North Japan Alps scenic ‘Omote Ginza’ traverse

Short story: Chika is awesome, hire her. Long version: We are very satisfied with the experience. Chika made sure we had the proper gear and kept us informed on what to expect and what to bring weeks in advance. One or two days before our reservation, the weather was uncertain and she offered us the flexibility to wait until the last second to decide whether to cancel, change the date (we could not change for another date) or go ahead with the activity. On the morning of the activity, the forecast was dangerously windy (70-80 Km/h) but she is very knowledgeable of the mountain and its weather and made the call to change the climbing route. Since the wind was expected to be mostly NE, she hoped the Yoshida route would be less windy since the mountain offered some cover. She was right, we enjoyed a fantastic climb. Moreover she picked us up in our hotel in the fuji area and dropped us off at the train station, and even helped us with the train tickets! couldn't ask for more! Thanks Chika!

Awesome climbing with Chikako-san, weather was perfect and she was really good, being able to provide us an excellent experience!

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What an amazing climb we had with Chikako Hayashi. She is the best guide and very knowledgeable. We are thankful that she was our guide and she maintained communication all throughout the whole process and will 100 percent refer her to my friends and family for future climbs. Thank you 🙏

Our family (age 9y to 48y, 7 people) had great 2 days with Chika. Without her we could not manage to get top of the Mt. Fuji. She quickly catch analyzed each one of the level calculate walk speed. We enjoyed to learn Her knowledge of climbing skill and nature, her experience. Thank you very much Chika !!

Great tips and pace

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Chika was the best!

Cheka, made Mt Fuji for me. Cheka, ensured I had all the right gear, checked weather forecaste to select the best climbing day and provided a cultural experience. All the time ensuring I was ok. Definitely the best day of my Japan experience. Thanks Hamish

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The whole trip was well planned in advanced, about 2 months that I started communicating with Chika. There were rapid responses to questions, even before a confirmation/payment was made. As the dates grew closer, good advice on gear and other practical issues were passed. Typhoon Hagibis had just left significant damage, and the weather was quite unpredictable. It was clear that is was safest to delay the climb, and I was lucky the extra day that I had came with excellent weather. Chika was excellent in communicating the reasons for the delay, as safety was paramount. I had done an earlier trip during the usual summer season a few years back, but with light snow up top, this was one of my best treks/climbs so far.

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Chika is an Incredible guide alongside being an fantastic person. The 1day hike up and down Fuji was great, speedy, with enough rests at different stages. At the top she made us coffee which was very thoughtful. En route home she stopped into a number of shops in order for us to get some food, water and some great recommendations for Sake as gifts home to out friends and family's A fantastic trip was had thanks to Chika and her excellent organisation and communication skills. Not to mention she is lovely and fun to hike alongside. If you are looking to climb Fuji whether it be a 1 or 2 day trip, look no further than Chika as your guide.

awesome expreience - perfect weather and great guide

Absolutely wonderful!!!! Chikako was absolutely amazing! We had the most amazing time and was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip! Thank you so much for being so wonderful.

Chika, you must be the best guide in the world! Service-level 10+ ! Everything from transport suggestions, rentals and the whole climb was perfect! Thanks a lot! Niklas, Peter, Floris, Alex, Pär and Jon

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Chika is a perfect guide!

I am rating my experience with Exlore-Share and my Guide Chikako Hayashi % Star +! The platform was user friendly both in the search/selection phase and also in settling the agreement with the guide. Chikako is an amazing guida and a wonderful person. She is competent, attentive, friendly and very experienced. It was a pleasure to spend the day with her: she made the hike interesting and rewarding. The Mt Fuji hike is quite challenging, especially the last part of the ascent because of the snow and the steep incline but mostly the descent is nerve wrecking (in a nice way) because it is entirely slippery because of the type of terrain.

Thank you again for taking us up Mt. Fuji today.  We thoroughly enjoyed the hiking, but also loved spending time with you and learning more about Mt. Fuji, Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese religion, other things to do in your beautiful country, etc.  Thank you also for picking us up at our hotel, for letting us use your crampons and for helping us return what we rented from Yamarent.  Please feel free to use us as a reference if any of your clients want to know about our experience with you.  Will easily give you a 6 star rating on a scale of 1-5.  Would love to come back and do a trip with you in the Japanese Alps.  By the way, I never found the big sushi with shrimp and mayo.  Gotta believe Norm ate it.  His cold is better, though, so letting him have it is the least I could have done.

Our trip went flawlessly. Chika is a true professional who put together a trip that my wife and I will not soon forget. The route was challenging, airy exhilirating and we wouldn't change a thing.

Best experience of our life and was definitely made better with Chikako guiding us. She is an expert in hiking and did everything to make sure we are ok. Communication from the start was perfect and everything well organised.

The trip was absolutely amazing and Chika was the best.  After fours days of backpacking in Japan, Chika picked up my daughter and I at the hotel at Yamanakako early in the morning and brought us to Mt Fuji.  During the drive, Chika shared with us her background and expereince in climbing and guiding mountains and back country ski trips throughout the Japan and the world.  We actually saw a bear along the side of the road at Mt Fuji during our drive to station 5.  During the ascent, it was  evident, Chika's primary concerns were safety and a successful ascent.  The climb was paced perfectly for our fitness level, and the hike around the crater at the top provided amazing views due to the perfect weather.  Chika's great personality, knowledge of the outdoors and Japanese history kept the conversation flowing and enriched the entire experience.  Anyone visiting Japan with an adventurous spirit should climb Mt Fuji, and I highly recommend using Chika as your guide.  Without reservation, she is the best!

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It was fantastic! Chika is an excellent guide. Makes good decisions and is very well-prepared and also great company! Planned around my schedule and the weather as well.

My experience was outstanding, and Chikako made everything easy and fun. I shared with her that I am not an expert climber and from time to time I suffer of vertigo. Well, she managed everything perfectly, giving me many tips and letting me always feeling safe and secure. Also, the sunrise on the top of Mt. Fuji is breathtaking, you will never forget it. I am very grateful to Explore and Share and Chikako for this experience!

The Yatsugatake area is a very beautyful area with Both Mountain scenery and dense forrests. It is challenging To Reach The summit, bjt the views are Worth It. The Mountain huts are very cosy, clean and have All very friendly staff. The food is very food and the lunchboxes they provide are varied and more Than sufficient. You can even take a hot bath in the Mountain hut next To the summit. The onsen (hot spring) is a perfect way to end This Mountain trek.. Chikako is a very friendly and experienced Mountain guide, who is Always willing To help and her English is excellent. I definitly recommand This trip To other hikers, the help of a guide is advisable as locals do NOT speak English and maps are NOT available in English either. Chikako is the best guide One can imagine.