with a Kiwi alpaca farmer called Pagan

Mt Fuji is undoubtedly the most famous mountain in Japan. Many people climb it and so I decided it was time for me to try.

I expected that it would be hard, but it turned out to be really easy. Apparently, most people start climbing it at night so as to watch the sunrise when they get to the top. I've seen sunrises before, so I didn't think that was necessary. Instead, I arranged to meet my climbing companion, Pagan, at a 7-11 convenience store at 8am in Shiobara. He was a bit late, but no matter.

The weather was gorgeous - the first clear, hazeless day for a long time. We drove to the trailhead at Arayu Spa and commenced climbing at about 9am. First, there was a dangerous patch of sulfurous ground to contend with - after all, it is an old volcano. But we managed to assuage the spirits of the mountain at the Arayu Shrine before climbing up the path through the nice shady forest.

We saw many dragonflies, some frogs of varying descriptions, wildflowers and very old trees. The path was easy to follow, and just before the final push to the summit there was a glade with a wooden platform: it seems to be a place for lectures.

We finally reached the top at about 10.15am. There were more trees than I expected, but it was nice to sit in the shade and have a snack. Then it was down the path on the other side to Onuma, a big pond with a nice view of Mt Fuji. Lunch there, and then walking back along the road to the car.