Exploring Mount Fuji’s Ancient Murayama Old Trail

The “Murayama Ancient Road” was established at the end of the Heian period.

When it comes to climbing Mount Fuji, it’s common to start from the Fifth Station. However, both the Yoshida and Fujinomiya routes are close to the tree line, with few trees near the climbing paths. On the other hand, the Gotemba route immediately begins with a trail of gravel leading straight to the summit. Among those who feel a sense of dissatisfaction with such climbs, there is currently a quiet trend towards the “Murayama Ancient Road.”

The Murayama Ancient Road is the oldest climbing route on Mount Fuji, spanning 2,000 meters in elevation from the Murayama settlement at the southern base of Mount Fuji (Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture) to the Sixth Station on the Fujinomiya route. During the Kamakura period, it began to be used for “Fuji pilgrimage” by ascetic practitioners.

There are various ways to access the Murayama Ancient Road, one of which is the route from Tagonoura Beach.

“At the end of March, when you walk along the path to the Murayama settlement, you’ll be delighted by the flowers in the gardens of local homes and the fully blooming plum trees along the way. If you’re lucky, you might even catch the cherry blossoms just starting to bloom.

In early summer, flowers like Anemone nikoensis, Asian peony, Mitsuba azalea, and Enkianthus perulatus begin to bloom along the Murayama Ancient Road. During the summer, the Mizunara oak and beech trees create shaded areas, and the butterfly Asagi madara, which migrates from Taiwan, dances in the air.

In autumn, the broad-leaved trees turn red, and the larch trees at the fifth station turn bright yellow. No matter when you walk here, you’ll never tire of the scenery.”

These are the words of mountaineer Hatakabori Kyohachi.

By the end of the Meiji era, a new route from Omiya (now Fujinomiya) had opened, causing the Murayama Ancient Road to fall into disrepair. However, around the end of the Showa era, the Fujinomiya City Local History Club and the residents of the Murayama settlement excavated and restored the path. Despite this, it was again blocked by fallen trees due to subsequent typhoons. The person who took the lead in restoring the path so it could be walked once more was Mr. Hatahori.