Guided Hike to Mt. Fuji from Tanzawa

The hike along the Kumano-Kodo Nakahechi trail was a wonderful experience and more challenging than I had thought it to be. Hama was a great guide who focused on my safety throughout the hike, ensuring I had the appropriate gears and sufficient amount of food and water. He responded promptly to my questions and having a guide like Hama was very helpful as he navigated the whole way, which allowed me to truly embraced the beauty of the forest and immersed myself in nature. Overall, it was a great experience and I would recommend Hama to everyone!

My group of 4 successfully summited Mt. Fuji with Hama's guidance, and we had an unforgettable day. Having him there definitely made us feel much more confident and secure. He was able to adjust the itinerary dependent on our interests, ability, and time constraints. None of us spoke Japanese but this was not an issue at all as Hama is completely proficient in English, and was fun to chat to during the hike. I would definitely recommend hiking with Hama if you're thinking about trying to climb Mt. Fuji in the off season. With regards to helpful details about my hiking experience: Descending was definitely harder for me than going up, which surprised me as I usually have no issues with descents, so definitely budget more time than you think you might need for the downhill. I also drank more water than I expected – I brought 2.5L and could easily have drunk more.

My cousin and I engaged Hama to lead us on a one-day ascent of Fuji in July, just a day ahead of the official start of the climbing season. Hama was a truly excellent guide and companion. We are not very experienced climbers but have done plenty of hiking and trail running. Hama offered expert guidance at every step of the journey, and importantly he continually monitored the weather so that we could make a safe ascent in less than ideal conditions. We felt very comfortable and safe with Hama leading us. His hospitality is also first rate - he provided us with tea and food ahead of the ascent, as well as gear that we were missing (including warm layers that were a lifesaver). After the ascent, Hama brought us to a nearby onsen to unwind, followed by a meal at a very cool restaurant and brewery that uses locally sourced ingredients. Over beers and food, we learned a lot about the culture and history of the area around Fuji from Hama and the brewery staff. The ascent and our time spent with Hama afterward were, together, one of my most memorable travel experiences.

Hama was a great guide and made sure to take care of everything for the trip. He was helpful before, during, and after the trip by accommodating my requests and last minute change of plans, his communication was great and always remained in contact leading up to the trip. This was an adventure that I will remember the rest of my life and would certainly recommend anyone looking to climb Fuji to go with Hama!

**Review of My Climbing Experience** I recently went on a two-day climbing trip and wanted to share my experience. While I enjoyed the ascent, several aspects of the trip were frustrating and disappointing. Firstly, my shoes broke during the descent, which made the trip longer and more challenging than it should have been. I had mentioned my footwear to my guide before the climb, and he acknowledged it, yet his attitude changed significantly during our descent. Instead of being supportive, he seemed disappointed and rushed (said he got another client the next day and he has to leave home early), which was disheartening. When I asked to be dropped off at Kawaguchiko Station, he initially agreed but later said it was too far out of his way (again, due to he needs to ascent again the next day) . It felt like he was prioritizing his schedule over my safety and comfort, leaving me to navigate the descent on my own. This lack of commitment to his earlier promise was frustrating, especially since I had booked two days to enjoy the mountains at a relaxed pace. I believe that a guide should be patient and understanding, especially when unexpected issues arise. In the future, I would recommend looking for a guide who is more friendly and accommodating. While I appreciated the ascent, the overall experience could have been much better with a more supportive guide. I hope to find a more enjoyable experience on my next climbing adventure.