"You can forget your lunch but never your umbrella." ~A Fukui saying

Sunday, 19 August 2007

Mountain Vending

The climb up Mt Fuji includes 9 steps before reaching the peak. At each step is a station with food and drink for sale. There's also a hotel and a first aid center at one step. Most people begin at the Fifth Station since that's where the bus parking is located. From step 5 it can take anywhere from 5-8 hours on average to reach the peak depending on your pace and congestion near the top.
Here's an example of a typical station menu in English. Prices are probably more than double what is typical because it's no easy task to bring these items up the mountain. Yes, that last item is oxygen. Cans of oxygen are available to help tourists deal with the thinning atmosphere.
This vending machine is more than 3,700 meters (12,140 ft) above sea level. Those are clouds in the background.

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