Summiting Mount Fuji: Step by step, step into the mountain in your heart

At 2:30 a.m., we stood at the entrance of the mountain hut at Mount Fuji's eighth station. The temperature was nearing zero degrees Celsius, the wind was biting, and the surroundings were pitch black. The moment my fellow hikers, geared up and their headlamps lit up, I also ignited the lingering obsession within me: I would reach the summit of Mount Fuji and greet the sun.

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Mountaineering is a conversation with myself.

Mount Fuji isn't a technically demanding mountain, but its difficulty is magnified incrementally through the torment of endurance and determination.

The moment I stepped out of the hut, I took a deep breath. The gravel beneath my feet was soft, and I had to place my foot firmly with every step, otherwise I would slip and fall backwards. The air grew thinner, my heartbeat quickened, and my headlamp illuminated only the endless slope.

But it was nights like these that taught me to quiet my breathing, my heartbeat, and the voice of my unwillingness to give up.

As I walked, I kept wondering, "Is it really worth it?"

But at a certain bend, I looked back—the entire valley was bathed in climbers' headlamps, their flickering light like a flowing galaxy. Suddenly, I realized: We're not alone.

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Sunrise is an indescribable glory and a source of both joy and tears.

At 4:40 a.m., we stood before the Goraiko Torii gate on the summit. The sky began to glow with a golden-orange glow, and the sea of clouds, as if kissed by the sun, gradually took on a warm hue. At that moment, the wind was still cold, but my heart was warm.

We didn't know each other, but the moment the sun rose, everyone spontaneously applauded and cheered, some even shed tears. I stood quietly, gazing at this meeting of sky and earth before me, with only one thought in my heart: "I actually did it."

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Reaching the summit isn't the end, but the beginning of a journey.

The descent was long, and the aching soles of my feet constantly reminded me, "This journey isn't a dream." But I knew I was no longer the person who had doubted my ability to complete it yesterday. What I brought back from Mount Fuji wasn't just photos and sunrises, but also the truth, kindness, and courage I'd encountered with myself and others.

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Mount Fuji is more than just Japan's sacred mountain. It's a mirror to our hearts, allowing us to find strength amidst exhaustion and meet each other at the heights.
Every time I think back, it's like climbing the mountain all over again, only this time, in my heart, appreciating the scenery with a smile.

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