Is it safe to climb Fuji-san alone?

by Carmine
(Tokyo)

I am planning to climb Fuji-san on the 1st week of July, 2012. Is is safe to climb Fuji-san alone? Also, can I wear my sneakers which are not waterproof? Since I am a slow walker, how many hours will I take to reach the summit and back at slowest speed?
Any insights will be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance!


**************

Hi Carmine,

I can't think of any reason why it'd be any more unsafe to climb Mt. Fuji than it'd be to climb any other mountain in Japan. Obviously, if you have any trouble, it'd be better to have a climbing partner along.

I wouldn't recommend ever hiking on any mountain in sneakers, much less on Mt. Fuji in early July when you are likely to encounter snow on the trails.

As for hiking speeds, depending on which trail you choose, this table shows average hiking times, both up & down Mt. Fuji: https://www.garyjwolff.com/climbing-mt-fuji.html#31

Best wishes !!