Volcano·Guide
Mount Fuji with the first snow on its summit, seen across Lake Kawaguchi on a clear October morning Climbers on the Yoshida Trail on Mount Fuji: lava gravel, green slopes and mountain huts disappearing into cloud Sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji: the sun rising red above the horizon, mountain ranges and clouds below

Mount Fuji

From the lake it is a picture. Still, symmetrical, far away.

Then you are standing in it: lava gravel, thin air, one hut after another.

And at five in the morning the sun comes up at 3,776 meters.

Scroll –
from the lake to the summit

As of 21 September 2026Mount Fuji today: the climbing season is over – the mountain is still there

All four trails to the summit have been closed since 10 September 2026. The official site reads: “Mt. Fuji is currently closed.” Huts, toilets and first-aid stations are shut. What you can do now is the other Mount Fuji – the one you look at: from the 5th Station at about 2,300 m (7,500 ft) and from Lake Kawaguchi. Fall and winter are the better seasons for that anyway.

Closed
3,776m

Summit and all four trails

Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya are closed above the checkpoints, and so is the crater rim loop. No huts, no toilets, no first aid on the mountain.

2026 season: 1 or 10 July – 10 September
Open
2,300m

Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station

No fee, no registration. The local bus from Kawaguchiko Station runs until 30 October under the 2026 timetable, about 65 minutes each way. The summer ban on private cars ended on 10 September; the toll (¥2,800) is cash only. The road closes in storms or heavy rain.

Round-trip bus¥3,400
Open

Lake Kawaguchi

The classic view of the north face – and the last stop of the highway bus from Shinjuku (about 1 hr 45 min). The summit is clear most often from November to February, and more often in the morning than in the afternoon.

Bus from Tokyo, one way¥2,750
Until early Nov

Fujinomiya: 5th to 6th Station

On the south side, the short stretch between the 5th and 6th Station is free and stays open until early November in 2026. The 6th Station is the end of the line – the closed section starts there.

open since 23 June 2026
Sources: fujisan-climb.jp (Ministry of the Environment, Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures), status and season dates, accessed 21 September 2026 · Fujikyu Bus, fares from 1 July 2026 · Yamanashi Prefectural Road Corporation (toll, opening hours). The rules for 2027 have not been published yet – everything below about climbing describes the 2026 season.
Snow-covered Mount Fuji above Lake Kawaguchi on a clear March morning, gravel shore in the foreground
In summer you climb it and cannot see it. In winter you see it – and stay down below.

Photo: Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 4.0

Seeing Mount Fuji without climbing itMount Fuji day trip from Tokyo: 5th Station and Lake Kawaguchi

Most visitors do not want to stand on Mount Fuji; they want to see it. That works as a day trip from Tokyo, and it depends almost entirely on the weather. The city of Fuji has checked every day since 1990: in 2025 the whole mountain was visible at 8 am on 136 days. In February on 22 days, in June on 2.

What it is like: at Lake Kawaguchi the mountain stands alone above the water, almost too even to look real. A good hour later, at the 5th Station, it is no longer a picture but ground – reddish-brown lava gravel, wind, 2,300 meters, and for the first time you look down on the clouds instead of up. Even at this height some people get a mild headache.

On your own: take the highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (¥2,750, or ¥2,450 online, all seats reserved) or the Fuji Excursion limited express, direct in about two hours. From Kawaguchiko the local bus continues to the 5th Station. A Mount Fuji tour saves you the transfers and covers several viewpoints in one day – which ones is stated in each title.

Tokyo: Mt Fuji & Oishi Park & Lake Kawaguchi & Oshino Hakkai10 hours · day trip · 4.8 ★ · 5,997 reviews · GetYourGuide
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From Tokyo: Mount Fuji Full-Day Highlights Sightseeing Trip10 hours · day trip · 4.5 ★ · 5,292 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€56
Mt Fuji Top 5 Spots Day Tour: Arakurayama Park, Oshino Hakkai10 hours · day trip · 4.6 ★ · 2,764 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€48
Tokyo: Mt. Fuji Lake Kawaguchi Small Group Tour with Pickup10 hours · guided tour · 4.6 ★ · 797 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€57

Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 21 September 2026. Whether Mount Fuji is visible is up to the weather – no tour can promise it. Guided summit climbs were not in our selection on 21 September 2026. Prices were collected in euros.

How it worked in 2026 – not yet official for 2027Climb Mount Fuji: fee, reservation and the 2 pm gate

Since 2025 every one of the four trails has charged a fee, and between 2 pm and 3 am nobody gets through the checkpoint without a hut reservation. The rules for 2027 have not been announced. We expect a similar framework – but do not plan around it until the prefectures have published it.

1

Mount Fuji climbing fee: ¥4,000

Per person, on each of the four trails. Hut guests pay it too. The former voluntary ¥1,000 donation no longer appears in the 2026 rules.

2

Gate closed from 2 pm to 3 am

On every trail. During those hours only climbers who can show a hut booking get through. This is how the authorities want to end “bullet climbing” – going up through the night without a rest. Descending is allowed at any time.

3

Yoshida Trail: 4,000 climbers a day

Only the Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi Prefecture) has a daily cap; hut guests are not counted. In 2026 you could reserve up to the day itself while places lasted. Staff at the 5th Station check three things: warm clothing, a rain jacket plus rain pants, and hiking boots.

4

Shizuoka trails: app, course, test

For Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya everything ran through the “Shizuoka Prefecture FUJI NAVI” app: an e-learning course with a final test, trip details, payment, QR code, and a wristband at the trailhead. No daily cap, free cancellation until you check in.

Official prices · 2026 season / as of 09/2026
Mandatory climbing fee, all four trails, per person¥4,000
Local bus Kawaguchiko / Fujisan Station – 5th Station, round trip / one way · children half price¥3,400 / ¥2,000
Highway bus Shinjuku – Kawaguchiko, one way (¥2,450 online)¥2,750
Highway bus Shinjuku – 5th Station direct, one way, summer only (¥4,500 online)¥4,800
Fuji Subaru Line toll, car, round trip · cash or prepaid toll cards only, no credit cards, no ETC¥2,800
Fujisan Parking during the private-car ban, per entry · shuttle bus to the 5th Station ¥3,400 round trip¥1,000
  1. 8 May 2026Shizuoka registration opens

    The FUJI NAVI app starts taking registrations for Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya.

  2. 1 JulyYoshida and Subashiri open

    The crater rim loop stays closed at first because of leftover snow.

  3. 3 July, 6 pmPrivate-car ban, Fuji Subaru Line

    Private cars – hybrids included – have to stay at Fujisan Parking. Fully electric cars may drive up with a confirmation.

  4. 10 JulyAll trails open

    Gotemba, Fujinomiya and the crater rim loop open.

  5. 9–10 SeptemberHeavy rain

    Access roads closed, buses suspended. Both prefectures refund the fee for those days automatically.

  6. 10 SeptemberEnd of the climbing season

    All trails close; the car ban ends at 6 pm.

Sources: Yamanashi Prefecture, Yoshida Trail rules 2026 (fujisan-climb.jp/en/info/28) · Shizuoka Prefecture, “Restrictions on climbing Mt. Fuji (2026)” of 14 May 2026 (info/1722). Both sets of rules apply “by ordinance”; the pages do not give ordinance numbers. How the Yoshida places were split between online and same-day sales is not documented officially, so we do not quote a figure.

Four trails, two prefecturesMount Fuji trails compared

All four trails start at a 5th Station and end at the crater rim. They differ in season, rules and above all in facilities. The official pages give no walking times or difficulty grades – so neither do we.

Trail → 2026 season and what sets it apart
Yoshida (Yamanashi) · from Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, about 2,300 m (7,500 ft)1 July – 10 September. Roughly 1,450 m (4,760 ft) of climbing to the summit. The most facilities: around 17 huts between the 5th and 8th Station and several first-aid stations. Daily cap of 4,000, gear check at the gate.
Subashiri (Shizuoka) · from Subashiri 5th Station1 July – 10 September. Joins the Yoshida Trail near the top – on the way down, watch the signs near the 8th Station or you end up in the wrong prefecture. First aid at the 5th Station.
Gotemba (Shizuoka) · from Gotemba New 5th Station10 July – 10 September. No first-aid station on the trail. The official 2026 notice lists no private-car ban here.
Fujinomiya (Shizuoka) · from Fujinomiya 5th Station, checkpoint at the 6th Station10 July – 10 September. Private-car ban on the Mt. Fuji Skyline, change to the shuttle at Mizugatsuka parking lot. First aid at the 8th Station.
Crater rim loop (Ohachi-meguri)10 July – 10 September, depending on snow. Included in the trail fee.
A long line of climbers in bright jackets descending the switchbacks of the Yoshida Trail on Mount Fuji shortly after sunrise
You are never alone up here. That is exactly why there is a gate.

Photo: Flittergreeze · CC BY-SA 4.0

Good to knowGetting to Mount Fuji from Tokyo, best time, tips

Getting there

Without a car: Two direct ways from Tokyo to the north side. Highway bus from Busta Shinjuku (Fujikyu/Keio, all seats reserved, bookable from one month ahead): to Kawaguchiko Station in about 1 hr 45 min, ¥2,750, or ¥2,450 online. During the climbing season, direct buses run Shinjuku – Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station in about 2 hr 30 min for ¥4,800 (¥4,500 online): in 2026 from 1 July to 31 August without stopping at the lakes, from 1 to 10 September via Kawaguchiko; plus, from 3 July, a night bus leaving Shinjuku at 11:25 pm and arriving around 2:00 am (until 9 September) – timed for the gate opening at 3 am. Train: the Fuji Excursion limited express runs direct from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (around 2 hours, all seats reserved). From Kawaguchiko or Fujisan Station, continue by local bus to the 5th Station (about 65 min).

By car: The Fuji Subaru Line is a toll road (cars ¥2,800 round trip, cash or prepaid toll cards only). “My car” restriction 2026: from 3 July, 6 pm, to 10 September, 6 pm, private cars may not drive up – hybrids included. Exempt are buses, taxis, bicycles, vehicles carrying people with disabilities, and fully electric and fuel-cell cars, which must pick up a confirmation at Fujisan Parking beforehand. Everyone else parks at Fujisan Parking in Fujiyoshida (¥1,000 per entry, also motorcycles of 125 cc and over) and takes the shuttle bus (¥3,400 round trip, ¥2,000 one way; in service 4 July – 10 September 2026). Shizuoka side: private-car ban on the Mt. Fuji Skyline (Fujinomiya) 10 July, 9 am – 10 September, 6 pm; on the Fuji Azami Line (Subashiri) 1 July, 9 am – 10 September, 6 pm.

  • From Tokyo (Shinjuku) · bus about 1 hr 45 min to Kawaguchiko, about 2 hr 30 min to the 5th Station; train around 2 hrs
    Highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko or – in summer – direct to the 5th Station; alternatively the Fuji Excursion limited express to Kawaguchiko
  • From Kawaguchiko · about 65 min
    Fujikyu local bus to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station

Best time to go

For the climb there is no choice: only 1 or 10 July to 10 September. For seeing the mountain, that is exactly the worst time. The city of Fuji has observed the mountain daily from city hall since 1990 (8 am, noon and 4 pm): in 2025 the mountain was fully visible at 8 am on 136 days and fully or partly visible on 231 days. January and February did best (19 and 22 days of full visibility), June worst (2 days). The long-term record shows the same pattern – lots of visibility from November to February, little from June to August – and a clear daily rhythm: the earlier in the morning, the more often the summit is clear. If you are going to Lake Kawaguchi for the view of Mount Fuji, plan for late fall or winter and the early morning; in summer a cloud-free Fuji is a matter of luck.

Who it suits

Children
No official age limit is documented. Bus and shuttle fares include children's prices (half price). For the 5th Station and the lakes, Mount Fuji is an easy family destination; the climb is a long high-mountain trek to almost 3,800 m (about 12,400 ft).
Fitness
Yamanashi advises inexperienced climbers to hire a mountain guide and requires full mountain gear. From the 5th Station of the Yoshida Trail there are about 1,450 m (4,760 ft) of elevation to gain; walking times are not given in the primary sources we reviewed.
Altitude
The central risk. The authorities justify the ban on “bullet climbing” – going to the summit through the night in one push without a hut rest – explicitly with altitude sickness and hypothermia; hence the gate closure from 2 pm to 3 am. Sensible: acclimatize for at least an hour at the 5th Station (about 2,300 m), sleep in a hut, walk slowly, drink a lot, and descend if you get a headache, nausea or dizziness – descending is allowed at any time. Even the bus takes day visitors to 2,300 m in a short time; mild symptoms are possible there too.
Heart and lungs
No official exclusion rule is documented. Because of the altitude, the cold and the long exertion, get medical advice beforehand; first-aid stations exist only in season and not on every trail (Gotemba: none).
Wheelchair
The climbing trails are not accessible. Vehicles carrying people with disabilities are exempt from the private-car ban on the Fuji Subaru Line – on presentation of the disability certificate – and may drive to the 5th Station.
Clothing
Mandatory on the Yoshida Trail and checked at the gate: warm (winter) clothing and two-piece rainwear consisting of jacket and pants. A poncho or casual clothing is not enough. At the summit, temperatures are around freezing even in August.
Footwear
Suitable hiking boots are the third mandatory item at the Yoshida gate; without them you do not get through.

Tips you will need on site

  • Book the hut first, then the trail: hut guests do not count toward the 4,000 cap on the Yoshida Trail and may pass the gate after 2 pm. They still pay the trail fee, and the two bookings are separate.
  • Without a hut: be through the gate by 2 pm at the latest. If you take the highway bus from Shinjuku, choose an early departure – or the 11:25 pm night bus, which reaches the 5th Station around 2 am, shortly before the gate opens at 3 am.
  • A warm layer, a rain jacket AND rain pants, and hiking boots belong in your pack, not in the hotel – on the Yoshida Trail they are checked at the 5th Station, and without all three you are turned away.
  • For the Shizuoka trails, install the FUJI NAVI app at home: the e-learning with its test takes time and has to be passed in full before you get the QR code. In return, you can cancel free of charge until you check in.
  • Do not plan to drive a rental car to the 5th Station in summer: from 3 July to 10 September the Fuji Subaru Line is closed to private cars, hybrids included. Bring cash – the toll cannot be paid by card or ETC.
  • On the way down, watch the signs at the 8th Station: that is where the Yoshida and Subashiri routes split. The authority has you confirm this point when reserving because so many people go wrong here.
  • Check the notices on fujisan-climb.jp before you travel. In heavy rain the access roads close at short notice; in 2026 fees for such days were refunded automatically.
  • If you only want to see the mountain, come between November and February and early in the morning – in midsummer the summit is in cloud on most days.

A short history

  • The last eruption was the Hōei eruption from 16 December 1707 to about 1 January 1708; it tore a new crater and a secondary peak into the southeast flank.
  • The first recorded ascent is attributed to the ascetic En no Ozunu in the year 663.
  • The first foreigner on the summit was the British envoy Sir Rutherford Alcock, in September 1860.
  • Women were officially barred from the summit until 1872; Tatsu Takayama is considered the first woman to reach it – as early as 1832.
  • On 22 June 2013 UNESCO inscribed the mountain as the cultural site “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration” with 25 component sites.
  • In 2024 Yamanashi Prefecture introduced a gate, a daily cap of 4,000 people and a mandatory fee of ¥2,000 on the Yoshida Trail for the first time – in response to overcrowding and overnight climbs without rest.
  • Since the 2025 season the climb has cost ¥4,000 on all four trails; Shizuoka does without a cap but requires advance registration with e-learning and a test.
  • On 15 September 2026 Yamanashi announced that it would charge for helicopter rescues outside the season from 2027.

Two volcanoes in one dayMount Fuji tour with Hakone: ropeway, Ōwakudani, Lake Ashi

Many day tours from Tokyo combine Mount Fuji with Hakone, the active volcano about 25 km (16 miles) to the southeast. That is why the same tours also appear on our Hakone page. One thing to know: Ōwakudani has a serious volcanic gas warning for people with asthma, lung or heart conditions.

Most bookedTokyo: Mt. Fuji Tour, Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani, Lake Ashi10 hours · day trip · 4.6 ★ · 8,042 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€48
Tokyo: Mt Fuji & Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashi Cruise, Owakudani1 day · day trip · 4.9 ★ · 1,049 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€43
Tokyo: Mt Fuji 5th Station & Hakone Cruise Bus Tour with Bullet Train10 hours · day trip · 4.4 ★ · 5,333 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€133
From Tokyo: Mount Fuji Private Tour With English Guide10 hours · price per group · 4.9 ★ · 684 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€274

Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 21 September 2026. If the ropeway is stopped by wind or gas, the itinerary changes.

Outdated onlineWhat other sites get wrong

“Climbing Mount Fuji is free – there is only a voluntary ¥1,000 donation.”
Out of date. Since 2025 both prefectures have charged a mandatory ¥4,000 on all four trails; the 2026 rules confirm the amount.
“The Yoshida Trail costs ¥2,000.”
That was the fee in the first season, 2024. It has been ¥4,000 since 2025.
“No more than 4,000 people a day are allowed on the mountain.”
The cap applies to the Yoshida Trail only, and hut guests are not counted. Shizuoka has explicitly set no daily cap for its three trails.
“You can set off in the evening and be on top for sunrise.”
That is precisely what the authorities want to stop: between 2 pm and 3 am nobody passes a checkpoint on any trail without a hut reservation.
“You drive a rental car up to the 5th Station.”
Not in summer 2026: from 3 July to 10 September the Fuji Subaru Line was closed to private cars. And the toll is ¥2,800, not ¥2,100.

Quick answersBefore you go to Mount Fuji

Can you climb Mount Fuji right now, in the fall?

No. The 2026 season ended on 10 September; since then the trails above the 5th Station (Fujinomiya: 6th Station) and the crater rim loop have been closed. Huts, toilets and first-aid stations are shut. The 5th Stations and the lakes stay open.

When does the Mount Fuji climbing season start in 2027?

That has not been decided. In 2026 the Yoshida and Subashiri trails opened on 1 July, Gotemba and Fujinomiya on 10 July. Shizuoka published its 2026 rules on 14 May; new dates will appear on fujisan-climb.jp. Heavy leftover snow can push the start back.

How do you do a Mount Fuji day trip from Tokyo?

Take the highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko in about 1 hour 45 minutes (¥2,750, or ¥2,450 online) or the Fuji Excursion limited express. From there the local bus reaches the 5th Station in about 65 minutes (¥3,400 round trip, 2026 timetable until 30 October). Start early: the summit is clear most often in the morning.

Do you need a reservation to climb Mount Fuji?

In 2026, yes in practice. The Yoshida Trail had a cap of 4,000 climbers a day and the prefecture recommended booking ahead; the three Shizuoka trails required registration with a short online course and test, which could also be done on site. Huts are a separate booking.

Are there guided climbs to the summit?

A guide is not mandatory, but Yamanashi Prefecture explicitly recommends a professional mountain guide for inexperienced climbers. Our selection of 21 September 2026 contained only sightseeing day tours, no summit climbs.

What is Goraikō?

It is the sunrise seen from the summit of Mount Fuji – for many the reason for the whole climb. It is only possible with a hut stay or a start after 3 am: anyone who arrives at the gate at night without a hut reservation is turned away.

Mount Fuji or Hakone – which is the better day trip?

Mount Fuji is about the mountain itself: the view from the lake, the 5th Station, and the climb in summer. Hakone is an active volcanic valley with steam, a ropeway and a lake – and a view of Mount Fuji when the sky is clear. Many day tours from Tokyo combine the two.

How much does it cost to climb Mount Fuji in 2026?

¥4,000 per person on all four trails. The fee is mandatory; on the Yoshida Trail it is paid with the online reservation, on the Shizuoka trails through the FUJI NAVI app. On top of that come transport, a hut if you use one, and toilet fees along the way.

Do I need a Mount Fuji climbing reservation?

For the Yoshida Trail it is strongly recommended: there is a cap of 4,000 people a day, and once it is reached the gate closes. For Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya, advance registration with a short online course and test is required; according to Shizuoka Prefecture it can also be done on site. There is no daily cap there.

What time do I have to be at the gate?

By 2 pm. Between 2 pm and 3 am only people who can show a hut reservation get through – this applies on all four trails. You may descend at any hour.

What is bullet climbing and why is it banned?

It means climbing through the night in one push for sunrise, without sleeping in a hut. The authorities see it as the main cause of altitude sickness, hypothermia and rescue call-outs. The gate closure from 2 pm to 3 am is meant to prevent exactly that.

What gear is checked on Mount Fuji?

On the Yoshida Trail, staff at the 5th Station check three things: warm clothing, rainwear consisting of jacket and pants, and proper hiking boots. If one is missing, you are not let through. A headlamp, gloves, cash and enough water are also sensible.

Can you climb Mount Fuji in one day without a hut?

It is allowed if you pass the gate between 3 am and 2 pm. The authorities recommend staying overnight, though, because otherwise the body has hardly any time to adjust to the altitude. If you try it, start very early and turn back if you get symptoms.

How do I get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji?

The easiest way is the highway bus from Busta Shinjuku: about 1 hour 45 minutes to Kawaguchiko (¥2,750, or ¥2,450 online) or, in summer, direct to the 5th Station in around 2.5 hours (¥4,800). Alternatively the Fuji Excursion limited express runs direct from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko. From there the local bus to the 5th Station takes about 65 minutes.

Can I drive to the 5th Station?

Outside midsummer, yes, via the Fuji Subaru Line toll road (¥2,800 round trip, cash only). From 3 July to 10 September 2026 private cars, hybrids included, were banned; you parked at Fujisan Parking for ¥1,000 and took the shuttle bus for ¥3,400 round trip. Fully electric cars were allowed up with a prior confirmation.

Is Mount Fuji worth it without climbing?

Yes. The 5th Station at about 2,300 m (7,500 ft) can be visited without a fee, and Lake Kawaguchi has the best-known view of the north side – both work as a day trip from Tokyo. The season matters: in summer the summit is usually in cloud; your best chances are from November to February, early in the morning.

When is the best time to see Mount Fuji?

In winter, according to the daily observations of the city of Fuji: in 2025 the mountain was fully visible at 8 am on 22 days in February and 19 days in January, but only 2 days in June. Over the year there were 136 days of full visibility. The chance is consistently higher in the morning than in the afternoon.

Is Mount Fuji dangerous or active?

Mount Fuji is an active volcano, but the Japan Meteorological Agency has it at the lowest Alert Level, 1; there are no signs of an eruption. The last eruption was in 1707. The real dangers are altitude, cold, rockfall and sudden weather changes – and, outside the season, the lack of any facilities.

Do I have to pay for a rescue on Mount Fuji?

Not so far. In September 2026, however, Yamanashi Prefecture announced that it will charge for helicopter missions outside the season: ¥8,000 per five minutes of flight for anyone who has not filed a climbing plan. It is due to start with the winter closure from September 2027, provided the ordinance is passed.

NearbyOn to Hakone

Hakone and ŌwakudaniActive volcanic valley with a ropeway, 25 km to the southeast. Gas warning, guided nature trail, Free Pass from ¥7,100.How we checkWhere our information comes from – and why every figure carries a date.All volcanoesWhat is open today and what it costs.

Sources · accessed on 21 September 2026