Dec. 19, 2024 update:Mt. Fuji access fees to be raised to 4,000 yen as authorities address overcrowding
Climbers using the most popular trail on Mt. Fuji are expected to be
slugged with a doubled fee of 4,000 yen ($26) from next summer as the
Yamanashi prefectural government seeks to tackle overcrowding, a source
close to the matter said Thursday.
The prefectural government also plans to move forward the closing time
of the entrance gate at the trail's 5th station by two hours to 2 p.m.,
to discourage overnight "bullet climbing," or trying to reach the
summit of Japan's tallest mountain without resting.
Nov. 20, 2024 update:Mt. Fuji climbers to be charged fee on Shizuoka side next summer
Shizuoka Prefecture is considering 3 proposals for an entrance fee on
the Shizuoka side of Mt. Fuji from next summer. The entry fee would be
mandatory for collection on the 3 routes of Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and
Subashiri, and 3 prices are being considered: 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000
yen per person.
The prefecture also intends to set up nighttime regulations for each
trail, such as from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. and will submit a draft ordinance
summarizing these regulations to the prefectural assembly next
February, with the goal of implementing the regulations next summer.
Nov. 17, 2024 update:China-made tram eyed to take hikers up Mt. Fuji
Japanese authorities seeking to reduce the carbon footprint and
overcrowding at Mount Fuji will propose a trackless, rubber-tired tram
system made by China’s CRRC to transport climbers.
The move would replace an original plan to build a light-rail system
connecting the base to the fifth hiking station of the popular Yoshida
Trail to the top after a local city and other parties voiced concern
over its environmental and cost impact.
Nov. 2, 2024 update:Planned Mt. Fuji light rail line to transport 3 million hikers per year
A proposed light rail transit service connecting the foot of Mt. Fuji
to its 5th station would be capable of transporting 3.36 million
passengers annually, a recent report by a local government showed.
Yamanashi Prefecture is proposing a double-track line operating 2-car
trains every 6 minutes for 10 hours per day to disperse the summer
influx of tourists while reducing vehicle emissions, according to its
interim report.
The line would run along the Fuji Subaru Line, the toll road to the 5th
station that serves as the starting point to one of the mountain's most
popular hiking trails.
Oct. 2, 2024 update:Mt. Fuji’s Yoshida trail may cost more to climb next year
Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki on Oct. 1 revealed that he is
considering raising fees to ascend the prefecture's trail up Mount Fuji
starting next summer.
The governor is also mulling over whether prices should differ on
weekends, which see more climbers with correspondingly higher safety
measure costs, compared to weekdays. Another hope is that varied fees
would reduce the concentration of weekend climbers.
The summer season's total costs increased to 380 million yen; the
addition of a gate at the fifth station, increased security and staff
instruction contributed to the higher amount.
Meanwhile, Shizuoka Prefecture experienced a 6.4 percent increase in
climbers from the previous summer on its 3 trails — Fujinomiya,
Gotemba, and Subashiri — & announced its plan to also introduce
daily access restrictions and mandatory fees starting next summer.
Sept. 11, 2024 update:First Mt. Fuji climbing season with new rules ends (this 4-min. YouTube video includes a report by NHK World's John LaDue from the Yoshida Trail's 5th Station)
The Mt. Fuji climbing season ended on Tuesday after new restrictions,
including entry limits and a fee, were introduced for the first time to
tackle crowding and overtourism. Prefectural officials say as of
Monday, the greatest number of visitors to pass through the gate at the
fifth station was 3,382 on Saturday, and the figure never reached the
limit of 4,000.
A Japanese government survey shows Mount Fuji had fewer climbers in the
summer of 2024 than last year, apparently due to new regulative
measures. Preliminary data shows that as of September 4 about 178,000
people have climbed Mt. Fuji since the official climbing season opened
in July.
The number fell by 14 percent from the same period last year. About
103,000 took the trail in Yamanashi Prefecture, while about 75,000
walked three trails on the Shizuoka Prefecture side. Both figures
declined from last year.
More than 200,000 people had climbed Mt. Fuji before the number fell
sharply in the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the number increased to
the pre-pandemic level.
Ministry officials say new regulations introduced this year to tackle
overtourism and reckless climbing practices may be behind this year's
number.
Gates to the Mt. Fuji trails were closed on Tues. Sept. 10, 2024,
marking the end of the 2024 hiking season
(photo credit: JIJI Press/AFP)
Aug. 21, 2024 update:Mount Fuji’s new measures bear fruit in tackling dangerous 'bullet climbing'
So far, there has not been a single day this year where the number of
climbers admitted through the gate exceeded 4,000. The highest number
of climbers — around 3,260 — was recorded on Aug. 11, a national
holiday dubbed Mountain Day...
The restrictions also managed to significantly reduce the number of
climbers who pass through the 6th Station between 9 p.m. and midnight —
those most likely to be bullet climbers. As of Aug. 13, just 150
climbers were recorded to have passed through that station in the
current climbing season, down by over 90% from 2,042 a year earlier...
Around half of the 90,000 entry permissions granted by mid-August
consisted of advance reservations. And of those who booked online, more
than half were tourists from overseas, Iwama said, noting that the new
reservation system seemed to have caught on better than anticipated
among foreign visitors...
Aug. 16, 2024 update:6 die on Mt. Fuji in first month of season, topping last year’s total
"Two climbers died on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the mountain
while 4 were reported dead on the Shizuoka Prefecture side as of July
30, local police said...
All 6 victims were men in their late 50s to late 70s, according to
police. Five of them died after falling ill during the climb, while the
other suffered fatal injuries after falling from a rocky slope, police
said...
The majority of fatal incidents on Mount Fuji are caused by illness, according to Yamanashi prefectural police.
They urge climbers to take precautions against cold weather and
altitude sickness, which can lead to cerebral and pulmonary
edema—excessive fluid buildup in the brain and lungs."
Aug. 5, 2024 update:Mt. Fuji Yoshida trail ‘bullet climbing’ drops by 80% due to new measures
The city government, which counts climbers at the 6th station,
reported 2,579 climbers from 5 pm to 3 am in July, down roughly 76
percent from 10,757 in the same month last year. This time period is
heavily affected by the gate closure.
In July, 55,185 climbers passed through the sixth station, down about 16 percent from the 66,012 in the same month last year.
The gate at the 5th station will close before 4 pm if the number of
climbers there reaches 4,000 that day. However, this threshold was not
exceeded on any day in July.
July
12, 2024 update:Three people die on
Mt. Fuji less than 24 hours after official start of climbing season
The first was found slightly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, when the body
of a man believed to be in his 70s was discovered near Kengamine (the
highest part of the mountain), but on a section of the mountain not on
any established trail. Later that same day, at around 5 in the evening,
the body of a man who’d collapsed was found along the Gotemba trail.
The man’s heart had already stopped beating when he was found, and
investigators have determined that he was a 77-year-old resident of
Tokyo’s Komae City. Finally, at around 4:30 Thursday morning, an
unconscious man estimated to be in his 60s was found collapsed on the
Fujinomiya trail, and was later confirmed dead.
July
11, 2024 update:
As reported previously, a July 2nd survey indicated heavy snow
remaining on the Ohachimeguri summit loop trail just north of the
Kengamine Peak. However, a July 9th inpection revealed that all the
snow on the trail had already melted, so the Ohachimeguri opened
yesterday along with the 3 trails from Shizuoka Prefecture. Even though
the trail opened in its entirety, climbers are cautioned to take care
because the route may still be dangerous due to strong winds, heavy
rain, lightning, dense fog, etc. Also, the (temporary) summit toilets
on the Fujinomiya side also opened on July 10th.
July
10, 2024 update:Hong Kong civil servant dies climbing Mount Fuji,
Japan’s tallest mountain
A Hong Kong civil servant has died in an attempt to scale Mount Fuji,
the 5th death on the mountain in less than 2 weeks.
Japanese media said the man, whose first name was Lawrence, and his
wife began their ascent from the 5th station on the popular Yoshida
Trail route on the Yamanashi prefecture side of the landmark at about
1.30 pm on Monday. But when they reached the 8th station, at about
3,100 metres (10,170 feet) at around 8.30 pm, the man complained of
feeling unwell and later lost consciousness.
Fellow climbers alerted mountain station staff, who used a special
vehicle to transport the man to a nearby medical station. But a doctor
pronounced the man dead. Japanese police have launched an investigation
and told media the incident was the first reported fatality among
climbers on the Yamanashi prefecture side of the 3,776-metre Mount Fuji
since it opened for the summer season on July 1.
July 4,
2024 update: As reported today, a short section of Mt. Fuji's
Ohachimeguri summit loop trail (map)
will remain closed when the trail opens on July 10 due to a huge amount
of snow so large that it is expected to still remain there as of the
opening date. The short section of trail lies just north (misreported
as “east“) of the Kengamine Peak (the actual Japan high point). The
closed section of trail lies adjacent to a precipitous cliff down into
the crater, so there is a high risk of serious falling accidents here.
So until this snowy section is opened, climbers wishing to scale
Kengamine Peak will need to hike clockwise around the Ohachimeguri to
reach it, whereas normally from the top of the Yoshida Trail it would
be a little shorter to hike counterclockwise. For more details
including a map, please refer to the official Mt. Fuji website.
June
27, 2024 update: As reported yesterday on the official Mt. Fuji
website:
"The Mt. Fuji summit rim trail, Ohachimeguri Trail, which goes around
the summit rim of Mt. Fuji, will remain closed even after opening of
the Yoshida Trail which is scheduled for July 1. The Ohachimaguri Trail
is planned to open on July 10, but subject to delay due to safety
reasons mainly related to the remaining snow on the trail. Trail
inspection is currently in progress. No public toilet facility is
available at the summit until the public toilet on the Fujinomiya Trail
side opens on July 10, so your own portable toilet is necessary before
then."
June
26, 2024 update:3 bodies found in Mt.
Fuji crater, another also dies while climbing
"The professional climber, Keita Kurakami, lost consciousness when he
was climbing the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the
mountain at an elevation of around 3,000 meters at around 11 a.m.
Wednesday. The 38-year-old from Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, was rescued
by police officers who were on the mountain to check the paths, but
died later in hospital. He was believed to have been suffering from a
heart disease. Kurakami, who started climbing from around 6 a.m. with a
friend, was a rock climbing ambassador for Patagonia Inc., a major
outdoor clothing maker."
June
24, 2024 update:53-year-old man missing after climbing Mt. Fuji cannot
be contacted after sending summit photo to wife (Japanese)
"The man is a resident of Hino City, Tokyo. On the 21st, he told his
wife that he was going to climb Mt. Fuji, but when he did not return
home, his wife called the police on the morning of the 23rd. According
to the police, the man had not been able to be contacted since sending
his wife a photo he had taken near the summit of Mt. Fuji in the
morning of the 22nd.
When the police and others searched for him, the man's car was found at
the Subashiri entrance. Mt. Fuji is currently closed, and the opening
to the climb on the Shizuoka side is scheduled for July 10th." (English
translation)
June
17, 2024 update:Entrance gate
set up
at Mt. Fuji ahead of climbing season to reduce crowding
Workers have finished setting up an entrance gate for a trail on Mount
Fuji ahead of the start of the climbing season. It is intended to
regulate the number of hikers who visit Japan's highest mountain.
Construction work on the gate began on Thursday. On Monday, workers
completed the gate after covering it with dark brown wooden boards to
blend in with the landscape. The gate is about 8 meters wide and 1.8
meters tall.
(Source: nhk.or.jp/nhkworld)
June
12, 2024 update:2024 Mt. Fuji congestion calendar
(see below for more info on how to avoid crowding)
June 8,
2024 update:Online preregistrations for climbing Mt. Fuji from
Shizuoka Pref. side to begin on June 10
Preregistrations can be done on smartphones and computers by entering
the climbing route, date and time, and whether or not a lodge
reservation has been made in advance. Applicants will need to watch a
few-minute-long video to learn about good manners on the mountain
before preregistration. After the process is completed, a QR code will
be sent by email to the aspiring climber.
May 31,
2024 update:Live
stream will show congestion around Mt. Fuji's 5th station
Yamanashi Prefecture will install cameras on Mount Fuji at two
locations including in front of the gate at the fifth station to show
interested climbers the current congestion situation. According to
prefectural officials, video footage from those live cameras will be
available on the Official Web Site for Mt. Fuji Climbing.
May 30, 2024 update:Shizuoka
to Launch Registration System for Mt. Fuji Climbers in June
The prefectural government of Shizuoka, central Japan, said Wednesday
it will launch an online registration system for Mount Fuji climbers on
June 10. The use of the registration system will not be mandatory, but
registration will require the viewing of a video on climbing rules and
etiquette. After watching the video, they will receive an email with a
QR code. At the 5th station of each climbing route, checkpoints will be
set up for climbers to present the QR code and then receive wristbands.
(Source: nippon.com) - original link went south
May 20,
2024 update:Online reservations begin for Mt. Fuji climbers
Online reservations began Monday 5/20 for visitors climbing Mount Fuji
on the Yoshida trail situated in Yamanashi Prefecture to ease
congestion, with local authorities set to start charging 2,000 yen when
the trail opens this summer. Bookings can be made on the official
website for climbing Mount Fuji, which is operated by the prefecture
and other stakeholders, until the day before the climb.
May
13, 2024 update:Online
reservations to begin for climbing Mt. Fuji
"The new system, which will begin at 10 a.m. (*) on May 20, is aimed at
easing congestion at reception by enabling climbers to pay 2,000 yen
($13) in advance. As the prefecture accepts a maximum of 4,000 climbers
per day, 3,000 slots will be available via online booking. At least
1,000 visitors will be allowed access by paying the fees at the trail's
reception area on the day of their climb, according to the local
government."
(*) misreported as 10 p.m. in the article
More details on the new Mt. Fuji Yoshida trail gate entrance reservation system have now been posted on the
official Mt. Fuji website.
May
11, 2024 update: The List of
Mt. Fuji Mountain Huts (富士山の山小屋) page was updated today. Not all
huts have published their 2024 data yet, but
most start/stop dates, sleeping capacities, URLs, and phone numbers
have been updated in accordance with the latest info on each mountain
hut's
website. More details for the 2024 climbing season will be added as
they become available. Some huts like Taishikan and Goraikoukan are
already fully booked (or nearly booked) for the season, so reservations
should be made ASAP!
April
17, 2024 update:
With the new regulations this year restricting bullet climbing,
mountain hut reservations will become imperative for most climbers.
Last year most huts on the Yoshida Trail were fully booked for the
entire season by the end of May, and so this year should be even more
crazy. Some huts will begin accepting reservations early next month,
e.g. Goraikokan (5/7), 7th Station Tomoekan (5/9), 8th Station Tomoekan
(5/9), & Fujisan "Hotel" (5/10). Not all huts have published
their 2024 data yet, butthis
page
shows a vacancy status calendar for a number of the Yoshida
trail
mountain huts, and this page shows detailed 2023 data for all Yoshida
trail mountain huts (to be updated with 2024 details as they become
available): List of
Mt. Fuji Mountain Huts (富士山の山小屋)
Mar. 25, 2024 update:
2024
Safety Measures for Climbing Mt. Fuji
[Yoshida Trail]
>> Restrictions on passage past 5th station
-- will be in effect from 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. the next day (except
those with mountain hut reservations).
-- will be imposed when the numbers of climbers exceed 4,000 people per
day.
>> Climbers who pass through the gate at the 5th station will pay
a fee of 2,000 yen per person.
>> To avoid potential accidents from occurring, please listen to
the designated mountaineering guide appointed by the Yamanashi
prefectural government and follow proper climbing etiquette.
>> We advise inexperienced climbers to climb with the assistance
of a mountaineering guide.
[Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya Trails]
>> Checking of mountain hut reservation confirmation will be
implemented for climbs starting after 4 pm
>> Mountain climbing management using DX web registration system
>> Fujisan Conservation Donations Mar. 4, 2024 update: Yamanashi to Collect 2,000 Yen from Mt.
Fuji Climbers They've been talking about it for months, and now
it's official:
"The prefectural assembly of Yamanashi, west of Tokyo, passed an
ordinance on Monday to collect entry fees of 2,000 yen per head from
people climbing Mount Fuji from the Yamanashi side." Feb.
14, 2024 update: Another
Japanese
prefecture to restrict night climbing on Mt. Fuji "The 3 trails on the Shizuoka side -- Subashiri,
Gotemba and
Fujinomiya -- will be closed during evenings except for people staying
at mountain lodges. The prefectural government plans to negotiate the
details with the municipalities concerned.
...The local government earmarked 52.50 million yen ($351,000) in
relevant expenses under a draft budget for fiscal 2024, including for
developing an online system for mountain lodge reservations."
Feb.
2, 2024 update: Entrance fee
and gate closing at sundown
may be coming to Mt. Fuji’s most popular hiking route
Multiple media organizations in Japan are reporting that the government
of Yamanashi Prefecture, in which the Yoshida Trail lies, is looking to
introduce a toll of 2,000 yen (US$13.80) to hike the
path...
...to enforce payment a gate would be constructed at the start of the
trail. This gate would be shut from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., with the
possibility of the closure happening earlier if the trail has already
exceeded 4,000 hikers for the day...
...a provision of the plan would exempt those who are paying to stay at
a lodge from the Yoshida Trail toll and time restrictions. Jan.
19, 2024 update: Mount Fuji’s
Yoshida Trail to Introduce Climber Cap and Toll Amid Overcrowding
Concerns
"The regulations also aim to put a stop to ‘bullet climbing,’ a risky
practice where climbers attempt to ascend the mountain overnight to
reach the summit by sunrise. The Yoshida Trail, being a popular choice
among hikers, has seen a significant portion of the 221,322 climbers
who ascended Mount Fuji in the summer of 2023. Such popularity has led
to increased strain on the trail, prompting the need for these
regulations. If successful, these measures could inspire similar
actions on the other trails of Mount Fuji in the future."
Dec.
31, 2023 update: 40-year-old
man who fractured leg while climbing Mt. Fuji out-of-season is found by
prefectural police mountain rescue team
"On the 30th, a man who was climbing Mt. Fuji requested help from the
police, and on the night of the 30th, a mountain rescue team carried
him away on a stretcher. The man had broken his right leg. Around 9:30
a.m. on the 30th, a man in his 40s who had come to climb Mt. Fuji from
Aichi Prefecture called the police near the 9th station of the
Fujinomiya exit, saying he had fallen and was injured and couldn't
move. According to the police, the man started climbing alone from the
Subashiri exit on the morning of the 30th. After receiving the report,
police sent a helicopter to rescue the victim, but had to give up due
to strong winds. 10 members of the prefectural police's mountain rescue
team climbed the snowy mountain, and about 7 hours later, they found
the man and transported him on a stretcher to the 5th station. The man
tripped over climbing equipment and fell, fracturing his right leg. Mt.
Fuji's mountain trails are closed during the winter." [machine
translated from Japanese] https://www.sut-tv.com/ (Japanese)
Dec.
21, 2023 update: Yamanashi to
cap Mount Fuji climbers at 4,000 per day
"According to the proposed regulations, a gate will be installed near
the 5th station, which is the end point of the Fuji Subaru Line toll
road on the prefectural side. To prevent bullet climbers, the gate will
be closed from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day during the climbing season.
The maximum number of climbers will be restricted to 4,000 per day and
once that limit has been reached, the gate will be closed, even before
4 p.m." https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15090607
Sept.
10, 2023 update: Today is the last day of Mt. Fuji's 2023
climbing season for all 4
hiking trails. Almost all mountain huts & first-aid stations will
also close. Off-season climbers are reminded that rescue personnel are
limited, public transportation access is minimal, and cell phone signal
transmission is poor. They must also complete and submit an official
Climbing Plan that lists route, schedule, equipment, group members, and
who to contact in case of emergency. And even after submitting a
Climbing Plan, one may not be granted permission to climb the mountain.
Also, above the 5th station, public lavatories are closed during the
off-season, so to preserve the natural environment of Japan's World
Heritage Site & holiest peak, climbers must bring and use a
portable toilet. And after descent, climbers must properly dispose of
their contents off the
mountain since there are no disposal facilities on the mountain.
National park officials have once again reminded
would-be off-season climbers of the many hazards in doing so, as
described below in the "When
is Mt. Fuji's official
climbing season?" question, especially in the "Three Rules for
Off-season Climbers of Mt. Fuji" pdf linked from there.
Sept.
8, 2023 update: Swarms of tourists causing crisis for Mount Fuji
"...a recent surge in inbound tourists to Japan has led to extreme
levels of pollution and other strains, authorities say, adding they may
be forced to take drastic measures... Despite the frenetic pace of
cleaning by janitors, businesses, and volunteers, social media is rife
with posts about soiled bathrooms and mounds of litter along the
climbing path... Rescue requests totaled 61 this year, up 50% from last
year, with non-Japanese tourists accounting for a quarter of them,
according to Shizuoka prefecture police. An official said most were
poorly equipped, suffering hypothermia or altitude sickness."
Aug.
10, 2023 update: It's official: Mt.
Fuji climbers will be asked to wait when trails become crowded
"The regulation will be in effect from Aug. 11 to Sept. 10 (the end of
the climbing season) in areas above the 5th station on the Yoshida
trail, which is on the Yamanashi side of the mountain, prefectural
officials said on Aug. 9."
Aug. 2,
2023 update: The number of climbers who ascended Japan's highest
mountain via the
Yoshida-guchi trail between July 1 and 30 stood at around 64,000, 17
percent more than in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit. And the
number of climbers is expected to increase further toward Japan's Obon
midsummer holiday period (usually Aug. 13-15), heightening the risks of
accidents. Therefore, officials plan to cap the number when climbers
are estimated to top 4,000 a day, based on information provided by
infrared sensors and security personnel deployed along the trail, most
probably at the 8th Station.
July
27, 2023 update: National park officials are again asking for
climber cooperation in
helping to maintain the public toilets. Accordingly, some online
payment systems are now available by scanning the QR code at some
toilets. These systems include PayPay, Line Pay, Alipay HK, GCash,
Touch 'n' Go eWallet, true money wallet, hello money, etc.
It should be noted that the funds from the ¥1000 donation are not used
to maintain existing toilet facilities, including those installed in
mountain huts. Because funds to maintain these existing toilets are not
included in Fuji-san's general operating budget, climbers are asked to
pay a small fee (¥200‒¥300) when using these toilets.
July
24, 2023 update: Rihanna Sambyal, a 6-year-old girl from Delhi,
India climbed Mt. Fuji
along with her father Praguna Sambyal on July 2. From her early years,
Rihanna has been fascinated by beaches, mountains, & volcanoes. In
the future, she hopes to also conquer Cotopaxi, Ecuador (5,897m) as
well as Ojos del Salado (6,900m), the highest volcanic summit on Earth
near the Argentine-Chilean border in the heart of the Andes Mountains.
The full story including pics and an interview with Rihanna & her
dad is here: https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/who-is-rihanna-sambyal-1690187122-1
July
15, 2023 update: Round-trip bus tickets to the Fuji Subaru Line
5th station from both
the Fujisan Parking Lot and Mt. Fuji Station/Kawaguchiko Station can
now be purchased & used through the new Fujikyu Bus app.
July
12, 2023 update: Anyone planning to climb up the Subashiri Trail
this summer may be
pleased to hear about the new 117-square-meter, ~$12.7 million
Subashiri Trail Information Center which opened on the Mon. 7/10
opening day at its 5th Station. The Gotemba Police Station also has a
temporary security post in the same building. More details plus video
are here: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230711/p2a/00m/0na/023000c
July
10, 2023 update: Today the 3 trails from Shizuoka Prefecture...
Subashiri, Gotemba,
& Fujinomiya... opened, so all 4 Mt. Fuji trails are now open to
the summit. Game on!
Also, because of the hundreds of climbers who get lost on the peak
(including at the infamous 8th station Yoshida/Subashiri trail junction
where downhill Yoshida climbers mistakenly descend on the Subashiri
trail), climbers are reminded of the free Mt. Fuji app
in English, which allows you to check your climbing route and current
GPS location offline (even where there is no cell phone signal) and
notifies you of the wrong way by voice and vibration to help keep you
from getting lost.
July 5,
2023 update: It was confirmed yesterday that the 3 Mt. Fuji
trails from Shizuoka
Prefecture (Subashiri, Gotemba, & Fujinomiya) will indeed open on
July 10. Also, as a result of a trail inspection, the Ohachimeguri
(summit loop trail) will also fully open on July 10, in spite of a few
small patches of snow remaining on the trail on the north side of the
Kengamine Peak (Japan's actual highpoint) in the area facing
Hakusandake Peak. Climbers are also urged to beware of falling rocks,
as some rocks on the trail (especially early in the season) are very
susceptible to collapse.
July 2,
2023 update:
Yesterday the opening day of the 2023 Mt. Fuji climbing season was
somewhat marred by cloudy, windy, & rainy conditions on the main
Yoshida trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side. The other 3 trails from
Shizuoka Prefecture are still scheduled to open Mon. 7/10. Yee hah!
Until then, the descending trail from the top of the Yoshida trail down
to the trail junction above the 8th station Ganso Muro mountain hut
will be closed, requiring both ascending AND descending climbers to
share the ascending trail from that junction to the top of the Yoshida
trail.
Also, for the entire month of July, all 4 of my ebooks at Smashwords,
the world's largest publisher of indie ebooks, are a free download
in 6 different formats as part of their annual summer sale. These
ebooks include my 2013 ebook, "Climbing Mt. Fuji: Tips, Q&A, and
Climber Stories," published shortly after Mt. Fuji was named as a World
Heritage Site. Links to all 4 titles are on my Smashwords profile page.
June
24, 2023 update:
It was announced today that even though the Yoshida trail is scheduled
to open Sat. 7/1, the Mt. Fuji summit loop trail (Ohachimeguri) will
not open until Mon., July 10th at the earliest, as currently there is
still snow around the Kengamine peak (the actual Mt. Fuji summit &
Japan's highpoint), and so the actual Ohachimeguri open date is still
undecided. Access to the Ohachimeguri trail from the top of the Yoshida
trail will be blocked in both directions with ropes.
Also, telecommuncation giants SoftBank Corp. and KDDI Corp. will each
provide 5G mobile communication services at Mt. Fuji's summit from
early July to late August. And Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd. (Wi2) will
provide free public Wi-Fi service at 46 locations around Mt. Fuji
including mountain huts from July to early September.
June
22, 2023 update: World
Heritage Mt. Fuji struggles with crowds, eruption threat
A challenge that has taken on a greater urgency than before the 2013
World Heritage listing is disaster prevention at Mt. Fuji, an active
volcano. Local authorities have rushed to take safety measures in the
event of a sudden eruption as occurred on Mt. Ontake in 2014. The Sept.
27, 2014 eruption of Mt. Ontake, which straddles Nagano and Gifu
prefectures, left 58 climbers dead and 5 missing. Under a new basic
evacuation plan compiled in March by the Mt. Fuji volcano disaster
management conference, hikers and others at the 5th station and above
will be told to descend the mountain as soon as signs of an eruption
are detected.
June
16, 2023 update: The projected congestion
calendar (shown below along with a video) for the 2023 Mt. Fuji
climbing season was
updated on Tuesday. It was also announced that the Fujinomiya Trail
will be opened at 9 am
on Tuesday, June 20th from the 5th station to the 6th station. On this
short section of trail, you can enjoy hiking up to Mt. Hōei (宝永山,
Hōeizan), a flank volcano which emerged as a result of the 1707 Hōei
eruption on the southeast side Mt. Fuji. This trail & the other 2
trails from Shizuoka Prefecture (Gotemba & Subashiri) are still
scheduled to open all the way to the summit on July 10th.
June
13, 2023 update: Surge
in visitors, ‘bullet climbing’ raise concerns on Mount Fuji
"...many mountain huts have already reached full occupancy. According
to the Ryokan Kumiai association, which consists of 16 mountain huts
along the Yoshida trail, accommodation capacity since 2020 has
decreased to about half of the pre-pandemic level to prevent
overcrowding and halt the spread of the novel coronavirus... Not only
are there fewer places to stay on the mountain, but foreign travelers
have scrambled to book spots in the mountain huts since the relaxation
of COVID-19 border restrictions... 'Reservations from foreigners alone
already accounted for about 30 percent of the bookings.' Many people
who cannot reserve hut accommodations are expected to bullet climb."
June
10, 2023 update:
The 2023 timetable for the 45-min. shuttle bus connecting Yamanashi
Prefecture's Fujisan (Mt. Fuji) Parking lot (富士山パーキング) to the Fuji
Subaru Line 5th Station is now available online. Details below.
May 20,
2023 update:
Same as the past 8 years (except for 2020 when Mt. Fuji was closed due
to Covid), it was announced today that Mt. Fuji's main Yoshida trail
from Yamanashi Prefecture is scheduled to open this year as always on
July 1 and the other 3 trails from Shizuoka Prefecture (Fujinomiya,
Gotemba, & Subashiri) are scheduled as always to open on July 10,
depending on any adverse weather or any unexpected trail conditions
like rockfalls or late-lingering snow. All 4 trails are scheduled for
closure on Sept. 10.
May 11,
2023 update: The List of
Mt. Fuji Mountain Huts (富士山の山小屋) page was updated slightly to
reflect the most recent available info for the 2023 climbing season.
More details to be added as they become available.
April
28, 2023 update: As of 9 am today, the Ochudo circumferential
hiking trail has been opened from the Fuji Subaru 5th Station down to
the 4th Station Okuniwa mountain hut parking area. Yamanashi
prefectural officials are warning hikers to be careful of falling rocks
and to refrain from hiking on this trail especially during and after
rainy weather when huge boulders are sometimes dislodged from higher
elevations.
Aug.
10,
2022 update:
As reported on Fujisan's official website: "A rockfall occurred on
August 10th (AM) near the 8.5th station around the convergence of the
Yoshida & Subashiri Trails. Climbers should exercise caution. When
resting by the side of the trail, please do not turn your back to the
mountain side, and always keep an eye out for falling rocks from above.
Helmets are available at the 6th station on the Yoshida trail (2,000
yen deposit)."
Also, as of 9 am on August 10 (Wednesday), a tropical cyclone has
formed near the Ogasawara Islands, and the Japan Meteorological Agency
announced that it is expected to develop into a typhoon within 24
hours. If that occurs, it will be the 2nd typhoon of the month and will
be called Typhoon No. 8. It is expected to approach the Pacific Ocean
side of eastern Japan around Saturday the 13th during the Obon
holidays, and depending on its course, may bring heavy rain in the
Kanto region including Mt. Fuji. The forecasted storm track and
intensity details can be viewed here.
July
17,
2022 update: "28-year-old Japanese athlete Ruy Ueda has set a
new Fastest Known Time (FKT)
for running all of Mount Fuji’s four trails non-stop, a total distance
of 57.06km with 6,772m of ascent. He completed the feat in nine hours,
55 minutes and 41 seconds, a world record when ratified....
....He finished third in the 2021 Skyrunning World Championships. That
same year he became the first Asian Skyrunning World Champion after
winning the Men’s Vertical Kilometer in Lleida, Spain. To prepare his
body for this challenge, Ueda travelled to the Alps and trained with
ultrarunner Florian Neuschwander, competing in Austria’s Hochkönigman,
where he won the downhill race, and France’s Mont Blanc marathon, where
he came in third."
Ruy Ueda sets new world record for running up and down
Mt. Fuji’s 4 trails in less than 10 hours
(photo credit: Suguru
Saito/Red Bull Content Pool)
July
10,
2022 update: Hurray! It's official. As of 9 am this morning, the
remaining 3 trails
from Shizuoka Prefecture... Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and Subashiri... have
opened completely, and so all 4 Mt. Fuji trails are now open to the
summit, including the Ohachimeguri (お鉢めぐり) loop trail around the summit
crater. Let the fun begin! Happy trails, everyone...
July 3,
2022 update: As of today, not all mountain huts on the main
Yoshida trail had
published their 2022 data yet, but in accordance with the latest info
on the Mt. Fuji Yoshidaguchi Ryokan Association site, some start/stop
dates, sleeping capacities, URLs, and phone numbers were updated on
this page: List of Mt. Fuji Mountain Huts (富士山の山小屋)
July 2,
2022 update: SHOW TIME! The Yoshida trail on the Yamanashi
Prefecture side of Mount
Fuji opened yesterday on July 1, a day known as Yamabiraki (山開き),
marking the beginning of the summer Mt. Fuji mountain climbing season
that will continue through Sept. 10.
Mt. Fuji climbers enjoyed sunrise from its summit on July 1, 2022.
(photo credit: The Mainichi
Newspaper)
Until the other 3 trails from Shizuoka Prefecture open on 7/10, the
Yoshida downhill trail from the top of the trail to the junction near
the Gansomuro mountain hut is still closed, so downhill climbers will
be required to go down the uphill trail, sharing it with uphill
climbers.
Also, the Ohachimeguri (お鉢めぐり) loop trail around the summit crater
remains closed till 7/10... and access to Kengamine, Japan's actual
highpoint, is also off-limits due to remaining snow in the area.
Purple line indicates closed Ohachimeguri trail till July 10, 2022. The
two 'X's show where the trail is roped off for closure.
(image credit: official Fujisan
website)
June
20,
2022 update:
As of 9:00 am this morning, this season's first section of Mt.
Fuji
trail has opened from the 5th to 6th stations of the Fujinomiya route.
You can also enjoy hiking over to the Hōei Crater on Fujisan's
southeastern flank, site of the 1707-1708 Hōei eruption of Mount Fuji.
The Fujinomiya trail from the 6th station to the summit is closed and
scheduled to open on July 10, along with the other 2 trails from
Shizuoka Prefecture.
The former rest house at the Fujinomiya 5th Station trailhead was
destroyed by suspected arson in March 2021 and may take years to
rebuild. It was an important base for the trail with a store,
restaurant, beautiful observation deck, and toilets, and also served as
a base for emergency response and disaster prevention. As a result,
like last year the only thing you will find at the Fujinomiya trailhead
this year is temporary toilets.
June
20,
2022 update: Mt. Fuji climbers asked to take temperature checks at
5th station
(Mainichi Japan) - "Climbers....will then be provided with a yellow
wrist band if there are no health issues, and if the staff spot
climbers without the wrist bands in the event they slip through the
first check, they will undergo the same process on the 6th station."
June 9,
2022 update: Game on! Mount Fuji's main Yoshida trail is
scheduled to open as
always on July 1 and the other 3 trails from Shizuoka prefecture
(Fujinomiya, Gotemba, & Subashiri) are scheduled as always to open
on July 10. Also, the Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Council has
published their
forecasted calendar for avoiding congestion during the 2022 Mount Fuji
climbing season:
Also, as announced previously, Japan will open its borders tomorrow for
foreign tourists provided they are part of a guided package tour group
and adhere to strict guidelines established by the Japan Tourism
Agency. These include cooperating with Japan‘s infectious disease
control measures, including wearing masks and consenting to signing up
for private health insurance policies in case a tourist becomes
infected with coronavirus and requires medical treatment in Japan.
Furthermore, tourists may not be allowed to take part in these tours if
they are unwilling to abide by these procedures. Hmm.
May 30,
2022 update:
From NHK World on Friday: "Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said on
Thursday that Japan will reopen its borders to foreign tourists,
starting on June 10. Only visitors on escorted package tours will be
allowed to enter for the time being, to prevent the spread of the
virus. The government will double its current cap on the number of
arrivals from overseas to 20,000 per day from June 1. The figure will
include foreign sightseers. Japan will let in tourists from 98
countries and territories that are classified as having the lowest
coronavirus positivity rates. They will include the United States,
South Korea and China."
May 17,
2022 update: Good news! Under pressure from Japan's tourism
industry, the Japanese
Prime Minister announced on May 7 that beginning next month border
controls against the coronavirus will be eased, in line with other G7
members. Although foreign students and business travelers have been
able to enter Japan, the country has been essentially off-limits for
foreign tourists for the past couple years. Also, the cap on overseas
arrivals currently set at 10,000 per day will also be eased. This
obviously reflects favorably on the prospects of foreign climbers being
able to come over and challenge Mt. Fuji. Let’s keep our fingers
crossed!
Oct.
12, 2021 update:
The climbing stats for the 2021 Mt. Fuji climbing season were updated below.
Sept. 26, 2021 update: NHK World reported
today that Mt. Fuji recorded the smallest number of hikers during the
summer climbing season in 40 years. Between July 1 and September 10
this year, only 65,519 people climbed
the main Yoshida Trail, the only trail which originates in Yamanashi
Prefecture. The number is the lowest since the earliest available
records from
1981, and 120,288 less than the figure from 2 years ago.
Factors for the drop are being attributed to the smaller Covid-related
capacity of mountain huts and the Fuji Subaru Line toll road only being
open between 3 am to 6 pm, compared to being open 24/7 during the 2019
climbing season (before the pandemic). Also, an interesting story was
posted recently by a Japanese university
student entitled "My Experience at a Part-time Job at the Altitude of
3100 Meters," describing her experience this summer working at the
8th Station Taishikan (太子舘) mountain hut.
Sept.
11, 2021 update: GAME OVER!! The Yoshida trail has now been
closed for the winter from
Izumigataki (a short walk from the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station) to the
Mt. Fuji summit. National park officials have once again reminded
would-be off-season climbers of the many hazards in doing so, as
described below in the "When is Mt. Fuji's official
climbing season?" question, especially in the "Three Rules for
Off-season Climbers of Mt. Fuji" pdf linked from there.
Sept.
8, 2021 update: Yesterday Mt. Fuji's summit received its
earliest autumn snowfall in 13 years,
known in Japanese as "hatsukansetsu" (初冠雪, 1st crown of snow), which
was 25 days earlier than normal and 21 days earlier than last year.
Only TWO
MORE DAYS left in this year's official Mt. Fuji climbing season.
Go for it!
Aug.
29, 2021 update: Updated the internet access question on Page 2
to include a link to the new "Mt. Fuji GPS Trail Map App" from
Yamareco.
Aug.
26, 2021 update: Yesterday I climbed to the top of Mt. Fuji's
Yoshida Trail and here are my photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWveVV5
(on the Flickr page, click small right arrow in upper right for
automatic slideshow viewing) More trip details on my blog
page. Only 15 more days left in the official 2021 climbing season!
Aug. 9,
2021 update: Added links to 2 new 2021 maps to Page 2,
one for the Yoshida Trail and a detailed one for all 4 trails.
Aug.
8, 2021 update:
Updated information on base prices for the Mt. Fuji Yoshida Trail
mountain huts, current as of July 29, 2021, has been added to my Mt. Fuji
Mountain Huts page, courtesy of the Mt. Fuji 5th Station General
Management Center.
July
31, 2021 update: Yesterday I had an opportunity to visit the
Fuji Subaru Line 5th
Station to hike around and gather updated information on this year‘s
climbing season. A site visitor recently inquired about the cost of
food at the 5th Station, so I took several pictures of cafe menus and
prices. You can view all 88 pics in my Flickr album here: Mt. Fuji 5th & 6th Stations - July 30, 2021
I also received updated information on prices for the Mt. Fuji Yoshida
Trail mountain huts, so I will try to add those to my Mt. Fuji
Mountain Huts page shortly.
July
21, 2021 update: Starting today until 8/31, the private car
prohibition went into effect
for the Fuji Subaru toll road, unless you drive an electric or fuel
cell (but not hybrid) vehicle. Also, 5 accidents have already been
reported on the 3 Shizuoka trails in the first 10 days the trails have
been open, mostly involving downhill climbers, some who couldn't get
down off the peak on their own power. Rainy season finished last Fri.
7/16, so the weather on Mt. Fuji has been very nice the past few days.
The next 2 days are national holidays, the Tokyo Olympics start Fri.
7/23, and so this weekend could be one of the most crowded this season
(see congestion calendar below).
July
12, 2021 update: This 1-minute video
(in Japanese) by TV Shizuoka shows workers removing the "do not enter"
sign at the Fujinomiya 6th station, and the 1st happy, clapping
climbers to enter the trail at 9 am on Saturday, July 10.
July
10, 2021 update: As of 9 am this morning, all 3 Mt. Fuji trails
from
Shizuoka—Fujinomiya, Subashiri, and Gotemba—have been opened and so was
the rest of the Ohachimeguri summit crater loop trail, so all major Mt.
Fuji trails are now open and accessible to the summit. Let the fun
times begin. Yee hah!
July
7, 2021 update: Today it was announced that the Ohachimeguri
crater rim trail was opened partially from Kusushidake Peak (near the
top of the Yoshida Trail) clockwise around to Kengamine Peak, Japan's
actual highest point. The other half of the trail north of Kengamine
Peak back around to Kusushidake Peak is still covered with snow, so for
climbers' safety, the trail will remain closed until at least July 10
when the 3 Shizuoka trails also open.
July
5, 2021 update: Today it was announced on Fujisan‘s official
Twitter page that a
temporary rest house will be constructed at the 5th station of the
Fujinomiya trail. When it opens from July 10, a small shop will be
available with a limited selection of food and drinks and will be open
from 6 am to 6 pm.
July
2, 2021 update: Please note that due to suspected arson, the
rest house at the 5th
Station Fujinomiya trailhead was destroyed by fire in March 2021 and
may take years to rebuild. The rest house was an important base for the
trail with a store, restaurant, beautiful observation deck, and
toilets, and also served as a base
for emergency response and disaster prevention. According to recent
sources, temporary toilets were to be provided at the Fujinomiya
trailhead.
July
1, 2021 update: Well, Yamabiraki (山開き), the opening day of the
2021 Mount Fuji mountain
climbing season didn’t go so well weather-wise, with severe, steady
rain all day
long. But not a big surprise since central Japan is now in the midst of
the
6-week rainy season. As for Covid infection control measures in place
at the Mt. Fuji mountain huts this season, there's a nice set of 10
photos starting on this page.
Mt. Fuji 2021 opening day on the Yoshida Trail (photo credit: Japan Today)
June
30, 2021 update:
It was announced today that the Mt. Fuji circular summit trail known as
Ohachimeguri
is closed until Saturday, July 10, and may not even open then because
of all the lingering snow near Kengamine, the actual elev. 3776m Mt.
Fuji summit. This means climbers will not be able to stand atop Japan's
actual highpoint till at least 7/10.
Also, the mountaintop public toilet doesn't open till 7/10, so cannot
be used from July 1st to 9th. Therefore, officials are highly
recommending a portable toilet for those climbing to the mountaintop.
June
25, 2021 update: On Wed. 6/23 after Yamanashi prefectural
officials inspected Fujisan's
Yoshida Trail, even though some snow still covers the trail near the
summit, the official decision was made to open up the trail next Thurs.
7/1 for the 1st time in 2 years. Hooray! From July 1st to 9th, the
ascending mountain trail above the trail fork near
the Gansomuro
mountain hut will be shared with descending climbers. Climbers will be
asked to submit a health check sheet or have their temperature taken
before entering the trail.
June
21, 2021 update: The Mount Fuji 5th Station General
Administration Center has announced on their Twitter page
that the Yoshida Trail is planning to open 10 days from today on July
1. And they are reporting that preparations for the opening are going
well and that the lingering snow on Japan's highest mountain is melting
day
by day. And as always, the 3 trails from Shizuoka
Prefecture—Fujinomiya, Subashiri, and Gotemba—are scheduled to open on
July 10! Yee hah!
June
4, 2021 update: GAME ON, or so it appears. Although not yet
official, this past Monday the Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Council
posted on their website
tips and videos (containing the congestion calendar below) on how to
avoid congestion during the 2021 Mount Fuji climbing season, if it
occurs. Even though I still have my doubts, it seems some folks are at
least getting prepared.... just in case. I will keep you updated in this same
space when it's officially announced.
2021 Mt. Fuji congestion calendar (photo credit:
Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Council)
May
1, 2021 update:
Still no official news yet on the 2021 Mt. Fuji climbing season, as it
all depends on what happens with COVID in the next few months. But case
numbers are spiking again nationwide, and on April 25, 4 prefectures
including Tokyo declared a state of emergency till May 11. Less than 2%
of Japan has been vaccinated for COVID, and Osaka is already
experiencing a shortage of hospital beds. More than 10,000 patients are
now being kept waiting in their homes, and over the past 2 months, 12
patients have died at home while waiting to go to the hospital. The
good news, though, if there is any, is that Fujisan lies just outside
of Tokyo Prefecture, so is not included in the present state of
emergency which may be extended into the summer if COVID case numbers
don't drop soon. But as a realistic optimist, I'm still keeping my
fingers crossed! As soon as
I hear something official, I'll post it here in this space...
Cheers,
Gary
**************
"If you come
to
Japan and don't climb Mt. Fuji, you're a fool; but if you climb it more
than once, you're an even BIGGER fool."
—old Japanese proverb, especially tailored for gaijin—
For me, the attraction to climb Mt. Fuji was immediate. Less than 4
months
after arriving in this country, I was
worshipping
the sunrise from its summit on Sun. Aug. 4, 1991.
After I first built this site in 2009, initially primarily about the highest mountains in Japan,
I found myself replying to a
seemingly uncountable number of questions about climbing Mt. Fuji. So
in Aug. 2010 I decided to compile a list of some of the most frequently
asked questions I got about climbing Japan's
highest peak. It has grown considerably since then as visitors have
posed more questions and graciously shared their climbing stories and
photos.
As a result, in 2016 it became necessary to add a Page 2. I've done
my best to keep the links current and the content up-to-date, and for
the past several years this page has become the most visited page on my
entire site, thank you.
Should you have any
additional questions of your own or
would like to share your climbing story, feel free to use the form at
the bottom of this page.
Thanks for visiting.
Mt. Fuji (富士山), Japan's highest mountain and the most visited mountain
in the world
(Photo credit: Koichi Terashima, a fellow member of Facebook's Hiking in
Japan Community)
Mt. Fuji (富士山), from the summit of Mt. Kintoki (金時山)
(Photo credit: Yuriko
Miyata)
Climbing Mt. Fuji, a World Heritage Site
Safety and Etiquette Guide
(If the player above is not visible, you can view
video
at YouTube here.)
Q: In
view of the global pandemic, is it possible to climb Mt. Fuji
virtually? (added Mar. 24, 2021)
A: YES!! The Mount Fuji Virtual Challenge will take you on an
exciting
46-mile (74-km) adventure around the Fuji Five Lakes and then on to the
summit of Mount Fuji.... the tallest mountain in Japan.
Using their mobile iOS and Android apps, each time you complete a
distance-based exercise such as running, walking, cycling, swimming,
etc., you can enter the distance in miles (or kms) into the app either
manually or by syncing your activities from your favorite fitness
tracker or smartwatch.
After you reach Mt. Fuji's summit, you can celebrate your achievement
with a stunning, limited edition Mount Fuji Virtual Challenge
finisher's medal, which you can see being proudly displayed below
recently by
a couple friends of mine in Wisconsin!
Mt. Fuji Virtual Challenge finishers with their gorgeous medals
Q: What is
Mt. Fuji's
(富士山, Fuji-san) elevation?
A: At an elevation of 3776m (12,388 ft.), Mt. Fuji is not only the
highest
mountain in Japan, but along with Mt. Tateyama and Mt. Hakusan, it
is
one of
Japan's "Three Holy Mountains" (三霊山, Sanreizan). It is also one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
(日本百名山, Nihon Hyaku-meizan).
Q: How
many people climb Mt. Fuji
every year? (updated
April 3, 2019)
A:
According to the official climbing statistics collected by the National
Parks of Japan, the number of Mt. Fuji climbers reached an all-time
record of 320,975 climbers in 2010, before the 2011 Great East Japan
Earthquake & Tsunami. Although the number of climbers rebounded
slightly in 2012, in 2015 only 234,217 folks scaled the peak, down for
the 3rd consecutive year.
The
number of climbers did increase slightly in 2016 and
2017, but are still at levels below the all-time 2010 peak. [There was
a sharp dropoff in the number of climbers in 2018, but this was due in
part to a counter
problem on the Fujinomiya Route.]
It should be noted that this only includes Mt. Fuji
climbers during the official climbing season. If one counts all the
off-season climbing which occurs
during the other 9.5 months of the year, one could argue even with a
conservative guesstimate that in years past at least 400,000
climbers have trekked up the slopes of Mt. Fuji in just one climbing
season. Wow.
And this
doesn't even include the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit
the 5th stations every year by car or bus and who don't even climb Mt.
Fuji. No wonder Mt. Fuji is generally regarded as the most visited
mountain in the
world.
More
detailed and up-to-date Mt. Fuji climbing statistics and graphs by
route, year, day,
and time of day are shownbelow.
Q: When
is Mt. Fuji's official
climbing season? (updated
Sept. 13, 2021)
A:
In 2014 and 2015, the Mt. Fuji climbing season for the
main Yoshida Trail was from 7/1 till 9/14, but starting in 2016 the
Yoshida
Trail has closed on Sept. 10. Historically, the opening dates
for the other 3 trails from Shizuoka Prefecture have varied every year
depending on lingering snow conditions, as seen in the table
below. But since the 2014 climbing season, these 3 Gotemba,
Fujinomiya, and
Subashiri trails
were open from 7/10 - 9/10.
During the official summer climbing season, temperatures
at the summit can be below
freezing at night. Although it is
possible to climb Mt. Fuji outside of the official climbing season
(with permission from the Yamanashi Police Dept.), it
is not recommended, as most
facilities, including most mountain huts, are closed; weather
conditions
are unstable and unpredictable; rescue personnel are limited; climbing
conditions may be extremely hazardous; and public transportation access
is minimal.
The following Mt. Fuji winter climb warning is
from the Fujiyoshida City's official website:
Three Deadly Reasons to Stay off Mt. Fuji in the off-season:
● Avalanche. Mt. Fuji is the perfect domain for avalanches due to its
steep slope and lack of vegetation. When a slab of ice breaks free, the
hiker will be pummeled against snow, ice, and trees before being buried
as if encased in wet concrete.
● Winds. Strong winds literally blow climbers off the slippery slopes.
There have been several cases of tents flying off of the slopes with
their occupants onboard.
● Hypothermia. Though not limited to the off-season, hypothermia is a
life-threatening condition that proves fatal if not diagnosed and
treated properly. It is the result of a hiker's core body temperature
dropping and internal organs succumbing to the cold.
(Source: City of Fujiyoshida)
The following excerpt appears on a sign just below Kengamine (剣ヶ峰,
elev.
3776m), the highest point on Mt. Fuji's summit:
In
the wintertime, Mt. Fuji weather conditions are extremely harsh. The
maximum and minimum average temperatures at the summit are -15°C (5°F),
and -22°C (-8°F), respectively. The average wind speed is 20 to 30 m/s
(45 to 67 mph) with a 50% increase at the ridgeline. Mt. Fuji has heavy
snowfall when low pressure systems pass in the winter. The forest
reduces wind speeds below the 5th station, but they suddenly and
drastically increase above timberline. The relative temperature falls
by 1.0°C with every increase of 1.0 m/s (1.8°F per 2.2 mph) in wind
speed.
I might add that Japanese climbers die from
hypothermia ALL the time,
even in July and August, so attempting Mt. Fuji in winter is a
death wish, in my humble opinion. If climbing Mt. Fuji during the
off-season,
the Yamanashi and Shizuoka Police Depts. require this Mt.
Fuji Climbing Plan form
be filled
out and emailed or faxed prior to your journey. Off-season climbers
would also be well-advised to read this very informative pamphlet," Three Rules for Off-season Climbers of Mt. Fuji,"
prepared by prefectural officials.
A very excellent & informative piece was written by
mountain climbing extraordinaire Mr. Chris White,
identifying the hazards and risks of a winter ascent of Mt. Fuji titled
"I want to climb Fuji in
winter." (added
Aug. 11, 2014)
The video below encapsulates in a short minute and a
half just one of several reasons I've never climbed mountains in
winter. Uh, no thanks.
Scary POV footage of ice climbing fall
(If the player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)
Not
to belabor the point, but here is a pertinent news story
related to off-season Mt. Fuji climbing about
some heroic Sasebo sailors who rescued a 60-year-old Japanese man who
fell off
the summit of Mt. Fuji in Dec. 2011: Stripes.com
Here's a video
of that Japanese man in free fall down Mt. Fuji's slope, which
Yamanashi Prefectural Police mountain rescue personnel refer to as "a
tilted skating rink."
Finally, after 2015 kicked off disastrously with a rash of winter
mountain climbing accidents in Japan, resulting in several deaths and
missing climbers and nearly 30 more folks having to be rescued, Wes
Lang, founder of the popular Hiking in Japan website and the over 2100-member Hiking
in Japan Facebook group, felt motivated to put
together these very useful Winter Hiking
Tips.
Q: When
are the best dates to climb during Mt. Fuji's climbing season? (updated
Mar. 16, 2017)
A: School is usually out from the Marine Day (海の日, Umi no Hi, 3rd Mon.
in
July) national holiday thru the end of August, so
if you want to beat the crowds, before Marine Day on a weekday is best,
but in years past, in early July you risked climbing Mt. Fuji on late
lingering snow
fields. Plus, in recent years the 3-day Marine Day weekend has become
one of the busiest times of the entire season, so you'll want to avoid
those 3 days at all costs. Also, try to skip the crazy busy Obon
holiday period, usually sometime between Aug. 12-16, and weekends,
especially Saturday nights.
Climbing Mt. Fuji
(the trek to Mecca?)
During the 2010 climbing season on the main Yoshida trail,
a
record-high 100,000 climbers climbed Mt. Fuji in July. On average,
more than 5,000 people climbed Mt. Fuji on Saturdays and Sundays
and everyday during Obon. And on Sat. Aug. 21, a shocking 10,000 people
(yes, you read that right) climbed Mt. Fuji on this one hiking trail
alone.
More
detailed and up-to-date Mt. Fuji climbing statistics and graphs by
route, year, day,
and time of day are shownbelow.
Q: Is
there a choice of hiking trails when climbing Mt. Fuji? (updated
Aug. 7, 2022)
A: Yes, there are 4 trails:
1) Yoshida Trail (by far the most popular (read: CROWDED), as it
serves climbers from the Tokyo metropolitan area, as well as most
overseas tourists): http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6922.html
If you have time, you might enjoy the pics of my 2021 climb up this
trail: Climbing
Mt. Fuji's Yoshida Trail - Aug. 24-25, 2021 (photos)
...and here is my short video: Climbing Mt. Fuji's Yoshida Trail - Aug. 24-25, 2021
(video)
2) Fujinomiya Trail (the shortest route and the
highest starting
elevation: 2400m): http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6930.html
(You can read the story of my August 2012 climb of the Fujinomiya Trail
(pics, video, maps, and trail description)
here: Climbing
Mt. Fuji's Fujinomiya Trail) July 2,
2021 update: Please note that due to suspected arson, the rest
house at the 5th Station Fujinomiya trailhead was destroyed by fire in
March 2021 and may take years to rebuild. The rest house was an
important base for the trail with a store, restaurant, and toilets, and
also served as a base for emergency response and disaster prevention.
According to recent sources, temporary toilets were to be provided at
the Fujinomiya trailhead.
3) Subashiri Trail (the tree line at 2700m is the highest on any
route):http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6928.html
4) Gotemba Trail (the longest route and the lowest
starting elevation:
1440m): http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6929.html
Detailed Mt. Fuji trail maps for each of its 4 climbing routes are on Page 2
of 2.
Q: I'm
planning to climb Mt. Fuji in early July. Will there still be snow on
the trail?
(updated Aug. 7, 2022)
A: If you choose any of the Shizuoka trails,
the answer will almost always be 'yes.' In 2012, the Fujinomiya
Trail above the New
7th Station and the
Subashiri Trail above the 7th Station weren't opened all the way to
the summit until July 13, and the Gotemba Trail above the
6th Station wasn't opened until July 20.
In 2014, the 3 trails originating in
Shizuoka
Prefecture were scheduled to open on July 10, but due to late lingering
snow, the opening dates for the Fujinomiya and Gotemba routes (all
the way to the summit) were
delayed until July 18, as shown below.
The main Yoshida Trail, the only Mt. Fuji trail originating in
Yamanashi Prefecture, as a rule always opens on July 1, but as you can
see below, in years past, the dates for when the 3 Shizuoka Prefecture
trails opened all the way to the summit have varied considerably (even
though since 2015, it's consistently been July 10):
Q: How
long does it take to climb Mt. Fuji and what is the
elevation gain?
(updated April 22, 2023)
A: Among the 4 climbing trails, on average it'll take about 7
hrs. up and 4 hrs. 10 min. down. On the main Yoshida
climbing course, if you're in good shape, from the
5th Station you should allow around 7 hrs. up and a little over 4 hrs.
down.
You'll gain 1471 meters (4824 ft.), almost a vertical mile, which
is comparable to climbing the 1250-ft-tall Empire State
Building
in New York City almost 4 times. Wow. [more info below in the next
question]
Mt. Fuji Yoshida Trail climbing times
(Image credit: Dept. of
Community & Environmental Affairs, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Q: What
are the hiking distances
from Mt. Fuji's 5th Stations to its summit and how
steep are the various Mt.
Fuji climbing trails? (updated Aug. 12, 2021)
A: Here are some Mt. Fuji climbing trail stats which were originally a
"happy
average" I compiled from
various sources:
Mt.
Fuji
Climbing
Route
5th
Station
Starting
Elev. (m)
Elev.
Gain (m)
Distance to rim/
Additional distance
to Kengamine
summit
(km)
%
Grade
Hiking
Time
Up
(hr:min)
Hiking Time Down (hr:min)
Yoshida
2305
1471
5.0/1.1
29.4
6:30
4:00
Fujinomiya
2400
1376
4.6/0.5
29.8
6:00
4:00
Subashiri
1970
1806
6.8/1.1
26.1
7:00
4:00
Gotemba
1440
2336
10.1/0.6
23.1
8:30
4:30
The
Gotemba Trail is not only the longest Mt. Fuji climbing route, but
because of the astounding,
knee-knocking elevation gain involved, it takes top honors in that
category as well. One
thing you can look forward to on the downhill Gotemba Trail, though, is
the Osunabashiri (sand slope, 大砂走り) which many climbers literally run
down,
descending 1110m from the 3030-m 7th Station to the 1920-m New 5.5th
Station in only 70 minutes. Yee Hah!! But take care of those knees and
don't forget your gaiters!
[Note:
The hiking distances and % grade numbers above
were manually calculated in April 2019 by an amazing, kind-hearted
systems administrator in New York who is "just happy to help out other
hikers." Thanks, Amit!]
Q: What
are the approximate distances
between stations on Mt. Fuji's main Yoshida Trail?(added July 2, 2017)
Uphill Yoshida Trail distances between
stations (km)
Fuji
Subaru
Line 5th Station (富士スバルライン五合目)
-
6th Station (六合目)
1.8
7th Station (七合目)
1.8
Original 8th Station(本八合目)
1.1
8.5th Station
(八合五勺)
0.4
Kusushi-dake (久須志岳)
(near top of Yoshida Trail)
1.1
Kengamine summit
(剣ヶ峰頂上)
(elev. 3776 m)
1.0
Total Uphill Yoshida Trail Distance
7.2
Downhill Yoshida Trail
distances between stations (km)
Q: Are
there some Mt. Fuji mountain huts where I can rest or sleep
along the way?
(updated May 11, 2024)
A: Yes, but they can be very crowded (read: full)
during climbing
season. Believe it or not, this incredible mountain has over 40
mountain huts which sleep over 6400 people:
On a separate page I've compiled a list of Mt. Fuji mountain
huts for Yoshida and Fujinomiya Trails
(updated May 11,
2024)
with
website URLs, phone numbers, elevations, sleeping capacities, and
opening/closing dates for the Yoshida huts.
A detailed list of Mt. Fuji mountain huts for the 3 routes from
Shizuoka
Prefecture is linked from
the mountain hut page above. Please note: most huts are now open till
the end of the climbing season in September, so one way to escape the
crowds is to consider climbing
Mt. Fuji in early September. One hazard though is the frequent typhoons
that normally
blast thru Japan in September.
Q: Is
it necessary to make reservations at the Fuji-san mountain huts? (updated
May 11, 2024)
A:
Yes, since its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June
22, 2013, Mt. Fuji has become so popular that advance mountain hut
reservations are imperative, especially beginning in 2024 when new
restrictions on bullet climbing are being implemented. The average base
weekday rate starts from ¥7700 per
night,
plus usually an
optional ¥1000 for dinner, ¥1000 for breakfast, and an extra
¥1000-¥2000 for
weekend nights. So staying on a Fri. or Sat. night with dinner and
breakfast may run at least ¥9000, but may also cost over ¥15,000. Some
staff speak
a little English in most of the huts.
Q: What
kind of equipment is required for climbing Mt. Fuji? (updated
Mar. 16, 2020)
A: Because climbing any mountain will subject climbers to highly
variable, unpredictable, and often extreme weather conditions, one
should follow the Boy Scout motto and be prepared for any scenario.
Accordingly, sturdy high-cut, waterproof
hiking boots, gaiters
(to keep your boots from filling up with small volcanic rocks on the
way down), warm
layered clothing, wick-dry
underwear/undershirt, sweater/windbreaker, wool
socks, gloves,
sunglasses, hat (with hat clip to keep it from blowing away in strong
winds), hiking
stick (pole), flashlight
or headlamp (with spare batteries), effective
rain wear (both top and bottom....ponchos are no good!), camera
(with extra battery and memory card), plastic bags to carry out your
trash ("Pack it in, Pack it out!"), small first-aid kit (with aspirin
for altitude sickness),
toilet paper,
hand towel, high-energy snacks (e.g. CalorieMate, sweets, nuts,
chocolate), a change of clothing, and sunscreen are essential.
This cute graphic on what to wear up Mt. Fuji is courtesy of
the discontinued mtfujiguide.com site.
What to wear while climbing Mt. Fuji
You should also bring lots of cash (including
¥100 coins for the
¥200, pay-per-use eco-toilets) to buy stuff like souvenirs, to pay
for the
huts, to get stamps on your commemorative Mt. Fuji hiking stick
("kongouzue," 金剛杖), to
eat a hot meal
(curry rice or ramen may cost ¥1000), to mail a postcard from the
summit,
to catch a bus from the 5th stations, etc. ATMs are generally found in
most Japanese convenience stores these
days, but not all of them have 24-hour service. I also suggest you
bring your own water, at least 2 liters per
person, as you will have to fork over ¥500/bottle at the huts and
vending machines, and there are generally no huts or watering
spots along the "down" trails. Because Fuji-san is basically a
"hike-up" climb (albeit a fairly steep
one) with only some occasional scrambling, no technical equipment is
required to climb Mt. Fuji.
Mt.
Fuji hiking sticks ("kongouzue," 金剛杖) are usually bought for around
¥1000 and can be stamped
at each station for an additional ¥200 per stamp per station. Mt. Fuji
walking sticks are available in various lengths, including 100cm,
130cm, and 145 cm.
(The pic above was taken Aug. 21, 2012 at the Fujinomiya 5th Station)
Q: What
temperatures can I expect when
climbing Mt. Fuji? (updated April 22, 2023)
A: The average temperature during the climbing season at the summit is
between 3-7° C (37-45° F), but it sometimes drops below
freezing. So if
there's a strong wind, it can not only feel quite frigid, but expose
climbers to hypothermia. During August at Mt. Fuji's summit, the
average high temperature is 9.5° C (~49° F) and the
average low temperature is 3.8° C (~39° F). Temperatures
at the
top are generally about 20° C
(36° F) less than at the base, or 10° C (18° F)
less than at the 5th Station.
Mt. Fuji average & record temperatures
(Source: Wikipedia)
Interestingly, the highest temperature ever recorded on Mt. Fuji's
summit was
only 17.8° C (64° F). And I was amazed to see that
already in Oct. the average temperature is below freezing!
Q: Where
can I see current weather conditions and/or weather
forecasts for climbing Mt. Fuji? (updated April 22, 2023)
A: Mt. Fuji summit: Mountain-Forecast.com (6-day forecast)
Mt. Fuji summit: Jma.go.jp (hourly observations)
Forecast for Yamanashi Prefecture: Jma.go.jp
(added
Aug. 19, 2012) Fujiyoshida City (near Mt. Fuji)
View detailed snow
forecast for Mount
Fuji at: snow-forecast.com
(updated every 4 hours)
Q: How
do I reach Mt. Fuji's 5th Stations (Gogōme, 五合目)? (updated
June 5, 2024)
A: For those climbing the main Yoshida route, from Tokyo
you can catch a highway bus from the new Busta
Shinjuku bus terminal, located across from the south exit of
Shinjuku Station, directly up to Fujisan's Fuji Subaru Line 5th
Station.
During most of the
summer climbing season, buses run 8 times everyday,
departing
Shinjuku from 6:45 till 15:45, and the bus trip to the Mt.
Fuji 5th Station takes
about 2.5 hrs. and costs ¥3800.
Return buses back to Shinjuku also take 2.5 hrs. and
depart the 5th Station 9 times a day from
10:00 till
17:00 during the
summer climbing season. More details on bus schedules
to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station are here
and
reservations for the Shinjuku to 5th Station highway bus can be made
online up to one month in advance here.
Other
options for bus service to the Mt. Fuji area, including from various
points in Tokyo such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Tokyo Station,
and Haneda Airport, can be accessed here: http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/ [Note:
The Fujikyu page linked above is not secure
(beginning with http), so if your browser adds
an 's' (https) and you get a "privacy error", you'll need to remove the
's' in order to access the page.]
If you want to go by car via the Fuji
Subaru toll
road to the 5th
Station, in 2024
the toll will set you back ¥2100 and please
be
aware that
the road will closed to private vehicles for 68
straight days from
6 pm on Fri. July 5, 2024
till 6 pm Tues. Sept. 10, 2024.
But
parking is available for ¥1000 in the Yamanashi Prefecture's Fujisan
(Mt. Fuji)
Parking lot (富士山パーキング), formerly named Fujihokuroku
parking area (北麓駐車場), near the Fuji Yoshida I.C. (interchange) where
you can
catch a 45-min. shuttle bus to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th
Station between 7/6 and 9/10 (2024) for ¥2500
roundtrip.
The 2024
Mt. Fuji Parking lot to 5th Station shuttle bus
schedule is here.
The Google map for the Mt. Fuji Parking lot
is here.
July
15, 2023 update:
Round-trip bus tickets to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th station from both
the Fujisan Parking Lot and Mt. Fuji Station/Kawaguchiko Station can
now be purchased & used through the new Fujikyu Bus app.
Q: What
are the elevations of Mt. Fuji's 5th Stations?
A: From highest to lowest...
Fujinomiya Trail - 2400m
Yoshida Trail - 2305m
Subashiri Trail - 2000m
Gotemba Trail - 1440m
Q: What
kinds of services and facilities will I find at the Fuji Subaru Line
5th
Station? (updated
July 1, 2018)
A: The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station is a city in and of itself, so
before
you set out to
climb Mt. Fuji, you'll find just about anything and everything you
need....convenience
stores, restaurants, souvenir shops, toilets, firemen, police, mountain
huts, guidance center, post office, shrine, coin lockers, prefectural
management office, and even a viewing platform.
Mt. Fuji 5th Station Guide Map (富士山五合目案内図)
(compass direction "north" faces downward) (image credit: subaruline.jp)
Quite a stark contrast, in fact, to how it
appeared over 50 years
ago...
Mt. Fuji 5th Station in 1963
(photo courtesy: Joe
Sanders - Don't miss Joe's
amazing story of his 3 attempts at scaling Fuji-san, the last time
successfully in
1964 while he was an airman 2nd class at Yokota U.S. Air Base!)
July 1,
2018 update:
-Starting from July 1, a manned currency exchange center will be
introduced onto
the 1st floor of Fujikyu Unjokaku which will handle 158 different
currencies, every day during climbing season from 7:00am-10:00pm.
-Fujikyu Unjokaku’s capsule hotel service Mt. Fuji Lodge is introducing
an online booking system. Bookings will take place on the Fujikyu
Unjokaku website
and can be made in Japanese or English – with credit and debit cards,
too (also with non-Japanese online travel agents such as Expedia and
Agoda).
Q: What
kinds of services and facilities will I find at Mt. Fuji's
summit? (updated
August 17, 2018)
A: You'll find food vendors, coffee, noodle shops, and.....(do
I dare
say it?).....even vending machines (with drinks for ¥500). When I
climbed Mt. Fuji, I even mailed a postcard from the summit to my friend
in California. Can you imagine how cool it'd be to receive a postcard
that is postmarked from the highest post office in Japan? Yeah! If you
have an extra 60-90 min. to kill, you can also hike around the summit
crater,
known as "Ohachimeguri (お鉢めぐり, お鉢巡り)," meaning in Japanese "to go
around the bowl." Click thumbnail below to view
a larger, detailed trail
map for
Mt. Fuji's Ohachimeguri:
Detailed Mt. Fuji trail maps for each of its 4 climbing routes are on Page 2
of 2.
Q: What
time of day is the best time to climb Mt. Fuji? (updated July 19, 2019)
A: Because most people want to arrive at the summit for sunrise,
climbing Mt. Fuji at night, especially around midnight, is among the
busiest and most crowded times on the
trails. If you
want to avoid the crowds, a Mt. Fuji trek during the daytime is
probably better (around 4 pm would be a notable exception), but I must
admit, the unobstructed view of the sunrise
is awesome.
The first time I climbed Mt. Fuji, it was on the first
Saturday in August 1991. My
friends and I left the Fuji Subaru 5th Station
around 10:15 pm and arrived at Mt. Fuji's summit just before sunrise
around 4:55 am. By that time a layer of clouds had formed near the base
of the peak, so the sun actually rose above the clouds, like the view
you sometimes see from airplanes flying above the clouds. The Japanese
call this phenomenon "unkai (雲海)," meaning "sea of clouds."
Mt. Fuji's "unkai (雲海)" (sea of clouds)
Another option
is to start climbing Mt. Fuji from the 5th Station in the late morning,
arrive at the top for the equally beautiful sunset, sleep overnight at
the top, catch the sunrise the next morning, and then head back down
during the day. This 2013 Mt.
Fuji Climbing Guide Map has some recommended plans for climbing
Mt.
Fuji,
depending on how many days you have and what time of day you want to
start hiking. [Sunrise/sunset times for the Mt. Fuji climbing season
are shown on Page
2 of 2.]
Also, since the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station is the
staging area for most climbing tour groups, many tours gather there
before and after noon, and then after staying a while for
acclimatization, they hit the trail.
Therefore, the most congested time zone at the 6th Station is from
12:00-14:00 pm. The hours with the most number of climbers passing by
the 6th Station in 2018 were:
If you leave the 5th station by 10 am, you shouldn't encounter any
major congestion issues. (Source: Fujiyoshida City Fujisan Inspection
Section)
More details below in the next question.
Q: How
can I avoid the crowds when
climbing Mt. Fuji? (updated June 18, 2024)
A: In short, to avoid the crowds when climbing Mt. Fuji, don't climb
on the weekends or holidays (especially Saturdays), late in the
afternoon or around midnight,
during the
3-day Marine Day (海の日, Umi no Hi, 3rd Mon. in July) weekend, or the
Obon holidays in mid-August (usually around Aug. 10-15). Below
are some interesting charts compiled courtesy, with permission, of the National
Parks of
Japan, showing statistics for Mt. Fuji climbers by route over the
past several years, based on data recorded by infrared counters near
the 8th station on all 4 mountain trails.
Number of 2014-2023 Mt. Fuji climbers by year and route
Legend for these 3 charts:
吉田ルート =
Yoshida route
富士宮ルート =
Fujinomiya route
須走ルート =
Subashiri route
御殿場ルート =
Gotemba route
During
the July 1 - Sept. 10, 2023 Mt. Fuji climbing season, there was a total
of 221,322 Mt. Fuji climbers, 38% more than the number of climbers in
2022
(160,100), but still only 94% of the pre-pandemic number of climbers in
2019 (235,646). The
breakdown of 2023 Mt. Fuji climbers by trail
was 137,236 (~62% of total) on the Yoshida route, 49,545 (~22%) on the
Fujinomiya route, 19,062 (~9%) on the
Subashiri route, and 15,479 (~7%)
on the Gotemba route.
Of these 221,322 Mt. Fuji climbers in 2023, the busiest
climbing period was July 21-31 with 43,500 climbers, the 2nd
busiest was Aug. 21-31 with 35,832 climbers, and the 3rd
busiest was July 11-20 with 33,365 climbers.
The busiest 2023 Mt. Fuji climbing day was Sun. July 16, the 2nd
busiest was Sat. Aug. 12, and the 3rd busiest Sat. July 29.
In Mt. Fuji's 2023 climbing season, the
average daily number of
climbers on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays was 4494, nearly twice
(169%) the weekday average of 2657 climbers per day.
Number of Mt. Fuji climbers in 2023 by day and route
(black line indicates total climbers on all 4 routes)
Notes: (1) Not surprisingly, the busiest climbing
days were on the
weekends, especially Saturdays.
(2) The steep drops on Aug. 14-15 & Sept. 8 can be attributed to
the landfall arrival of Typhoons 7 & 13, respectively.
(3) If you want to totally geek out and drill down to even more
detailed
2023 Mt. Fuji
traffic statistics by day and route, check out this beautiful,
color-coded pdf.
Number of Mt. Fuji climbers in 2019 & 2023 by time of day and route
(solid lines=2023; dashed lines=2019)
Ministry
of the Environment officials guesstimate that the big spike around
16:00
to 17:00 pm in the afternoon can be attributed to climbers staying in
huts at the 8th station or higher, the 23:00 pm to 1:00 am spike is
mostly climbers who are hopeful of catching the sunrise from the
summit, and the peak from 7:00 to 9:00 am is likely day-trip
climbers.
All charts and Mt. Fuji climbing statistics above are courtesy, with
permission, of
the and can be viewed
in their entirety (in Japanese) here.
Number of 2018-2021 Mt. Fuji climbers by day of week (excluding 2020)
(Mon.月-Sun.日)
(Graph courtesy: Naoto Handa, Ministry of the
Environment, Fuji Five Lakes Management Office)
7/1 Mon. - Yoshida Trail
opens
7/10 Wed. - Subashiri, Gotemba, & Fujinomiya trails open
7/17 Mon. - Marine Day
7/26 Fri. - 77th Fuji Mountain Race [Yoshida Trail]
8/11 Sun. - Mountain Day
8/12 Mon. - Carry-over holiday because Mountain Day occurs on Sun.
8/13 Tue. - 8/16 Fri. - Obon holidays
9/10 Tues. - All trails close
The 2018 congestion calendar stated that one of the dangers of climbing
the
busiest and
most congested Yoshida Trail is: "Being in high risk of falling over
like dominoes or hit by falling rocks." As one of my Facebook friends
aptly commented, "It makes one almost want to be a part of it." Ha-ha.
In 2023
Fuji-san's official site posted the graphic below of the
forecasted most crowded 2023 times of day from the 8th station to the
summit for all 4 trails. In June 2024
the Fujisan World Cultural Heritage Council posted an almost identical
graphic showing the exact same forecasted most crowded times &
places for the 2024
climbing season.
In short, without having to geek out too much:
Gotemba Trail: no problem
Fujnomiya Trail: only congested near the summit at sunrise
Yoshida & Subashiri Trails: from where they merge at the 8th
Station to the summit, congested from 2-6 am and severely congested
from 3-5 am
Do you have a question or a story about climbing Mt. Fuji? Please pay it forward and share your climbing experience (along with up to 4 pics) with other visitors to this page still planning their Mt. Fuji hike!
Unlike social media sites like Facebook & Twitter where your post quickly gets pushed down off the page, your story here will be given a dedicated webpage and its own URL, giving others a chance to comment (see below other climbing Mt. Fuji stories submitted so far). And feel free to link your story back to your webpage, blog, or any other page of your choosing.
What Other Mt. Fuji Climbers Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other Mt. Fuji climbers...
I climbed Mt. Fuji Aug. 13, 2022 during a typhoon! I climbed Mt. Fuji 2 times. One time was August 3, 2019. In that time, we started from 5th station of Subashiri trail to summit and it took about 11 hours. …
Can I climb Mount Fuji at 10 pm? I am planning to do bullet climbing, but I don't want to get cold by remaining still at the top.
Therefore, is it possible to do the climbing at 10 …
I climbed Mt. Fuji on July 23-25, 2022! This summer, I successfully reached the summit of Mt. Fuji, which I had longed to do!
The view from above the clouds, which I saw for the first time …
Cost of lunch options at 5th station? Hello Gary, thank you so much for this informational and helpful website! If I am planning on using your second option in the PDF, meaning I'd rest at …
Climbing Mt. Fuji was definitely worth the effort! In preparing for my Mt Fuji climb, I came across this website which was completely invaluable. Thank you so much for the wealth of information!
I thought …
Are the Mt. Fuji Yoshida trails one way? I wish to stay in a mountain hut (there's space at Ganso Muro) after climbing to the summit. Would it be permissible to descend the ascending Yoshida …
Mt. Fuji bag storage options? Great site, thanks! Question: what kind of options are there to store bags either at the bottom (train stations maybe) or at 5th station Yoshida Trail? …
Can I camp out at the top of the Mt. Fuji summit? Hi Gary -
Heading out to summit Fuji this August - Wondering if you would know if it is possible to camp out at the top of the Mt. Fuji summit (no tent, …
Can you recommend a hotel near Mt. Fuji? This is an amazing site! Thank you for your efforts to educate the masses about Mt. Fuji, truly extraordinary.
Perhaps I overlooked it, but my daughter …
Can I do a same-day Mt. Fuji hike from Tokyo? I plan to climb on July 2nd and would like to do a same-day hike from Tokyo. It looks like I will take the first bus in the morning from Shinjuku to Fuji …
Car vs. bus to the Mt. Fuji 5th Station Hi Gary,
I am planning to climb Mt. Fuji on July 1st overnight. Do you know if I would be able to park at the 5th station July 1st? Seems like restrictons …
When can I start booking Mt. Fuji mountain huts? Hey Gary,
Thank you for a brilliant webpage with a lot of great information. I'm travelling to Japan for the 3rd time this July and am hoping to climb …
Can I buy a fully stamped Mt. Fuji walking stick? I had one when I did the climb back in 1989 but mine was stolen from me and I would Love to have one so I can remember the good old days.
To me it …
How many hut stamps are on each Mt. Fuji trail? I climbed the Yoshida Trail in 2014 and got all the stamps on my Mt. Fuji walking stick.
I am going again in 2018 and was thinking about the Fujinomiya …
I'd like to trek up Mount Fuji in May... I just taking up hiking. I'm going to be in Japan in May for about three weeks, but I'd like to trek up Mount Fuji.
I'm looking for a possible guide. …
Advice and Information on Mt. Fuji trails and huts I live in Fujinomiya, at the beginning of one of the Mt. Fuji Trails. I've written a blog post about general advice for climbing. I have also written about …
Can I climb Mt. Fuji in April? I will arrive in Tokyo, Japan in April. I plan to take the train to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo.
How long does it take to climb the mountain? When is the best …
Can I stroll around the Mt. Fuji base in April? Can I do an easy stroll around Mt. Fuji's base in April? Is it possible to join a group and do a small trek around the base of Mt. Fuji? I don't have to …
Climbing to the Mt. Fuji summit October 8, 2016 Ok so....I have one shot at this and I am trying my best to make it work weather permitting. There are two of us who are both experienced hikers and are …
Can we climb Mt. Fuji in October? Hello Gary, we are looking at climbing Mt Fuji in the first week of October and have been doing some research on your site including reading the FAQ, i …
Racing to the top of Mt. Fuji in 1971! On August 11th, 1971 our Boy Scout Troop arrived at the base of Mt Fuji. We were in Japan for the 13th World Jamboree and our Scout Master, Mr Grubb had …
Can you camp on Mt. Fuji? Hey I'm gonna be climbing up Fuji in late July.
I was wondering if it was allowed/possible to set up camp just on the mountain.
I have a swag that …
Is it possible to climb Mt. Fuji in mid-June? I will be in Japan during the second and third weeks of June 2017.
I live in the Pacific NW and have hiked glaciated peaks over 10,000 ft. Climbing …
Is it feasible to climb Mt. Fuji on 30th June 2016? We are looking at climbing the mountain on 30th June 2016 and descend after sunrise on the 1st of July, due to travel plans - feasible? Advisable? We could …
Can you cook your own food and drinks on Mt. Fuji? I know there are huts and vending machines to get food and drinks, but I worry about my strange allergies...so can I use my backpacking stove on the mountain? …
Which is your favorite Mt. Fuji route? Gary, great website!
Which is your favorite Mt. Fuji route? I'm looking to go on 30th or 31st July which is a weekday with my two fit boys aged 13 and …
Is there an overnight Mt. Fuji tour you recommend? Thank you so much for your very informative website. I wished I had found it sooner.
I am a Canadian Scouter (64 y.o.) taking another 20 members ranging …
When will the Fujinomiya Trail open? First, thank you for this very informative site. I’m looking forward to reading your e-book, if I can figure out Smashwords. (Is it available on Kindle?) …
Up Fujinomiya, Down Yoshida? Loner vs. Climb Buddy? Hi Gary, your site has been a wealth of info, so thanks for that. I think I'm sold on the sunrise hike, but plan to climb to catch the sunset and catch …
Can I climb Mount Fuji without a guide? Basically I would like to know if I can climb Mount Fuji without a guide, i.e. all the way from Tokyo to the 5th Station and then book the hut at the 8th …
Mt. Fuji mountain hut availability at night Dear Gary,
First of all, thank you so much for all the information you provide over here. It really makes planning your trip so much easier.
I have …
Is it possible to climb Mt. Fuji in mid-June? Hi Gary - thanks for your great website. I will be in Japan in mid-June of this year, and it looks like my window would be from the 15th-19th of June. …
When does the Mt. Fuji 5th Station open in 2015? Hi,
When does the 5th Station open in 2015?.....as I am planning a trip to Mt. Fuji, most likely would be taking a tour from Tokyo.
Would March …
Climbing Mt. Fuji - the 3rd time was the charm! I arrived at Yokota Air Base Japan in June of 1962, not knowing anybody and lonely. I was an Airman 2nd class in the U.S. Air Force. The veterans at my …
Is it OK to climb Mt. Fuji on October 25? I'll be in Tokyo the week of Oct. 20. I'm wondering if I can plan to climb Mount Fuji on Sat. Oct. 25? It's out of season, but not winter. Your thoughts …
Can I climb Mt. Fuji if pregnant? Would you recommend climbing Mt. Fuji if pregnant? I hiked up Machu Pichu (Peru) 3 years back while I was 8 weeks pregnant (21 miles over 3 days).
…
Parking for Mt. Fuji's Fujinomiya Trail 5th Station Someone mentioned the Mizugazuka parking area with shuttles that go to the Fujinomiya 5th station. Do you have any more details?
For Yamanashi Prefecture, …
Can I still climb Mt. Fuji between 10 to 15 Sept.? Hi,
I will be in Japan for work trip from 5 to 10th Sept. after which I am extending till 15 Sept.
My question: What are the possibilities of climbing …
Sunset from Munatsuki-sanso Hi Gary, just stumbled on your site and is great! Just wondering do you think it's possible to take the Fujinomiya trail and check in at Munatsuki Sanso, …
2014 main Yoshida trail opening on track? Hi Gary,
Do you think the 2014 trail opening is still on track for July 1st 2014 for the main Yoshida trail? I know that earlier in the year there …
Where to start climbing Mt. Fuji from the base? hello. i think a big part of doing this for me is to -do it-. i want to climb the whole thing, not just from the popular station 5 to top. is it possible …
Can we climb Mt. Fuji around 20 June 2014? Hello! I saw your post on Mt. Fuji! I'm actually a student touring Japan before my summer school starts.
So my friends and I can only climb Mt. Fuji …
Renting winter climbing gear Hi everyone. I am planning on climbing Mt. Fuji this year on the 23rd of April (or around abouts). I have done a significant amount of ice climbing here …
How to obtain a certificate for my Mt. Fuji climb? Gary,
Excellent web site. When I was stationed in South Korea (1960/61) in U.S. Army, I climbed Mt. Fuji. I brought my walking stick with all the brands …
Lost and Found on Mt. Fuji I’m embarrassed to admit that the first time I climbed Mt. Fuji was with a guided tour. I had been invited to join by my girlfriend, herself having been …
Climbing Fuji last weekend of September Hi Gary,
First, many thanks for the great resource in your website!
My question is sort of similar to some others, but slightly different which is …
Which trail down is easier on the knees? When I read that the Subashiri trail had sand, I thought that would be less jarring and thus easier on the knees, but I read someone commenting that it …
Fuji Attempt in September 2013 Hello all,
Thanks for all the good info here. I'd like to ask the experienced climbers about their hikes and some concerns.
I am arriving in Osaka …
Arriving NRT @ 16:45. Transport to Fuji? Arriving NRT 16:45, figuring 1 hr customs and then what is the fastest way to Shinjuku to catch the bus to Fuji?
Should we take the bus directly to …
My Night Climb on Aug. 1, 2013 I successfully climbed Mt. Fuji for the second time with two other comrades from different countries. I guided them on the popular Yoshida trail from the …
What is the best time to hike up for sunrise? Hi Gary,
How are you? I am planing to do a day trip to hike Mt Fuji. Last year, i hiked Mt. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. My speed is 8 hours hike to laban …
Mount Fuji-san off-season I would like to climb Mount Fuji on September 26 and I will be alone. I found your site on Google, and I want to hire a guide to climb with me.
Do …
Is there parking at the Yoshida Trail Sengen Shrine? I own a car here in Japan and would like to do the traditional climb. Is there a place I can park my car for about two days to go up and down the mountain? …
Mount Fuji Walking Stick Query Hello,
I was curious, is there a certain timeframe in which you can get your stick branded during july-august or is it 24 hours a day that you can have …
What is the meaning of this Mt. Fuji sign? I read through your Climbing Mt. Fuji guide page and was wondering if you had ever seen this?
I climbed the mountain a few years ago and had a picture …
My Mt. Fuji Climbing Experience I first climbed Mt. Fuji in July of 2000. I had just turned 40 back in May and this was my birthday present to myself. I attended the opening ceremony …
My 2012 climb on the Kawaguchiko and Gotemba Routes Using the information from this site, and following the advice of many kind people, I made it to the summit of Fuji-san in mid-July 2012. I'm not an athlete, …
Is the Yoshida forest trail hikeable? I genuinely would like to walk through the forest at the base of Mt.Fuji. In your opinion, is the trail from the very base of Mt.Fuji to the fifth station …
Can we take our baby up Mt. Fuji? My family and I were planning on climbing Mount Fuji in a couple of weeks, and my wife had asked about taking our baby up the mountain. I've asked around, …
Is it safe to climb Fuji-san alone? I am planning to climb Fuji-san on the 1st week of July, 2012. Is is safe to climb Fuji-san alone? Also, can I wear my sneakers which are not waterproof? …
How do I get my walking stick home? Hello, I will be hiking Mt. Fuji this summer and plan to get a walking stick like everyone else:) I was wondering how I should go about getting it home. …
Climbing Fujisan with AFS student Ryoji When I was in high school, we took part in a program called the American Field Service (AFS), and twice, we had the privilege of hosting a foreign exchange …
Your Climbing Mt. Fuji FAQ page is excellent Hello Gary. This is John. Thank you so much for your kind comments on my Fuji video and thanks for putting on your site! I feel honored! Your Fuji FAQ …
When will Mt. Fuji's trails open this summer? Hi Gary. I wrote you last summer about my Mt. Fuji experience, and I am thinking about climbing again this year. Do you know where I can find information …
Climbing Mt. Fuji Two weeks ago on July 26, 2009, four friends and I finally mounted Mt. Fuji. It may be the highest peak in Japan but reaching the summit is not as impressive …
Report From Mt. Fuji, July 2010 My climb took place overnight, beginning around 10 pm on July 10 and returning the next day at about 1 pm, a journey up and back of about 15 hours. Joining …
I'm no fool! I climbed Mt. Fuji because I didn't want to violate the age-old Japanese proverb & become a fool for not climbing Mt. Fuji. :-) There were 2 things I …
Aug. 13, 14, 2011 Mt. Fuji climb Your Climbing Mt. Fuji FAQ site was invaluable in preparing for my climb, Gary, thanks! My first ever climb up Mt. Fuji was August 13, 14, 2011. There …
I climbed Mt. Fuji on 09/28/10 My friend Yu and I drove to the 5th station and started our ascent around 7:30am. The wind at that time was very strong and the rain was coming down in …
Sunrise from the Top of Mt. Fuji Beautiful Mt. Fuji in Japan is one of our favorite places to visit. Enjoy the awesome scenic beauty. The view from the summit of Mt. Fuji looks awesome, …
Mt. Fuji Lockers and Bathrooms Not rated yet How big are the coin lockers at the 5th Station? I'm looking to stow a hiking backpack and just bring a small backpack of essentials. Will the lockers …
Does the Mt. Fuji summit post office sell unique stamps? Not rated yet I've researched this question and have been unable to find an answer. I'd like to avoid standing in line to buy stamps for my postcards and will buy the …
Over 250,000 climbers scale Mt. Fuji in 2010 Not rated yet More than 250,000 people--a record high--have climbed Mt. Fuji by the trail on the mountain's Yamanashi Prefecture side this season, according to the Mt. …
May Fuji Climb Not rated yet Hi Gary, I hiked from Fujiyoshida to Stage 5 just to snoop around a bit. Want to go from the park entrance to the summit and take 3 days to enjoy it. …
Waiting for the sunrise overnight Not rated yet Hello, one thing I have not been able to figure out, is whether it is viable to make it to the summit for sunset, and wait (not camp - as I understand …
Is there lodging at the top of Mt. Fuji? Not rated yet Mr. Wolff, I am impressed with your website. I am planning the trip of a lifetime with my two teenage boys. I wanted to climb Mt. Fuji during the day, …
Why was it so hard for you? Not rated yet I have a couple of questions: 1) I'm curious what made this particular hike so hard for you...was it the lack of oxygen (no vegetation to produce O2)? …
Climbers using the most popular trail on Mt. Fuji are expected to be slugged with a doubled fee of 4,000 yen ($26) from next summer as the Yamanashi prefectural government seeks to tackle overcrowding…
Performed December 13 at the "A Christmas Gift 2024" charity Christmas concert in Tokyo, Japan by singer Charito & dancer Ikumi. In its 21st year, the annual charity concert is organized & sponsored b…
BIG CHANCE! Smashwords, the world's largest publisher of indie ebooks (>228,000 participating ebooks from nearly 60,000 authors) is now holding its 8th annual end-of-year sale from now till Wednesday…
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