快速導覽
What should I do if I get altitude sickness while climbing Mount Fuji?
Most mountaineering journeys to climb Mount Fuji usually start from the mountainside at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters, and then continue to climb to the top of Mount Fuji. In the process of climbing Mount Fuji, you will definitely experience an environment with lower oxygen content than sea level. Therefore, some climbers will suffer from mild to moderate altitude sickness while climbing Mount Fuji.
It is not difficult to deal with altitude sickness. The simplest solution is to return to the starting point of the hiking trail as soon as possible.
Since the oxygen content at the starting point of the hiking trail is relatively high, the symptoms of altitude sickness will disappear naturally. However, if you develop severe symptoms of altitude sickness while climbing Mount Fuji, you must seek first aid from a nearby rescue station, and then ask them to arrange transportation for you to return to the starting point of the climbing trail more quickly.
More information on climbing Mount Fuji: First time summit strategy/climbing route/starting time & necessary information
What is altitude sickness? Why does altitude sickness occur?
Altitude sickness refers to the acute pathological changes that occur when a climber's body fails to adapt to the high-altitude environment. There are many causes of altitude sickness. Usually it is because the body cannot adapt to the drop in air pressure and oxygen concentration in a short period of time, resulting in symptoms such as headaches and difficulty breathing.
Many people will suffer from varying degrees of altitude sickness while climbing Mount Fuji, usually at altitudes above 2,400 meters. In addition, a small number of climbers will suffer from other serious complications due to altitude sickness, such as pulmonary edema and cerebral edema, which can be fatal in severe cases.
Most climbers suffer from severe altitude sickness due to rapid climbs on Mount Fuji at night.
Altitude sickness symptoms?
Headache is the most common symptom of altitude sickness. If you feel a slight headache while climbing Mount Fuji, there's a good chance you're suffering from mild altitude sickness.
As the oxygen content of the air decreases, the oxygen content of the blood in the body decreases simultaneously, and the oxygen available to the brain decreases, thus causing headache symptoms. In addition, more severe mountain sickness can also cause symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, general weakness, rapid heartbeat, insomnia, dizziness and other symptoms.
Those suffering from the most severe form of altitude sickness will experience hallucinations, convulsions, and even coma. These are potentially fatal symptoms, so you must always check your physical condition while climbing Mount Fuji. Arranging as much rest time as possible and slowing down the climbing speed can reduce the chance of suffering from altitude sickness.
In other words, to reduce the chance of suffering from altitude sickness, you must get enough rest while climbing Mount Fuji. It is best to stay in a hut on Mount Fuji.
More information on Mount Fuji Hut: Mount Fuji mountain hut list / Mount Fuji equipment list / Yulaiguangkan reservation information
More Lake Kawaguchi transportation deals: JR Fuji Express train / JR Tokyo Wide Area Pass / Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass
Seize opportunities to save on travel expenses
[The most complete] Latest deals on Tokyo attractions/tickets
From tickets to travel experiences, we have it all!
8 ways to reduce the risk of altitude sickness
Altitude sickness is caused by the body being in a high-altitude environment and not being able to adapt to changes in the oxygen content of the air in a short period of time. To reduce the chance of severe altitude sickness, you can only give your body enough time to gradually adapt to changes in the environment, rather than forcing your body to achieve goals beyond its capabilities.
1. Allow the body to slowly adapt to altitude changes
The air pressure at sea level and the oxygen content of the air will change with your altitude. In order to give your body time to adapt to the change from 0 meters above sea level to 3,000 meters above sea level, you must allow your body to slowly adapt to the change in altitude.
The most ideal method is: after you take the bus to the entrance of the mountain trail in the morning, first spend 1 to 2 hours near the mountain entrance to adapt to the air pressure of the mountain and the oxygen content of the air. You can choose to do some stretching exercises and sightseeing near the trailhead. If you climb to the top of Mount Fuji from the Yoshida Line, you can also have lunch, visit the shrine, write postcards, go to the restroom, and pick up climbing equipment at the trailhead.
Each of the above activities is designed to extend the time you stay at the entrance of the hiking trail and give your body enough time to adapt to the environment at an altitude of 2,400 meters.
More information on climbing Mount Fuji: First time summit strategy/climbing route/starting time & necessary information / Mountaineering route information
2. Regularly add enough water to the body
Climbing Mount Fuji is an exercise that requires a lot of physical strength. If the water content in the body is low, you may suffer from altitude sickness.
Some climbers try to avoid drinking water while climbing Mount Fuji for various reasons such as saving energy or money. However, climbing Mount Fuji is actually an exercise that requires frequent replenishment of water. Especially when the body is in a low-hydration state, there is a chance of suffering from altitude sickness.
To avoid suffering from altitude sickness, you should always replenish water while climbing Mount Fuji, and don't wait until your mouth is dry before drinking water. Because the moment your mouth feels dry, it’s a sign that your body is lacking water.
The most ideal way to replenish your body with enough water is to calculate the amount of water you drink every hour based on your own body weight.
Based on the calculation of adding 5ml of water per 1kg of body weight per hour, a 70kg adult should add about 350ml of water in 1 hour, so that the body will avoid the signal of lack of water. If you plan a 10- to 12-hour mountaineering trip to Mount Fuji, basically preparing 4 liters of drinking water will be enough for the entire mountaineering trip.
In addition, you can also prepare a mountaineering backpack specially designed for mountaineering trips, so that you can use a mountaineering water bag to quickly replenish water during mountaineering.
More information on Mount Fuji equipment: Mount Fuji equipment list / Checklist of must-have items for mountain lodge
More Local Tours to climb Mount Fuji: Recommended local tour for climbing Mount Fuji
3. Climb Mount Fuji at a slow pace
Climbing Mount Fuji slowly is the most effective way to reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
Altitude sickness can be triggered by a number of different causes, the most common of which is rapid climbing in low-oxygen conditions. Therefore, the most effective way to reduce the risk of altitude sickness is to climb Mount Fuji at a slow pace.
Especially in a Mount Fuji climbing group with many people traveling together, you must follow your own pace and slowly climb to the top of Mount Fuji. You must not forcefully change your climbing speed just because you are lagging behind others. Because doing any strenuous exercise at high altitudes, coupled with a lack of rest time, will increase the risk of altitude sickness.
For a group with multiple people climbing Mount Fuji at the same time, each group member should have enough rest time so that all group members can enjoy the fun of climbing Mount Fuji.
4. Take deep breaths often
The body requires a large amount of oxygen supply to maintain normal functions during normal mountaineering activities. Therefore, in the relatively low-oxygen environment of Mount Fuji, you need to take active deep breaths frequently to ensure that your body has sufficient oxygen supply to maintain normal function.
Whenever you start to have trouble breathing, you should stop and adjust your breathing. First take a deep breath, hold it for 2-3 seconds, and then exhale slowly. After repeating this several times, the symptoms of breathing difficulties should be relieved. At the same time, you can also appreciate the natural environment of Mount Fuji and experience the changes of Mount Fuji every second.
5. Maintain the habit of daily exercise
There are many ramps and steps on Mount Fuji's hiking trails, and it requires a lot of effort to successfully reach the top of Mount Fuji. By maintaining the habit of aerobic exercise on weekdays, you can build muscles, improve cardiopulmonary function, and allow you to maintain smooth breathing in a low-oxygen environment.
In other words, adequate aerobic training before climbing Mount Fuji will increase your chances of successfully reaching the top of Mount Fuji.
6. Avoid smoking and drinking
You should not drink or smoke before or while climbing Mount Fuji.
After drinking alcoholic beverages, the ability of the body's heart and lungs to absorb oxygen will decrease, increasing your chance of suffering from altitude sickness. In addition, smoking may constrict blood vessels and reduce the body's oxygen intake, which may increase your chance of suffering from altitude sickness while climbing Mount Fuji.
7. Get enough sleep before climbing to the top of Mount Fuji
Altitude sickness often occurs when there is poor air circulation, lack of sleep, and physical discomfort. Especially since you will wake up at 02:00 in the morning, then leave the Mount Fuji mountain hut and climb to the top of Mount Fuji, you have a chance of suffering from altitude sickness due to lack of sleep.
To avoid suffering from altitude sickness due to lack of sleep, it is best to arrive at the mountain hut early and try to get enough sleep the day before enjoying the sunrise.
8. Do not participate in "projectile mountaineering"
"Tanwan mountaineering" refers to some mountaineering trips that are scheduled to start climbing Mount Fuji at 18:00 in the evening and do not stay at the Mount Fuji mountain hut. The main reason for this kind of mountain climbing trip is that some climbers choose to take the risk of climbing from 0 meters above sea level to 3776 meters above sea level in a short time in order to save the cost of staying in a mountain hut on Mount Fuji.
Climbing Mount Fuji quickly in a short period of time increases the chance of severe altitude sickness
Every year when Mount Fuji is open for climbing, many climbers who participate in "bullet climbing" suffer from altitude sickness. Most climbers suffer from severe headaches due to various reasons such as exhaustion and bad weather. Some climbers need to take a tractor back to the starting point of the hiking trail to receive appropriate treatment, and have to pay high transportation costs for this.
Therefore, don’t risk it and pay an unnecessary price on this type of quick climb up Mount Fuji.
More information on Mount Fuji Hut: Mount Fuji mountain hut list / Mount Fuji equipment list / Yulaiguangkan reservation information
More Lake Kawaguchi transportation deals: JR Fuji Express train / JR Tokyo Wide Area Pass / Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass
Enjoy the entire Mt. Fuji & Hakone with one set ticket!
[Best Offer] Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass
The best choice to save transportation expenses!
How to deal with altitude sickness
Almost all climbers will suffer from altitude sickness while climbing Mount Fuji. Some people's symptoms will be mild, and some people's symptoms will be more severe. However, when you experience symptoms of altitude sickness, you must remain calm and avoid excessive panic. Because the body will consume more oxygen when in a state of panic.
The first step to deal with altitude sickness is to find a safe place to rest.
The main purpose of resting in a safe place is to protect you from bad weather and prevent your body from further hypothermia. Then it’s a matter of slowly dealing with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. At the same time, keep breathing deeply and allow your body to slowly absorb enough oxygen.
If you have purchased mobile oxygen bottles, these mobile oxygen bottles can help relieve the discomfort caused by altitude sickness and wait for your body to return to normal before continuing your hiking trip. However, if symptoms of altitude sickness persist, you must seek assistance from a rescue station.
Because the only way to completely resolve the symptoms of altitude sickness is to return to sea level where the oxygen concentration is higher. This is the most effective and only way to solve altitude sickness.
Where to buy portable oxygen bottles: L-Breath Shinjuku Branch/Kawaguchiko Convenience Store/Some Mountain Huts
More Tokyo shopping deals: Tokyo Victoria Sports Duty Free Coupon / Tokyo L-Breath Duty Free Coupon
Summarize
To avoid suffering from altitude sickness while climbing Mount Fuji, you need to exercise enough and improve your cardiopulmonary function before setting off, so that your body can absorb more oxygen. On the other hand, do not maintain a slow climbing speed when climbing Mount Fuji. This can reduce the load on the body during climbing, thereby reducing the chance of suffering from altitude sickness.
More tourist information on the Mt. Fuji area
Preparation before climbing Mount Fuji
Fuji Mountain Climbing 2024》First summit strategy/climbing route/climbing time & necessary information
Mt Fuji Packing List: What to Wear & What to Bring When Climbing Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji Hut Reservation: Complete Guide to Book Goraikoukan (Highest Mountain lodge of Mt. Fuji)
Fuji Mountain Climbing Route List》Opening Hours/Route Map Overview
Fuji Mountain Hut Reservation Information Checklist & 7 Essential Things During Your Stay
⋯⋯and MORE
Recommended itinerary after climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, and Hakone travel information
Tokyo Travel Information
Mount Fuji, the latest travel deals in Tokyo
Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel Deals
Hakone Onsen Hotel Deals
Tokyo Hotel Deals
Tokyo attractions ticket discounts
More Japan Travel Information:
Tokyo|Kyoto|Hokkaido|Climbing Mt.Fuji|Hakone|Lake Kawaguchi
Tips for Traveling in Japan | Japan Hotel Deals | Klook Latest Promo Code
