Gazing down on Japan from atop Mount Fuji is on the bucket list for visitors and residents alike, but at 3,766m it’s not the effortless stroll that many elderly Japanese people make it seem. Here’s what you need to know about climbing Fuji.
Changes to climbing Mt. Fuji in 2024
The 2024 Mt. Fuji climbing season is going to look a little different from past years. This is because the government entities involved in the management of Mt. Fuji have decided to implement restrictions on the number of people who can climb the mountain each day, create a reservation system for climbers, and also start charging an entrance fee.
The idea is that the new measures will help tackle overcrowding and improve safety. They should also help improve environmental issues on the mountain, including waste management. Note: The new rules largely apply to the Yoshida Trail — the most popular route.
Pro tip: If you’d rather skip the crowds and climb a nearby mountain for a view of Mt. Fuji, check out our alternatives to Mt. Fuji guide.
How many people can climb Mt. Fuji per day?
On the Yoshida Trail, a maximum of 4000 people are allowed to hike Mt. Fuji per day.
Do you need a reservation to climb Mt. Fuji?
Visit the official website to make a reservation.From 2024 you can make a reservation to climb the Yoshida Trail. There are a maximum of 3000 reservations available per day, and they’ll fill up quickly on weekends and during holiday periods. If you miss out on a reservation, there are still 1000 spots available for on-the-day arrivals.
How much does it cost to climb Mt. Fuji?
In 2024, people who want to hike the Yoshida Trail will have to pay a ¥2,000 entry fee. There is also a non-compulsory (but recommended) donation of ¥3,000 that goes towards conservation efforts. You pay the fee at the 5th Station gate before you start your ascent.
Read more about the new rules.
The various trails of Mt. Fuji
It’s possible to take four different trails to the summit of Mt. Fuji, as well as one that goes on an ambling circular route around the 5th stations, for anybody who enjoys punishing themselves without much payoff.
Important: Whichever trail you choose, due to safety concerns, a climb should only be attempted during Mt. Fuji’s climbing season. The mountain trails are officially closed outside of this time. You can always try some other Tokyo hikes, instead.
Which trail on Mt. Fuji is the best?
All the trails up Mt. Fuji have their pros and cons, but we recommend the Yoshida Trail, which is the most popular for good reason.
If you’re coming from Tokyo, the Yoshida Trail is the best choice. It starts at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station — which has easy access from Kawaguchiko Station — and has the bonus of facing the sunrise. It’s also the oldest route, having been used by pilgrims to climb the sacred mountain for over 500 years.
Note: There are two separate paths on the Yoshida Trail — one that goes up, and one that goes down.
When to climb Mt. Fuji
Trails are typically open between early July and mid-September each year.
For 2024, Mt. Fuji’s climbing season dates are:
- Yoshida Trail: July 1–September 10, with the descent open until the morning of 11 September
- Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and Subashiri Trails: July 10–September 10
- Ohachi-meguri Trail (around the rim of the crater): July 10–September 10
What you need to know before you climb Mt. Fuji
As mentioned, Mt. Fuji is not the walk in the park some may make it out to be. And while it is possible for a beginner hiker — provided you are fit and healthy — there are a few important things to consider before attempting to summit the highest mountain in Japan.
Is altitude sickness common on Mt. Fuji?
While the trail is relatively uncomplicated, even the most seasoned hikers may experience altitude sickness. Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, and nausea during the ascent.
Remember to take it slow and allow your body to adjust — this is why we recommend staying over in a hut to better acclimate yourself. To help, you can also buy small oxygen inhalers, and if you feel unwell at any point during the journey, there will be first aid at the 5th, 7th, and 8th Stations.
Note: If you are experiencing serious altitude sickness, the only way to alleviate it is to descend.
Views: What can you see from Mt. Fuji?
The view from the top is nothing short of majestic: Clouds gathering on mountains thousands of feet below appear like waves crashing against rocks, but the hike up is sometimes not spectacular and is heavily dependent on the weather.
If it’s clear, you’ll be able to see mountain ranges and fields of lush green, but if it is cloudy, it may seem you’re walking in a desolate volcanic landscape for the majority of the journey!
Where are the toilets on Mt. Fuji?
Here is a map showing where the toilets are on Mt. Fuji.
You’ll have to pay for toilets on Mt. Fuji — disposing of waste on Japan’s highest mountain doesn’t come cheap. Most cost ¥200, except for ¥300 at the summit (for those who want to say they did their business on the top of Mt. Fuji). It’s an honor system, so make sure to be honorable.
It’s also worth noting that on the way down there won’t be any toilets from the Original 8th Station (also known as the 9th Station) to the 7th Station. That’s around two hours of crossing your legs, so make sure to go before then. If you are staying at a lodge, after paying once, you can use the toilet an unlimited number of times.
How long does it take to hike Mt. Fuji?
Our team took around 6 hours to ascend and around 3 hours on the way down the Yoshida Trail — this is also the official estimated time. Of course, this depends on how busy it is and how many breaks you take.
The most popular way to climb Mt. Fuji is to start mid-afternoon, stay in a lodge, and climb to the summit for sunrise. Because of this, it could take up to 8 hours if you get stuck on the way up, but only 5 hours if you skip sunrise and are an experienced hiker. Go towards the higher end of the scale if you consider yourself unfit or you’re going at the weekend, and the lower end if you’re an athlete/half-man half-gazelle.
Remember that you can relax triumphantly at the top ready for sunrise if you’re early, but it can ruin the trip if you’re late.
Note: Keep in mind that the hike from the 5th Station to the 8th will seem far quicker than from the 8th Station to the summit. It gets pretty grueling if you’re continuously expecting to reach the top soon.
How crowded does Mt. Fuji get?
Even if you go at a “quiet time”, i.e. a regular weekday, climbing Fuji is still a crowded hike compared to other mountains. If you go at the weekend, during school holidays — from mid-July to the end of August — or during the Obon holidays — mid-August — then it can get extremely busy. To reduce the risk of being stuck in an uphill queue, consider hiking at a different time and way from everyone else.
How to avoid the crowds
If you don’t care about watching the sunrise at the peak, then you’re in luck, as the 8th Station still boasts a majestic view. Book a hut near either the 7th or 8th Station and wake up a couple of hours later than those aiming for the summit. This means you won’t get stuck in an inevitable queue near the top and you’ll get a reasonable lie-in (for a person climbing Mt. Fuji, anyway).
Sleeping on Mt. Fuji: Overnight accommodation
We’ll say it once again: climbing Mt. Fuji is far from a casual ramble. It’s highly recommended that you book an overnight stay in one of the lodges part of the way up the Yoshida Trail, to break the hike up and allow your body to acclimatize. Be warned, though — you’ll need to book in advance to grab yourself a spot.
The alternative — bullet climbing — would mean hiking nonstop. This is strongly discouraged by local authorities — it doesn’t give you time to properly acclimatize to the altitude, and can also lead to accidents, especially if you don’t have the proper equipment.
Note: For the night(s) before or after your climb, see accommodation near Mt. Fuji.
How much does a mountain hut on Mt. Fuji cost?
First off, note that this won’t be a luxurious hotel experience — despite the price — and the cheaper you go, the less glamorous the rooms will become.
Prices start at around ¥10,000 for dormitory rooms. Private rooms can set you back around ¥50,000. You’ll pay more for lodges higher up — everyone wants to be first to the top for sunrise — and also extra for meals and high season/weekends.
Which lodge to choose?
There are quite a few places to choose from, and your decision may be based on the location just as much as the price. Availability, though, will probably be the number-one factor.
For general hut and toilet information, this is the place to go. Note that many of the lodge reservation sites are in Japanese.
Here are two Fuji lodges we recommend:
Goraikoukan Lodge
Note: The lodge is fully booked for 2024.
Goraikoukan is a lodge fairly close to the summit of Mt. Fuji (roughly 300 meters away) — a good bet for ensuring your arrival to the mountaintop in time for sunrise. But that does mean you pay for the pleasure. One night’s stay with two meals can be yours for ¥15,000, or without meals for ¥13,000. The rooms are all dormitory-style, so expect things to be a little tight. The site has an English page, but to reserve you must switch to the Japanese version. Reserving online shouldn’t be too difficult with the help of Google Translate.
Kamaiwa-kan Hut
Another option is Kamaiwa-kan at the 7th Station. There are more room types available and cheaper options compared to Goraikoukan, however, you aren’t as close to the summit. Dormitory rooms start at ¥12,000 per person with dinner, and private rooms start at around ¥48,600 per room. You can book in English.
What you’ll need to climb Mt. Fuji
Gear
You don’t need to have an endless list of hiking gear for Mt. Fuji — but you will need to be prepared. Here is the main equipment and clothes you’ll need.
Pro tip: Here’s where you can find hiking gear in Tokyo.
Warm clothes
Even in the middle of summer, it gets really cold near the top, especially at night, so you’ll need to bust out something like a down jacket and maybe even a woolly hat. We recommend taking at least three layers of clothing, plus some waterproofs in case it starts to rain. You’ll also need a hat and sunscreen to protect you from the sun.
Hiking or trekking shoes
Please, please, do not attempt the climb in sneakers or — God forbid — sandals. There is rough terrain along the trail, so you’ll need reliable, broken-in shoes that won’t give you blisters.
A headlamp
You’ll most likely be hiking in the dark at some points, so a headlamp is essential. Also, it makes the whole climbing Fuji thing feel like a right old adventure.
A backpack
You will need a sturdy bag for your snacks, water, and back-up layers of clothing. Around a 20L-30L backpack will do, but before you buy, remember you’ll be carrying it for more than eight hours, so make sure it’s comfortable, does not chafe, and is robust enough.
Hiking poles
While these aren’t a necessity, hiking poles can help you brave the volcanic gravel found on the mountain and are especially useful if you tend to be a bit wobbly by nature. You can even purchase a souvenir walking stick for around ¥1,300 with an attached flag, and stamp it at each unique station till the top.
Food, drink, and other items
Snacks
Take something light with high calorific content. Snack bars or dried fruit work well, but you can also take the opportunity to stuff your face with chocolate and claim it’s purely for survival. Jokes aside, you can also invest in energy gels, salt tablets, and rice balls.
Water, lots of it
We repeat: lots of water. Take at least two litres of water with you to start. There will be a couple of places to pick up more on the way, although the price is around ¥500 to ¥800 for a small bottle — as with snacks, the key is to find a balance between how much you’re willing to spend and how much you’re willing to carry. But staying hydrated is the top priority.
Cash and coins
There aren’t many places with credit-card machines on Mt. Fuji, so you’ll need yen notes and coins for food and water, and plenty of 100-yen coins for the bathrooms. That said, we have found that some accept QR-code payments.
Restaurants, shops, and vending machines on Mt. Fuji
There are a couple of shops on the way up Fuji and a small restaurant at the summit (as well as the highest vending machine in Japan, possibly the world), but everything is at least twice the regular price, and it’s safer to have some of your own supplies just in case.
Climbing Mt. Fuji with a guide
If you’re not sure about hiking Fuji on your own, you can book a guided climbing tour package through Willer Travel.
In 2024, they have four types of packages available, ranging in price from ¥49,000 to ¥63,000 per person. All include an English-speaking guide, as well as round-trip transport from Shinjuku. Some include equipment and accommodation, too.
How to get to Mt. Fuji
We have a whole list of ways to get to Mt. Fuji in a dedicated guide. For those who just want a quick bite, here’s an overview of your transport options.
Getting the bus to Mt. Fuji
2 to 2.5 hoursAbout ¥3,800 each way
Traveling by bus is the most painless method as you can take an express bus directly from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji. You can use Kosoku Bus to book bus tickets from Tokyo to Fuji.
Note that buses to the Yoshida Trail’s 5th Station only operate in climbing season — so confirm before you book. If you don’t have any luck with Kosoku, you can also make ticket reservations on the Highway Buses Japan website.
Getting the train to Mt. Fuji
2 to 3 hoursAbout ¥5,530 each way
Traveling by train is not the cheapest way to get to the 5th Station, but it is one of the simpler options. For all trains, you’ll either need to change at Kawaguchiko Station or Mt. Fuji Station for a bus.
From JR Shinjuku Station, the fastest option is the direct Limited Express Fuji Excursion service to Kawaguchiko Station, which takes 1.5 hours and costs ¥4,130. If you have a JR Pass, part of this journey (Shinjuku to Otsuki) is covered for free, but you’ll need to get a separate ticket to cover the remaining stations and the Limited Express fee.
Driving to Mt. Fuji
2 to 2.5 hoursTolls roughly ¥3,000–¥5,000, depending on if you have an ETC card or not.
Taking the Chuo Expressway, the tolls alone will cost around ¥3,000 (ETC), so factoring in the cost of renting a car, gas, and parking, driving from Tokyo is only worth considering if you have a group of four or five people.
Frequently asked questions about climbing Mt. Fuji
Can a beginner climb Mt. Fuji?
It’s possible for a beginner to climb Mt. Fuji if they’re in good physical shape. In other words, if you’ve never climbed a mountain before but you do other sports or go to the gym regularly, you should be okay — just make sure you’ve made the proper preparations, and consider going with someone more experienced.
However, if by “beginner” you mean you’re not into exercise or physical activities at all, you should consider climbing a different mountain first to get a feel for it. Then you can decide if you’re up for something more challenging.
Is climbing Mt. Fuji hard?
Mt. Fuji isn’t a technically challenging mountain, but it is tough on your body — especially because of the altitude. For experienced climbers, it’s an average level of difficulty.
Can you climb Mt. Fuji in one day?
Yes, but we wouldn’t recommend it. You’d spend a minimum of 10 or 11 hours hiking, not counting travel time to the mountain. This approach is strongly discouraged, because of the risks involved.
What you just read was a collaborative effort across the team. The article was first written in 2015 by Cal Widdall, but has since been updated by several editors. Special thanks to hikers Aimee Gardner and Victor (Frame of Travel) for sharing insights into climbing Mt. Fuji. Last updated in May, 2024.
