Yama no Susume (2013)

1 - Anything but Mountains!

Aoi spends most of her time alone, but an old friend from middle school has arrived to make good on an old promise.

1 - Let's Camp Overnight in a Tent!

Aoi and Hinata put up a real tent in Hinatas yard! Afterwards, Kaede and Kokona join them and they cook a meal outside together. They camp in the tent overnight and get excited about climbing mountains soon.

1 - First Date at Mt. Tsukuba!?

Wanting to repay Hinata for the souvenir she got her from Mt. Fuji, Aoi invites her for a late night climb up Mt. Tsukuba to treat her to a night view at the top. Arriving at the top, Aoi resolves to once again take on Mt. Fuji.

2 - Let's Go See Mount Fuji!

Hinata, Kaede and Kokona meet to discuss secret plans to surprise Aoi with a special view of Mt. Fuji, and decide on climbing Mt. Mitsutouge together. They meet up with Aoi and begin the climb, but they are steadfast in keeping the surprise a secret from her until the top!

2 - Let's Go Together!

With the help of Hinatas dad, the girls familiarize themselves with the necessary gear to climb.

2 - Are Hiking Shoes Really Awesome?

Finding that she wont be able to take on Mt. Fuji again until next summer, Aoi goes with Hinata and Kaede to look at some hiking shoes. Initially sceptical of their price and heaviness, Aoi finds some shoes she likes and climbs up Mt. Tenran to break them in.

3 - Climbing the Mountain

The girls continue their climb up Mt. Mitsutouge and discover plenty of interesting things. The climb gets more difficult, but Kaede shares some wisdom with Aoi. After a difficult part, Hinata is finally able to surprise Aoi with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji!

3 - Mountain Climbing Is Dangerous!?

Hinata convinces Aoi to try climbing a mountain, but Aoi thinks they should start with a small mountain and work their way up to the big ones.

3 - Alps in Hanno!?

Aoi decides to tackle the Hanno Alps, inevitably finding the experience pretty tough by herself. She is soon joined by Kokona, who accompanies her to Nenogongen to look at the shrines.

4 - Having Fun with Classmates!

Aoi is approached by her classmate Mio and invites her and Hinata to karaoke out alongside her friends Kasumi and Yuri. As Aoi worries about what to sing, Hinata encourages her not to overthink things and become more confident around everyone.

4 - Showdown! Mountain Cooking!?

Aoi and Hinata have a camping cook-off.

5 - Let's Photograph Our Memories!

Aoi, Hinata, Kokona, and Honoka go to Lockheart Castle in Gunma, each bringing their own unique cameras to take pictures of everything.

5 - What's a Schlafsack?

Aoi meets a girl from her school who is crazy about backpacking.

6 - What Does Coffee Taste Like?

Hearing about mountain coffee from Hinatas father, Aoi, feeling provoked by Hinata, becomes determined to try it as well, despite finding coffee bitter in general. After getting some advice from Kaede and Yuka, Aoi goes with Hinata to the Kanhasshu Observation Platform, where she puts her coffee making into practise.

6 - In Order to Do What You Love

Aoi meets with Hinata and her father and gets motivated to climb Mt. Fuji. Aoi begins preparations, but her mom is not okay with the idea of climbing the mountain at night. She learns to stand up for herself and pursue something she really wants.

6 - I'm the One Deciding!?

Its Aois turn to pick the mountain, so she calls on her new friend to help.

7 - Which Daypack Do You Want?

Aoi picked the mountain but now she needs the right equipment.

7 - Encouragement of Swim?

You thought it was all about mountain climbing, but no! Its actually about swimming! So obviously you need to buy a swimsuit now.

7 - She Who Does Not Work, Neither Shall She Climb?!

With Aoi busy at her part-time job, Hinata goes on an outing by herself, finding herself lonely without Aoi. During closing time, Aoi manages to use what she learned throughout today to help Kokonas mother buy a cake for her daughter.

8 - Let's Climb Mt. Takao!

Aoi and Hinata embark on their second climb and meet some interesting people along the way.

8 - Two Promises

Aoi makes plans to go to Gunma with Honoka while Hinata, unable to get in touch with Aoi, ends up making plans to go to Mt. Akagi with Kokona on the same day.

8 - Make Lovely Memories

Aoi makes the plan for climbing Mt. Fuji. She buys snacks and drinks for the climb the next day. Even though she is prepared, she still feels uneasy. Finally, the big day arrives and the girls make their way to Mt. Fuji.

9 - A Forest Girl in the Forest!?

Hinata teaches Aoi, mountain manners and learns about giant flying squirrels.

9 - Everyone's Own Views

Aoi and Honoka explore Gunmas shrines and go to a hot spring while Hinata and Kokona reach the peak of Mt. Akagi. At the end of the day, Aoi, Hinata, and Kokona ride the same train home, where Hinata becomes jealous of all the time Aoi spent with Honoka.

9 - Nice to Meet You, Mt. Fuji!

The girls arrive at the fifth station on Mt. Fuji. They have lunch and Aoi and Kokona buy walking sticks to get stamped along the way. The climb starts and they take it easy on the way up to the eighth station.

10 - The Climb Isn't Over Until You Descend!?

Aoi, Hinata, and Kokona help each other down the mountain.

10 - Mt. Fuji Is Not Easy...

The climb up Mt. Fuji starts to become a bit more difficult. Maybe Mt. Fuji isnt easy after all. Aoi starts to push herself to keep going. Will the girls make it to the top to see the sunrise together?

10 - Season of Misunderstandings

Aois classmates invite her to hang out at Ikebukuro. She knows Hinata has prior arrangements that day, so she hesitates, but decides to go anyway.

11 - I've Had Enough!

Having succumbed to altitude sickness, Aoi is forced to stay behind with Kaede. Hinata and Kokona make it and experience the rising sun atop the summit of Mt. Fuji, and walk around the caldera and to the highest point of Japan. Aoi is extremely frustrated and has to descend the mountain with Kaede, where they later meet up with Hinata and Kokona and head home together.

11 - A Clumsy Traversal

Aoi buys Hinata a gift, but Hinatas mind seems to be elsewhere. Meanwhile, Kaede makes plans for the gang to climb Mt. Kinpu on an overnight trip.

11 - Tomorrow Is Outdoors!

In preparation for their next trip, Aoi invites Kokona over to help her cook snacks.

12 - To the Next Landscape

Aoi, Hinata, Kaeda, and Kokona meet up for a picnic at Hannou River.

12 - Friends

Hinata hurts her foot, and Aoi decides to stay behind with her while Kokona and Kaede finish the trip to the top of Mt. Kinpu.

12 - Dear My Friend

Aoi is depressed about not making it to the top of Mt. Fuji. Hinata and Kokona are unsure of how to approach her. How can Aoi recover from such a frustrating defeat?

13 - The Tale of the Mysterious Firefly

After being invited to go firefly watching, Aoi and Hinata recall that they once went firefly watching when they were younger. When they ended up getting lost, they were led back to their parents by an alleged firefly, though they both have different ideas about what kind of firefly it was.

13 - It's a Secret

Its November, and Hinatas birthday is coming up. Aoi tries to choose a gift for her, but nothing seems right.

14 - Mt. Kirigamine With Mom!

With Aois mother still cautious about her climbing up mountains again, Hinata and her father suggest that she invite her to climb Mount Kirigamine with them. Whilst climbing the mountain, Aoi is reminded of the mountain she climbed with Hinata when they were younger, though neither can remember which mountain it was. Hinatas father later reveals that mountain was Mount Tanigawa, leaving the girls excited to try and climb it once more.

15 - Raincoat Memories: Hey, Yuuka. What Are You Doing Now?

Upon finding an old raincoat in her closet, Kaede recalls her middle school friend, Yuuka, who was often concerned about her climbing mountains. When Yuuka got upset with her after she ended up spraining her leg, Kaede came to realise she had never taken Yuukas advice to heart and apologised, after which they bought a raincoat together. Feeling nostalgic, Kaede rings up Yuuka and the two go out shopping together.

16 - Inheriting Thoughts

Aoi is anxious about climbing Mount Tanigawa as it involves riding a cable car, which isnt good for her fear of heights. Later, Kaede invites the girls to her house, where she explains she too was scared whilst riding a cable car, but found it less scary on her second go. As Aoi is encouraged by Kaedes words and decides to take on Tanigawa, Kaede gives her her old raincoat that she bought with Yuuka.

17 - Can You Handle Heights Fine?

Wanting to help Aoi get over her fear of heights, Hinata takes everyone to Shinrin Park. After participating in various activities, Hinata helps Aoi to cross a suspension bridge before managing to get her to try some bouncy mountains.

18 - I'm Starting a Part-Time Job!

Running low on funds for her mountaineering, Aoi applies for a part-time job at a cake shop. There, she meets college sophomore Hikari Onozuka, who shows her the ropes. After a hard day of work, Aoi feels her horizon has expanded a little.

19 - The Homework's Unending!

Having made much progress in her preparations for the Mt. Tanigawa trip, it soon dawns on Aoi that she hasnt touched her summer homework. With Hinata on vacation, Aoi asks Kaede to help her out, only to find she hasnt finished any of her homework either. Kaede instead calls in Yuuka to help tutor them over the next week, allowing them to get it done in time.

20 - Kokona's Big Hanno Adventure

On the day before the Tanigawa climb, Kokona, whose birthday is on the same day, gets some new shoes as an early present from her mother and decides to go on a walk to Akebano Childrens Forest Park to try them out. After returning home, Kokona celebrates her birthday with her mother, who ran a little late home from work. Meanwhile, Aoi, who spent the day making a pound cake, wonders about what will happen after her dream is fulfilled.

21 - To the Mountain of Memories

The day of the Mount Tanigawa climb finally arrives, with Hinata also pondering what will happen after she and Aoi fulfil their dream. After a series of staircases and some obligatory forms, the girls arrive at Tanigawa, where Aoi must face the cable car first hand. Despite Aoi still being afraid, the other girls help her get through it before Hinata helps her ride a ski lift.

22 - Can We Be Friends?

As the girls officially start climbing up the mountain, they encounter a quiet young photographer named Honoka, who had previously helped them by the cable car. Interested in her, Aoi decides to follow Honoka as she goes about her photography. After encountering some rainfall, the girls arrive at the mountain hut, where Aoi and Hinata look back on memories of their previous time there, worrying what happens after their promise is fulfilled.

23 - The Promise

The girls have Honoka join them for dinner, where they celebrate Kokonas birthday together. Later that night, Honoka gives some advice to Aoi concerning her promise, and the two exchange contact info with her. The next morning, as the girls continue their ascent, Aoi and Hinata look back on their recent adventures as they finally watch the sunrise together, realising that their promise will continue forever as they keep making memories together.

24 - Farewell to Our Summer

On the day the Aoi invites Honoka to join her and the others for a fireworks festival, she and Hinata get into another argument with each other. As Aoi takes Honoka on a tour of Hanno, she cant stop thinking about Hinata and decides to try to make up with her, while Hinata hear how Aoi feels about her from Hikari and decides she should apologize too. Both have trouble finding an opportunity to apologize to each other during the festival, but soon find they dont really need to, quickly forgetting why they even fought in the first place.