visual impact on the World Heritage-listed site. Each shelter measures around 2 metres (6.6 feet) high, 2.5 metres wide and 5.4 metres deep, and can accommodate up to 135 people during an emergency... (click link to learn more) Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:47:27 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-6-257449a97f434fb276fa78b48e55cbe901A group of 4 cities and 1 town in Shizuoka Prefecture around Mt. Fuji on June 19 asked Gov. Yasutomo Suzuki to create a system to restrict climbing outside the summer season and to require climbers to bear the cost of rescue operations if they get stranded. ...The request called for "strict action against entrants who do not follow the rules," including thorough enforcement of winter traffic restrictions on prefectural roads, and for mechanisms such as an ordinance to regulate winter climbing on Mount Fuji by restricting unauthorized entry. It also urged early consideration of a system requiring stranded climbers to pay the full cost of rescue operations during periods when prefectural roads are closed. Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures are considering charging for disaster-prevention helicopter rescues and restricting entry. ...Charging for rescue helicopter operations would require revisions to laws including the Police Act and the Fire and Disaster Management Organization Act... (click link to learn more) Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:24:02 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#tedca94516a6bdb94e1223c8d87ca5a3bc4A wonderful man reflects back on many heartfelt memories of his twin brother who passed away 18 years ago, in the form of a beautiful, prayerful song. (click link to watch video of very touching song with lyrics) Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:02:21 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-6-952298fc35e356e26b1adaf03ab3a37a2When our reporting team went to the site on June 9th, we found that signs and walls in multiple languages, including Japanese, English, and Chinese, had been erected at the entrance to the hiking trail, indicating that passage was prohibited, and that a state of high alert was in place. The hiking trail from the 5th station of Mount Fuji to the summit is closed to traffic according to the Road Act. However, on the 9th, while I was covering the event, foreign tourists climbing the mountain kept appearing one after another. Mayor Sudo of Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, has raised his voice in anger over the recent string of mountain accidents on Mt. Fuji in winter. "I would like the penalties to be made stricter. I would like the law to be changed so that rescue is entirely at the individual's expense." (click link to learn more) Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:32:19 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#tom2f14a45dfe8b29377cb45459cbe50017...thrilled his fans at Kento's Shinjuku on May 31, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (click link to watch Tom's video) Wed, 3 Jun 2026 07:35:59 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-6-30fde8ed2a69348e198db9c6c5d720090The desire to avoid the crowds has been driving many people to climb Mt. Fuji during the offseason. Analysis of human traffic conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and Location AI using data from smartphones of Japanese residents showed a minimum of around 10,000 people climbed Mt. Fuji outside the designated climbing season every year from 2019 to 2025. The climbing season in those years ran from early July to Sept. 10, with the remainder of September totaling the highest monthly number of offseason climbers... (click link to view photo & learn more) Wed, 3 Jun 2026 06:45:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#venus23d9d3c89d8de2179c9a03b5c48308efTo all my fellow passionate stargazers in the northern hemisphere... as you know, Venus is our brightest planet and Jupiter is 2nd-brightest. You can’t miss them... they outshine ALL the stars! About every 3-5 years, these 2 blazing worlds come together in a way that’s truly spectacular. They’re gearing up to do that RIGHT now. Their conjunction will be around June 8 and 9. In Tokyo our 2 brightest planets are now already clearly visible every night in the western sky after dark (Venus the brighter one on the lower right) & on May 12, they were about 30 degrees apart... (click link to read more & view star chart) Wed, 27 May 2026 10:24:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#human79701d5810a952fd3244ef98e7c5c6a4A police officer discovered the lower half of a human body near Sengen Toge pass in the Nippara district of Western Tokyo’s Okutama on Tuesday. ...The droppings and footprints of a large animal were found in the vicinity, and police are working to identify the body. They believe it is possible the person died as the result of a bear attack or a mountain accident. ...Starting on Tuesday morning, a team of about 30 people — including police officers and members of a local hunting club — searched the area, as a result of which they found the body at the bottom of a cliff about 100 meters from the hiking trail... (click link to learn more) Wed, 27 May 2026 10:23:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#26-5-1357897860c86d92fb473818d3e8ae539dAmazing! I don't recall ever seeing anything like this before... (click link to see mind-blowing video of Japanese woman performing beautiful aerial silks act) Wed, 27 May 2026 10:22:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/mt-kita-dake.html5e9e593246b662bab0cd000a64b80273Pics, maps, and trail description of my Oct. 1993 hike to the top of the easily accessible Mt. Kita-dake, elev. 3193m, Japan's 2nd highest mountain.
Wed, 27 May 2026 10:21:17 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/mt-notori-dake-and-the-shiranesanzan.html4b23e6d038c7221f091fa7036c8b2fc6Pics, maps, and trail description of my Aug. 2011 climb of Mt. Notori-dake and the Shiranesanzan in the Southern Japan Alps.
Wed, 27 May 2026 10:20:30 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/mt-ai-no-dake-and-mt-shiomi-dake.html7ee52abbc42d380d97e32d63237eab9ePics, maps, and trail description of my Sept. 1996 climb of Mt. Ai-no-dake (3189m) and Mt. Shiomi-dake, 3047m, Japan's 4th &amp; 16th highest mountains.
Wed, 27 May 2026 10:20:30 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/mt-senjo-ga-take-and-mt-kai-koma-ga-dake.html9b489251157718be08e6964522dadc57Pics, maps, and trail description of my Aug. 1997 climb of Mt. Senjo-ga-take and Mt. Kai-koma-ga-dake in the Southern Japan Alps.
Wed, 27 May 2026 10:20:30 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-5-9d7df8388bab9e2a20527fa56e07ebbbbFrom May 8 for the 3 Shizuoka trails. From April 17 for the Yoshida trail. (click link to learn more) Mon, 11 May 2026 10:15:45 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-5-13130c76fa7c4c3ba596e5779dd6f303aHikers who aspire to summit Mount Fuji on its most popular trail can expect a “strict” inspection of their clothing and gear at the entry gate for the Yoshida trail, according to Yamanashi prefecture. Inspectors from the prefecture will conduct “3-set gear checks” for hikers on the trail, according to a prefectural news release April 27. Light clothing, such as T-shirts, shorts, and sandals are significant safety concerns. The 3 items required are hiking boots or appropriate mountain footwear, 2-piece rainwear consisting of jacket and pants, and clothing appropriate for cold weather, such as a fleece or warm jacket. Improperly dressed hikers will not be allowed past the gate. However, stores at the 5th station sell approved items... (learn more at link above) Tue, 5 May 2026 06:42:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-4-26bf888301d2719266074134b47df03ea3A 51-year-old Dutch national fell while descending Mt. Fuji between the 7th and 8th stations on Saturday, sustaining injuries including a fractured right ankle, police said. The Yoshida Route, the climbing path he took, was closed for the winter season from the 5th station to the summit. According to the Fujiyoshida Police Station, the man began climbing alone at around 6 a.m. on Saturday and reached the summit about 5 hours later. However, he lost his balance while descending. A friend of his in Japan whom he contacted reported the event to the police, which dispatched a rescue team. The team found and rescued the man by around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. On April 22, 2 American nationals, a man and a woman who entered the Yoshida Route to ski, were injured on the mountain. They were subsequently rescued. Mon, 4 May 2026 08:53:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/route-map-from-mt-yarigatake-to-kamikochi.htmlcca9175e6e5a1358e684ca8504be6b2cHello Gary, I plan to hike Mt. Oku-hotaka-dake & Mt. Yarigatake in August this year. Maybe I go alone. Can you give some advice what I should prepare for Sun, 3 May 2026 20:32:05 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-4-247a4f5c147f353d78ba9e39064c9ad002A male U.S. national fell while climbing and skiing on a Mt. Fuji trail on Wednesday, dislocating and fracturing his left ankle, while a woman accompanying him broke her nose, police said. According to the police, the injured pair are a 26-year-old American male photographer and a woman. The woman said she is a 27-year-old American ski instructor, but her age and other details have yet to be confirmed. One of the man’s friends in Japan received a call from the injured man’s cell phone and contacted the police at around 5:45 p.m. The fire department and police station’s mountain rescue team began a search early Thursday morning, rescuing them by Thursday evening. According to the police, the 2 began climbing Mt. Fuji on the Yoshida Route in Yamanashi Prefecture at around 9 a.m. Wednesday. At around 2 p.m. the man was caught in strong winds near the 9th station and fell, becoming separated from the woman. The section of the route from the 5th station to the summit is off-limits, as it is closed for the season. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:51:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji-page2.html#346b30034c1db6488e26cf78287f987964A: There are several, in a constant state of flux from year to year, but here are just a few examples I've run across in the past year or so... (click link to view short list of Mt. Fuji climbing guides) Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:49:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/Gary-J.-Wolff-blog-archives-oct-dec-2025.html522112ce9aab6b165734857bebc9fbe4This page shows archived posts for Gary J. Wolff's blog from October-December, 2025. Enjoy! Cheers, Gary
Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:47:20 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.htmla8243190e3400119fbd96b696c9667daThe most frequently asked questions about climbing Mt. Fuji, including info on routes, maps, videos, transport access, traffic stats, weather, and climber stories.
Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:13:01 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-4-101c3e768bc89e6fc78eabbc4be2fb104cJapan’s Shizuoka Govt Sees Positive Results from Mt. Fuji Restriction Measures; Aims to Continue to Refine Measures Shizuoka Prefecture made entrance fees mandatory and imposed nighttime climbing restrictions on three of Mt. Fuji’s trails — Fujinomiya, Subashiri, and Gotemba — for the first time last climbing season, aligning with the measures introduced by Yamanashi Prefecture for the Yoshida trail the year before... ...According to a report by the Shizuoka Prefectural Police, the number of hikers involved in accidents on the Shizuoka Prefecture side of Mt. Fuji during the climbing season (July 10 to Sept. 10) was 36, a decrease of 28 from the previous year, while the number of fatalities and missing persons was 0, compared to 6 during the last season. The police thinks the awareness of climbing safety may have increased due to the restrictions and the requirement to study the rules in advance... (click link to learn more) Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:35:32 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#26-4-7d126b4f7eed55c80766a6e8fd3cc1da5A 31-year-old Polish man was rescued by helicopter after falling near the New 7th Station of Mount Fuji at around 11 a.m. on April 6th during an off-season solo climb, after calling emergency services to report that he believed he had broken his leg. According to police, the caller was the injured man himself, who had been climbing alone and is believed to have fallen approximately 200 meters. Rescue teams, including the Shizuoka Prefectural Police mountain rescue unit, were dispatched to the scene, and the man was airlifted by a prefectural disaster prevention helicopter about two hours after the call. Although the man sustained injuries, he remained conscious and is not in life-threatening condition. Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#color52d5573ea2febb363dc5760f22297b15It's that gorgeous colorful season again, taking me back to that old Chicago tune, "Colour My World." 😉 And it never gets old, even after 35 years. 😲 Cheers & thanks always to the guy upstairs with the magical paintbrush... 🥰👏🙏 (click link to view beautiful colorful spring flowers) Tue, 7 Apr 2026 01:28:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/gary-j-wolff-blog.html#freeeed27f0b96170cd964be1cb5fe7e5269This amazing group, one of the hottest rock bands in Katsushika, Tokyo, just released their latest album on March 27, 2026. Band leader and lead guitarist/soloist Hidekazu Okuma is nicknamed "Big Bear" because Okuma means "big bear" in Japanese. (click link to listen to the new CD) Mon, 6 Apr 2026 07:55:00 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/mt-fuji-mountain-huts.htmlb7d677193bd958a27afff240bda9a044Listing of Mt. Fuji Yoshida Trail mountain huts, including website URLs, phone numbers, elevations, and sleeping capacities, as well as links to the Fujinomiya trail hut sites.
Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:34:10 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#2026regsb9d87dd6ea6efa4b97987ed07dd3f6feToday it was reported that the same Yoshida Trail regulations from last year will be in effect again in 2026, namely a toll fee of 4,000 yen per person per entry, a gate closing time of 14:00 pm to 3:00 am the following day (excluding those staying at mountain huts), & a 4000 maximum number of climbers per day (excluding those staying overnight in mountain huts). Also, new this year at the 5th station there will be a check of climbers' necessary equipment (warm clothing, 2-piece rain gear, and appropriate hiking boots), and only those who have all 3 of these items will be allowed to pass through the gate. (click link to view official flyer for 2026 regulations) Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:35:38 -0400 https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#foreign2d36564319a20f0b9f9b5bd9751dcf09Two foreign nationals fell down 400 meters and were found in critical condition after they went climbing Mt. Fuji that was closed for the winter season. Police received a report around 3 PM on March 9 that the 2 appeared to have fallen and gone missing near the new 7th station of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. A rescue team of 25 police and fire personnel launched a search operation. The search was hampered by poor weather, but rescuers were able to find them around 10:40 PM. A 23-year-old Swedish woman was in critical condition, and a 51-year-old New Zealand man was reported to have suffered serious injuries. Mount Fuji is currently closed for the winter season, and the hiking trails are blocked off. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:47:00 -0400