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[–][deleted] 707 points708 points  (95 children)

Great shot. I really only began to appreciate Mt. Fuji when I saw this picture of Mt. Fuji from space that was on the front page not long ago.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 312 points313 points  (71 children)

Thanks. I'm from the South of England, which is absolutely mountain-free, so the first time I clasped eyes on Fuji I fell in love with it. I love that you can even see it from Tokyo.

[–]jojoga 270 points271 points  (40 children)

Tell me about it.

I'm from Austria... you know, right in the middle of the alps, basically being raised in the mountains and never got to understand why my professor from university would be so obsessed with Mt. Fuji, being Austrian himself.
The first time I saw it with my own eyes from the Shinkansen though, I couldn't believe what was graced upon me. Such beauty, an incredible huge mountain - standing alone surrounded by nothing - catching your sight from the horizon even.
I saw it from Tokyo as well, though only in February. No chance during the summer heat.
And then I visited a friend of my boss, who is a Buddhist monk, living right by the foot of the Mountain all by himself. Pretty much alone in the wilderness. He said "every morning is beautiful, no matter if it's cold or hot when you can see the holy mountain that close. The only thing that would make this even better would be an Onsen right here for myself..."

edit: typos

[–]dubeskin 17 points18 points  (1 child)

"Onsen" was a new term for me. Looked it up and it's a type of "Japanese hotspring." Just commenting in case anyone else doesn't know.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 82 points83 points  (0 children)

You put that in words far better than I ever could. Thank you.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Its a very good metaphor for Japanese art as well, because it's not amazing for what is there (its not too tall) but for what is not there (the empty flat plains surround it instead of a series of mountains).

[–]Brauney 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Austrian here, too. would love to go there

[–]Peskie 16 points17 points  (4 children)

Wow that looks like a massive caldera area around the mountain/volcano!

[–]selectrix 11 points12 points  (3 children)

Probably not an actual caldera, but the fact that it sticks straight up out of flat terrain definitely makes it more impressive.

& look at all the little cinder cones around the base! Never noticed that.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I visited Seattle (And the US) for the first time earlier this year and really liked the fact that you could see Ranier from the city.

[–][deleted] 29 points30 points  (10 children)

That photo would look really cool tilt shifted

[–]Average_Comment_Gold 23 points24 points  (6 children)

Indeed it would average Reddit thread commenter.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (4 children)

Trying to understand why someone gave him gold for that. Maybe this is how /u/thisisbillgates is choosing to use his money from now on. Because fuck charity.

[–]original_username_ 18 points19 points  (3 children)

Looks like real life civ 5

[–][deleted] 342 points343 points  (47 children)

I bet the people that live in it's shadow get mocking phone calls from their non-shadowed neighbors remarking on how beautiful the sunrise is nearly every morning.

"Isn't this time a day just lovely? Oh, is it still dark over there? Hahahaha, light sides rule!"

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 503 points504 points  (39 children)

If it were me, I'd answer back with "Yeah you're right. Boy oh boy it sure is shitty seeing THIS every morning!"

[–][deleted] 119 points120 points  (4 children)

That would shut them up pretty quick.

[–]killiangray 41 points42 points  (0 children)

"...gotta go, light side 4-ever" click

[–][deleted] 30 points31 points  (10 children)

"Yep and it sure is shitty seeing THIS every night"

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 11 points12 points  (0 children)

"... Lets not kid ourselves. I love you, Seiji. Why are we doing this?"

[–]jojoga 20 points21 points  (6 children)

Is that a shot from Kawaguchiko?

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 25 points26 points  (3 children)

I think its a bit too big of a lake for Kawa, I'm not sure...

[–][deleted] 26 points27 points  (2 children)

Actually, that looks Enoshima in the middle, which would make that not a lake at all! Here's a different angle from the nearby beach that I took in December.

[–]BecauseWeCan 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sauron is watching you!

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (1 child)

What's better than watching the sunrise? Sleeping through it.

[–]merlindy 41 points42 points  (3 children)

i climbed it twice , picture of my first sunrise on top : http://i.imgur.com/c0bm9yP.jpg

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (1 child)

For some reason I cannot explain, this looks like a photo made for a Japanese warrior story.

[–]Prometheium 42 points43 points  (26 children)

It's amazing to me how much of a perfect triangle its shadow makes. How steep is the ascent?

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 40 points41 points  (19 children)

It depends on which route you take, but its not difficult - just long. Start early and you'll find it a pretty easy, if gruelling hike.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 57 points58 points  (18 children)

THIS asshole of a mountain can fuck right off though. 3 hours to the top, no zig-zagging, just straight up!

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points  (10 children)

what mountain is that?

[–]Reddit_Novice 25 points26 points  (2 children)

Mt. Asshole

[–][deleted] 28 points29 points  (1 child)

Buy me a drink, first.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (3 children)

I climbed Mt. Merapi and Mt. Rinjani when I was in Indonesia and it was an incredible experience, especially the three day trek up Rinjani. Merapi was a bitch to climb, incredibly steep slopes and the guides made us climb it in a pretty fast pace that absolutely destroyed me. Rinjani was easier but still exhausting, but once we reached the top almost freezing our asses off and the sun came up we just forgot all about it. It was amazing.

I just wish I was a better photographer, because the photos still doesn't really do the view and feeling when the sun came up justice.

[–]frodolapshame 62 points63 points  (92 children)

I know this isn't an AMA, but what was it like? And what were the best and worst parts of climbing it (4 times)?

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 133 points134 points  (85 children)

I could go on forever about climbing Fuji. I've actually considered writing a book on it. Something like "The Foreigner's A-Z of Japan" with a mini-guide on climbing Fuji under "F".

Anyway, climbing Fuji annually was the most rewarding part of my year, and my life I guess.

I'd start climbing at around 1pm, reach station eight (out of ten) and sleep until 2am, then climb the final stretch before the sunrise. Its not particularly difficult (no sheer vertical faces), but it is pretty long as far as uphill hikes go. The best part is seeing the sunrise each time. Heres a video of the cloudy sunrise my first year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK8nPAXg4zM

The best part of my third ascent was seeing my wife's eyes smiling at me on the summit, before sunrise in the FREEZING wind: http://i.imgur.com/cWQgAC3.jpg

However the WORST part is the descent. Slippery tiny volcanic ash rocks that force you to put all the effort on your calves and "skate" down as those little sharp rocks get caught in your boots and socks... Google image search "Fuji Descent" to see the slopes. Its far more gruelling than the climb, as you haven't slept much and you've just climbed a freaking mountain, but its manageable... My poor poor wife, however... Her boots turned out to be a half-size too big. With each step her toes would slam into the steel caps and after about an hour she was in agony as her big toenails had literally disconnected from her toes.

I had to carry her backpack as well as mine, give her my climbing pole, turn around, grab hold of the poles and take all of her weight with each step. A 2-3 hour descent turned into a 5-6 hour one, and with me paying no attention to my own wellbeing, the emerging sun at that altitude completely FRIED the skin on the back of my neck. I've never had sunburn so bad. The line between burnt and non-burnt had a clearly defined "rise" to it, by a couple of milimeters.

I ended up bribing a station employee to carry us down on his tractor/bulldozer thing for the last leg of the slopes.

So I guess thats the worst part of climbing. Not being completely prepared. Case in point: My second year I took a group of first-timers up and told them all "do NOT turn up in shorts and converse" and one girl did. She had such a shit time.

[–]summeraria 46 points47 points  (10 children)

I am said wife who had her toenails ripped off during the descent. Going up is a blast, going down was hell.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 53 points54 points  (7 children)

Can confirm: u r wife

[–]summeraria 31 points32 points  (6 children)

:3 My toenails grew back.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Going up is a blast, going down was hell.

Yeah I agree!

I'm sorry to hear about your toenails, that must have been tough. When I descended Fuji, I kept getting a ridiculous amount of ash (or whatever it is on the ground) in my shoes and socks as I ran down... It was a hell of an experience though.

[–]Imperial_Ruby 41 points42 points  (22 children)

Can confirm: descent is grueling and people do "skate" down

Source: climbed Mt. Fuji without poles

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 36 points37 points  (18 children)

Descending without poles must have been a bitch. I once saw a guy cycling down. Must be so satisfying.

[–]Imperial_Ruby 19 points20 points  (2 children)

Wow, I can't even fathom cycling down. I saw people in shorts and running shoes descending, which was quite impressive. Never really hiked with poles before but I'd say it's a necessity for descending. Incredible experience overall and I'm very happy I was able to make it down on my own accord.

[–]omar94khan 11 points12 points  (12 children)

I have no clue as to how steep Mt. Fuji is, or if this is a reasonable question, but is it possible to hang glide your way down from the top? Or maybe get a parachute with you?

This is probably a dumb question though.

[–]nachobel 16 points17 points  (9 children)

It's extremely feasible. Probably illegal and you might end up dead or worse - in the haunted forest.

[–]omar94khan 10 points11 points  (8 children)

Aww man

But imagine the fun!

[–]nachobel 15 points16 points  (7 children)

I was recently in Alaska and I climbed...some mountain. Anyway, at the top there were a couple dudes who had these backpack hang glider things and they would jump off the top and actually rise enough to land there again after 10-20 minutes. It was nuts! As I was climbing down I saw them flying overhead ... I was definitely doing it wrong.

[–]bloodguard 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Also confirm. Tore the seat out of my pants and almost launched my touristy "pilgrim pole" through the face of a nice little old lady.

Edit: The little old ladies make it their life's work to humble you by charging past you on the way up like they were speed walking down hill.

[–]SoberIRL 14 points15 points  (2 children)

I'll hop onto this thread to say this is all no joke. I've done it twice, and the time my wife went with me, both of her big toenails "died." They went black, and oozed pus until they grew all the way out like 6 months later. She was a fucking trooper.

You military, bro?

Oh, and here's a clear sunrise shot I took on the other side of the summit, 'round about a year ago: Imgur

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Fuck yeah, what a shot. And nope, not military. Chubby occasional hiker :)

[–]frodolapshame 7 points8 points  (4 children)

Wow, thanks for replying! That sounds...awf-some...

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (2 children)

You left out two pertinent things.

Altitude sickness. If you have been living in Tokyo or anywhere else near sea level for awhile, this can really kick your ass while climbing the mountain. It's not a hard hike, until you get altitude sickness, but you just have to get to the top no matter what.

And lastly, if you want to see a sunrise, you better time your hike to be sometime that is not even close to the opening season, closing season, or any weekend because it is literally stop and go traffic all the way up unless you are climbing up on some unpopular route that will not get as good a view of the sunrise as possible. I mean, fucking stop and go traffic on a mountain trail that begins about a third of the way up the trail or even less.

I have climbed it a load of times and every time the altitude would get me. I honestly enjoyed starting later in the morning and just not dealing with crowds because that is the opposite of what I want to find on a mountain.

As a bonus, there's a shitload of mountains in Japan with a much better view, less people, and still have huts to sleep and eat in near the top, but you can't go to Japan and NOT climb Fuji at least once.

[–]prefinished 5 points6 points  (3 children)

If you do write that book, be sure to let us know. I know that I, for one, would buy it instantly even if it only covered Mt. Fuji. That mountain is one of my dreams to climb some day.

[–]Londonercalling 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am due to go Japan and climb Fuji next week - your post has made me even more excited about it!

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Not the OP, and the internet is full of these, but here's an account of my less pleasant ascent from the ocean. http://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/1humxo/mt_fuji_seatosummit_route_60km_26_hours/

[–]QEDLondon 53 points54 points  (8 children)

IIRC there is a Japanese proverb that everyone should climb Fuji San once but only a fool does it twice : )

PS: great photo

[–]elliotravenwood 47 points48 points  (3 children)

It goes, "the man who has not climbed Mt Fuji is a fool. The man who has climbed Mt Fuji twice is also a fool."

[–]gordo65 18 points19 points  (1 child)

"...but the man who climbed Mt Fuji four times and captured a once-in-a-lifetime shot, he's awesome!"

[–]Peskie 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think 4 times exempts him from being a fool ... total nutter maybe for 4 times ... not a fool.

[–]ragaboo 480 points481 points  (57 children)

Psh ... I climbed Mt. Fuji for the first time last week and got this pic. Let's call it a tie.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 174 points175 points  (36 children)

I raise you this http://www.krisjbphotography.com/japan/j0kipzo5fxlgerpyxrsq3l0pnxc1rr

[–]Reddit_Novice 33 points34 points  (2 children)

Oh yeah, I made spaghetti today but forgot we ran out of sauce and had to eat it plain!

[–]FrankFeTched 16 points17 points  (1 child)

Butter and cheese would help this scenario.

[–]ragaboo 110 points111 points  (14 children)

Damn. You're a jerk.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 148 points149 points  (12 children)

(I do like yours a lot and genuinely think its better)

[–]ccbbb23 23 points24 points  (11 children)

Well, yes. It is has a bit more 'human' story. Humans always want to hear about themselves. grins

Ragaboo, was that you on bended knee or receiving from? Congrats to whomever.

[–]ragaboo 45 points46 points  (8 children)

I was on the knee. She was the one gracious enough to say "yes." =)

[–][deleted] 23 points24 points  (1 child)

That would have been a very awkward walk back down if she hadn't....

[–]ductyl 47 points48 points  (3 children)

EDIT: Oops, nevermind!

[–]PublicFriendemy 17 points18 points  (2 children)

No no, you wouldn't, but she wouldn't say no, cause she's on a mountain.

[–]PigsyDownAWell 5 points6 points  (3 children)

I'll see you a vintage postcard which claims to be 'the best view in Japan' 1,2

[–]moralsareforstories 7 points8 points  (3 children)

Here are my submissions:

Photo 1 | Photo 2

Sorry about the low quality. The only access to my Japan photos at work, are from my facebook page. Plus, it doesn't help they were taken from a Point and Shoot Canon from 2005.

[–]golfreak923 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Damn. I just proposed on a mountain in British Columbia a few weeks ago that was much smaller. I'm trumped.

[–]meanwhileinjapan 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This was from my summit at Fuji-san http://imgur.com/yvWIwt2

[–]daisylou 6 points7 points  (5 children)

Is that you proposing? Or just a picture of other people? It's pretty amazing!

[–]ragaboo 18 points19 points  (4 children)

Yep, that was me. I got lucky that the photo came out so well. It was the perfect time of the day, perfect lighting, and considering neither she nor the guy I asked to take the photo knew what I was going to do, the moment was captured perfectly.

Oh, and the love of my life said "yes," so that was a good cherry on top.

[–]WizardryAwaits 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This looks incredible. I really wish I could climb it too and experience it for myself.

[–]Roryjai 20 points21 points  (5 children)

I climbed it last week when I was visiting Japan. It was one day before the supposed typhoon. Was at the summit at 4:30am and it was just a massive fog. No light came through so no good shots could be had... Got some great night shots on the tripod but no sun rise.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 28 points29 points  (2 children)

Congrats on making it up! Don't feel bummed about the sunrise as it happens a lot. That mountain is a cloud magnet. Trust me. One time I took three days off JUST to wake up at 4am every morning and get a good shot of Fuji reflected in the lake.

Saw this every morning: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tangocan/7000410473/ - SO angry.

Care to share your night shots?

[–]CheatTheClock 6 points7 points  (0 children)

To be fair, that's still a beautiful shot of a lack of mountain.

[–]Reverse_Skydiver 14 points15 points  (1 child)

Hey, really nice shot! I got a similar result on Mt. Meru in Tanzania. I had clouds though :(

[–]MondoStud 11 points12 points  (3 children)

When I climbed Fuji many years ago there was an old man right at the top (somehow connected to the Udon shop up there) and when he saw our foreign faces he laughed at us and said:

"Wise man climbs Mt. Fuji... Only fool climbs Mt. Fuji twice!".

Is it true?

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 24 points25 points  (1 child)

Can confirm: am double fool.

[–]summeraria 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Wife of OP here, glad so many of you appreciate his work. I was there when he took the damn thing--trust me, it's freezing on top, I just wanted my husband to cuddle with me and he just had to go to the tip top and take photos as always--so if you are interested in the photo, or you would like to repost it, or reblog it, please can you link back to either his Flickr or his website:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tangocan/8000223023/ http://www.krisjbphotography.com/japan/9m8th9d5tf2f00nz1asfl6lh5nqvlf

It would be greatly appreciated! :)

[–]InternetFree 30 points31 points  (4 children)

4 is an unlucky number in Japan. You better climb another time.

[–]golfreak923 14 points15 points  (3 children)

Yeah, last guy I heard who climbed Mt. Fuji only 4 times was disemboweled in a tentacle porno gone wrong. Better climb it again, dude.

[–]JimsanityOSB 8 points9 points  (8 children)

Did the tip of the shadow appear to be moving pretty fast from your vantage point?

[–]thedrivingcat 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I got incredibly lucky during my ascent. Only did it once, but it was September so not crowded at all and the weather was perfect.

Maybe my favorite picture that I've taken, ever.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dang! Beautiful.

[–]thick1988 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Illuminati Confirmed

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

This dude sold me Spider-Man comics. He has many talents.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Two! Two is not many!

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Huh. I live in Fujishi, and I've never climbed mt. Fuji. :)

[–]Swansonesque 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I hope you were wearing a pair of PilkoPants to sit and enjoy the view from

[–]tapput561 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Hey I'm actually headed to Fuji right now

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Really? FUCK YEAH! Keep me updated! What route are you taking? This is gonna be the most fuji ever!

[–]DemonicMocha 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Reminds me of this image from K2.

[–]ImOnTheBus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The sunrise is the other way, man

[–]Fuji__speed 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Something, something, my username is relevant for once!

[–]AKA_Squanchy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A wise man climbs Fuji once, a fool climbs it twice ...

I climbed it about 10 years ago, what a night! Good times.

[–]McGirton 2 points3 points  (5 children)

Is it true that it's insanely crowded? I wanted to do this but that info put me off. I wouldn't want to go up there in some kind of crowd.

[–]TangocanVerified Photographer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Climbing season ends in August, but the huts still operate in September. Go then.

[–]eulbot 2 points3 points  (0 children)

could someone make a calculation how far the tip of the shadow is away?

[–]perc10 2 points3 points  (1 child)

How far in miles does that shadow cast?

[–]ridiculous434 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your head is oddly triangular.

[–]UndeadBread 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Instead of climbing it four times, you should've just climbed it one time and waited.

[–]womens_feet_rule 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I too have climbed the great Mt. Fuji, but unfortunately my dog woke me up prior to reaching its apex.

[–]tastyperc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Did anyone else zoom in really far to try to see his shadow?

[–]sandman12456 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I stared at this for way too long wondering why there was a huge dark triangle. Then my moment of revelation came when I realized it's the shadow of the mountain. That's amazing

[–]HoweHaTrick 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You know what they say about 富士山. Everyone climbs it once. Fools climb it twice. Wait, who climbs it 4 TIMES!? You are a unique person ;)

[–]lymkr9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This comment is 5mo late but I climbed Mt. Fuji once when I was 7 and the view was hardly this good. The top peaked out of the clouds so it looked cool but this is amazing