“Mt Fuji” Details (Zwift Climb Portal)

Key Details

Mt. Fuji is Japan’s most recognizable mountain, and it is raced each year in the Mt. Fuji Hill Climb event. Zwift’s Climb Portal segment matches the road used in the IRL event, which follows the Subaru Line from Fuji Hokuroku Park up to Mount Fuji’s 5th Station.

At 25.6km, this was the longest climb in Zwift’s Portal library when it was added in April 2024.

The long, steady grade isn’t very steep, and in real life it’s by far the most popular of the four roads taking traffic up to a 5th Station.

Here’s the IRL segment:

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54 Comments
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Damien Clarke
Damien Clarke
2 years ago

Zwift always picks the easy routes. The Azami line is the best.

Colin Jones
Colin Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Damien Clarke

There is a reason for this and it’s because unfortunately there are more weaker riders on Zwift than strong riders and Zwift have to cater to everyone and most of these people will find this easier route to the top challenging as it will take them 90 mins to 2 hours of grinding according to the time estimates.
 
I do agree though I’d rather they added the more challenging route.

Fadsagg
Fadsagg
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin Jones

That is full nonsense 😂
is that why zwift aded the so much easy Vent top?
your so wrong dude 🤣

Lisa
Lisa
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin Jones

do the 125% if you need more… 🙂

Fede
Fede
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin Jones

Any rider in real life even the stronger Zwifter will be weaker than on the platform in doing such challenges so what is the difference ? Let’s have fun and remember this is a game 🙂

Heath
Heath
1 year ago
Reply to  Fede

GCN did a comparison between Alpe du Zwift and Alpe d’Huez with the trainer at 100%. Not the most scientific comparison, but the rider said they felt the same and his time was very close between the climbs.

Another, technical reason is that most trainers can’t do more than a 25% or so gradient. Most I’ve come across on Zwift is 22%.

Alexander
Alexander
1 year ago
Reply to  Heath

Where do you find the 22% gradient in Zwift?

brick-climber
brick-climber
5 months ago
Reply to  Alexander

RE 22%
There are short places with grades 22% or higher.

Richmond routes incorporating the 23rd st KOM have a peak instantaneous 22% grade. (zwiftinsider.com/route/richmond-rollercoaster)

Climb Portal, Pla d’Adet has a 62 meter section at 30.0% (whatsonzwift.com/climb-portal/pla-d-adet)

But, most trainers max out at 20%, so we can’t fully experience them.

Two more climbs over 22% in the 6:51 reference video. Search youtube for “NEVER Do These Zwift Climbs If You Are UNTRAINED!

Last edited 5 months ago by Brick
bruce
bruce
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin Jones

Just ride it faster and or at more than 100% elevation if you want to make it harder for yourself.

pharris
pharris
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin Jones

Then do it at 125%!

Helena
Helena
9 months ago
Reply to  Colin Jones

consider going faster and on the mountain bike on very little sleep without food, water, or a fan if it’s too easy for you to achieve a training stimulus on a video game

Bryan
Bryan
2 years ago

It’s a shame that they are doing this as a climb portal and not as a route on Makuri Island, would love to see some “real” scenery on this one.

Speed Brophy
Speed Brophy
2 years ago
Reply to  Bryan

I’ll take it. I have suggested this a couple of times. I do agree Makuri is lacking a proper climb, perhaps they could include one of the other routes up Mt. Fuji in that world.

I have been braving the elements outdoors of late but if Zwift would allow you to select a climb in the portal, like you can select a structured workout that would be incredible.

Last edited 2 years ago by Speed Brophy
Michal Wozniak
Michal Wozniak
2 years ago
Reply to  Speed Brophy

Makuri lacks numerous proper climbs. London is a better climbing World than Makuri which tells it all. It’s a shame because it’s a beautiful world graphically.

Tony
Tony
2 years ago
Reply to  Bryan

“When” they add a Mt Fuji climb to Makuri, I expect that they will design a route inspired by Mt Fuji rather than exactly replicating it. This route is simply too long for most people (see how unpopular VenTop is, despite it being an iconic climb). A shorter climb with beautiful scenery would get more traffic.

John
John
2 years ago
Reply to  Tony

I think this would be a really popular route in-game, it’s a pretty moderate gradient. No one rides Ven Top because it’s so damn steep for so long, only caters to the strongest riders.

Dennis Zimmermann
Dennis Zimmermann
2 years ago
Reply to  Tony

Ven Top is just boring to ride. That’s why so few riders like the climb I guess.

Paul Reed
Paul Reed
2 years ago

Agree. It’s featureless. AdZ has much more scenery and the switchbacks give you more motivation

Mike W
Mike W
2 years ago
Reply to  Tony

Ventop would be more successful if it had climbing stats like Alp du Zwift. As it is, it is super boring.

Nakoosa
Nakoosa
2 years ago
Reply to  Mike W

Yes and in addition, I think Ventop would be more popular if there was more gamification for it. Like the alpe spinner and additional challenge badge like 25x’s up Alpe etc..

ridewithjst
ridewithjst
2 years ago
Reply to  Tony

VenTop is unpopular because it’s so hard. Harder than Alpe du’Zwift, harder than the Tourmalet, I can’t think of anything else that’s both that steep and long. You simply just wouldn’t want to do it, even if you could, below like 2.5w/kg average.

PM_Skunk
PM_Skunk
2 years ago
Reply to  ridewithjst

Probably just my riding style, but I find VenTop just a bit easier than AdZ. I think it’s just because at least VenTop gives you a break or two along the way.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  ridewithjst

I did Ventoux IRL. My FTP is 2W/kg. I can confirm it was long and unpleasant. 🙂

Paul
Paul
1 year ago
Reply to  Bryan

Believe me, I have done this route IRL. There is not much scenery, mostly foggy, or rainy, a 2lane road surrounded by trees. Few “scenic” spots to pull over, (but be wary of the bees attacking you).

David Nash
David Nash
2 years ago

When will it be scheduled? Very keen to do this.

Zee K
Zee K
2 years ago
Reply to  David Nash

They will announce schedule with next update.

Kelsey Ritter
Kelsey Ritter
2 years ago

Finally!!! I’m doing the IRL event in June so this will be awesome to train!!!

Jenn
Jenn
2 years ago

Sorry – duplicate question.

Last edited 2 years ago by Jenn
Werner H
Werner H
2 years ago

It will be fun riding this one b2b at 100%, 75%, and 50%. I am preparing for it by riding AdZ b2b Sunday mornings. 

Temps09
Temps09
2 years ago

Mt. Fuji has 3 different road climbs up the mountain. So climb portal gets this one, then makuri will get one of the other two.

Emilio.Lence
Emilio.Lence
2 years ago

I saw yesterday a mission for May related to Mount Fuji. Does this mea that Mt. Fuji will be the Climb of the month in May?

Emilio.Lence
Emilio.Lence
2 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thanks.
I was hoping for Stelvio, because is the giro and no Italian climbs are available.

Last edited 2 years ago by Emilio.Lence
Simon
Simon
2 years ago

And now Manua Kea, please. 4200m/69km climbing with 6.1% average:)

Fede
Fede
2 years ago
Reply to  Simon

69km… this need to be agreed with all the zwift riders’ partners in advance. Can cause divorces ahahaha

Miyatake
Miyatake
2 years ago

Long-awaited course for all Japanese Zwifters
I hope everyone in the world enjoys it!

Stephen Whiston
Stephen Whiston
2 years ago

Would love to see Sa Colobra in the ride portal…as maybe we could emulate Picdcocks time at 50% lol!

Steven Walker
Steven Walker
2 years ago

haha yes! In all seriousness though Sa Calobra would be brilliant. I’m hoping to do the real life climb later this year and having it on Zwift for a few 100% difficulty climbs would give me a good sense of what to expect.

Fede
Fede
2 years ago

Why people always find a reason to complain? Why?

Emilio.Lence
Emilio.Lence
2 years ago
Reply to  Fede

Well, you are complaining about people complaining LOL

Fede
Fede
2 years ago
Reply to  Emilio.Lence

LOOL

Mohanovic
Mohanovic
2 years ago

Very minor glitch but anyone else noticed that the elevation markers on the road (e.g. 25m / 50m / 75m etc) are all out by 10 metres for Mt Fuji?

Graeme Sayer
Graeme Sayer
2 years ago
Reply to  Mohanovic

They are correct for the climb itself within the climb portal, but route wise you’ve got the elevation and distance from starting to ride up to the climb portal as well. So it depends on which counters you are looking at.

Tomáš Kysela
Trusted Member
Tomáš Kysela(@kihsleek)
2 years ago

Did it yesterday and… People who call Ventoux boring should ride this one 🙂
I also feel a bit hurt by the fact that Zwift lets us stare at the mountain since the introduction of Makuri and then they give us a featureless climb portal instead.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

I think there are only three roads to “5th station”: Subaru Line, Skyline and Azami Line.

Matt Fowler
Matt Fowler
2 years ago

Hopefully I can maintain 2 plus W/kg and break that 120 minute mark. I’m in!

Matt Fowler
Matt Fowler
2 years ago

I would like to see Mt. Diablo find it’s way into the list of portals. It was the finish line for two of the Amgen Tours of CA. Stage 7 back in 2013 and again stage 3 the follow year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag3P40CPkts

ArHu
ArHu
1 year ago

This needs to be in Makuri Islands, the backdrop is already there

Tim
Tim
1 year ago

Remember when this was supposed to be part of the Tokyo map?

Graham
Graham
1 year ago

I expect to do a European cycling trip this year and I’d like to train and appreciate the ability to do long realistic grades as a part of zwift. I would like to continue to improve climbing.

Daniel W
1 year ago

If the routes Zwift offers are too easy for some of you, then go outside in the rain and snow and find a super steep hill on a crappy piece of road, do repeats, and beat yourself to a pulp in silence, rather than complain to others just doing their best to be a better version of themselves. Thanks Zwift for all you do.

Tim
Tim
1 year ago

Anyone else see the usual climb portal HUD stuff (segment 1-10, etc) drop out near the top but before finishing but still everything seemed to work out okay?