National park · Japan
Mount Fuji富士山 (Fuji-san)
Climb in the official season (early Jul–early Sep) with a ¥4,000 fee and a hut bed booked ahead; outside it, skip the summit and view the cone from the Fuji Five Lakes or Hakone instead.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,218 km² (470 sq mi)470 sq mi (1,218 km²)
approximate
Established
1936
Best months
Jul, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
At a glance
- Country
- Japan
- Area
- 1,218 km² (470 sq mi)470 sq mi (1,218 km²)
- Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park covers roughly 1,218 km² across Fuji, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula and the Izu Islands; Mount Fuji itself is one part of it (check).
- Established
- 1936
- Best months
- Jul, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Tokyo
Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain (3,776 m) and the focus of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, straddling the Shizuoka and Yamanashi border west of Tokyo. The official climbing season runs only from early July to early September; outside it the trails, huts and access roads close and the mountain is a serious winter objective. Most visitors do not climb at all — they view the cone from the Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone or the Shinkansen. Since summer 2025 a ¥4,000 per-person fee applies on all summit trails, and the Yoshida (Kawaguchiko) trail caps entries at 4,000 a day with no entry between 16:00 and 03:00.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2013Listed as a sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.
Size and age
1,218 km² (470 sq mi)470 sq mi (1,218 km²) · national park since 1936
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park covers roughly 1,218 km² across Fuji, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula and the Izu Islands; Mount Fuji itself is one part of it (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Tokyo.
Why go
- Stand on the highest point in Japan at 3,776 m and watch the sunrise above the cloud line.
- The cone is a national symbol — Hokusai's prints, the Shinkansen window, the shrine at the foot.
- The Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone give close views without the climb, and work in winter when the trails are shut.
- A well-marked, hut-served route that amateurs can walk in a single night.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulBest
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanClearest views of the year; trails closed, no climbing
- FebDry, cold air; best lake photos
- MarStill clear; snow on the cone
- AprWarming; cherry blossom at the foot
- MayGuided off-season climbs only; snow and ice
- JunRainy season; mountain usually clouded
- JulSeason opens early Jul; crowds build from 20 Jul
- AugSeason peak; Obon and weekends very busy, typhoon risk
- SepSeason closes early Sep; quieter, cooler
- OctClear views, no climbing; Subashiri buses run to Oct
- NovCrisp and clear; autumn colour at the lakes
- DecVery clear; all summit facilities and roads closed
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine plants above the treelineJul–Aug · Short season; stay on the trail. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Sika deer and macaques on the lower slopesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Clear Fuji views (not wildlife, but the reason to come off-season)Oct–Feb · Dry winter air gives the sharpest cone. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Direct express bus to Kawaguchiko 5th Station in summer; off season, bus to Lake Kawaguchi then a connecting bus.
2.5 h
Open the page →
From Tokyo by train
JR Chūō Line to Ōtsuki, change to the Fujikyū Line for Kawaguchiko, then the seasonal 5th Station bus.
2.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Gotemba
Seasonal bus from JR Gotemba Station to Gotemba 5th Station; last bus up leaves around 17:00.Seasonal bus from JR Gotemba Station to Gotemba 5th Station; last bus up leaves around 5:00 PM.
40 min
From Fujinomiya / Shin-Fuji
Bus from Fujinomiya Station or Shin-Fuji Shinkansen stop to the Fujinomiya 5th Station.
1.5 h
From Nagoya or Kyoto
Tōkaidō Shinkansen to Shin-Fuji or Mishima, then a bus toward the trailheads.
1.5–2.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Kawaguchiko (Yoshida) trail | The most popular route, from Kawaguchiko 5th Station at 2,305 m; huts the whole way. | Open in season; capped at 4,000 a day, no entry 16:00–03:00.Open in season; capped at 4,000 a day, no entry 4:00 PM–3:00 AM. |
| Gotemba trail | The longest and toughest route, starting at 1,440 m with a huge ash field. | Open in season; few huts, last bus up around 17:00.Open in season; few huts, last bus up around 5:00 PM. |
| Subashiri trail | Forest start on the east side, joining the Yoshida trail higher up. | Open in season; buses run to October. |
| Fujinomiya trail | The shortest and steepest route, on the Shizuoka side, closest to the 3,776 m point. | Open in season; no separate descent path, so it congests near the top. |
| Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone | Viewpoints, onsen and lake shores around the mountain. | Open year-round. |
Sketch map
- 1Kawaguchiko 5th Station · Gate≈35.393, 138.734Map ↗
- 2Yoshida trailhead (Fujiyoshida) · Trail≈35.470, 138.790Map ↗
- 3Gotemba 5th Station · Gate≈35.323, 138.799Map ↗
- 4Fujinomiya 5th Station · Gate≈35.337, 138.735Map ↗
- 5Kengamine summit (3,776 m) · Summit≈35.361, 138.727Map ↗
- 6Lake Kawaguchi · Town≈35.517, 138.751Map ↗
- 7Hakone · Town≈35.232, 139.107Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for the main 5th stations, the summit and the two main viewing bases; for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit trail fee (all routes) | JPY 4,000 (≈ US$30) | person | Introduced summer 2025; collected at the trailhead (check current amount). |
| Mountain hut, one night with dinner and breakfast | JPY 8,000–15,000 (≈ US$55–110) | person | 2026 estimate; rises at weekends and near the summit. |
| Toilet use on the mountain | JPY 100–300 (≈ US$1–3) | use | Coin box; carry ¥100 coins. |
| Bus, Kawaguchiko Station to Kawaguchiko 5th Station | JPY 1,540–1,700 (≈ US$11–12) | person one way | Seasonal; does not run when snow blocks the road. |
| Bus, Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko 5th Station (summer direct) | JPY 2,700 (≈ US$19) | person one way | 2026 estimate; book ahead in season. |
| Horse ride, Fujiguchiko trail 5th–7th station | JPY 14,000 (≈ US$95) | person | — |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Summit trail fee permit or guide
Yoshida trail daily cap and night closure permit or guide
Off-season climbing plan permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ¥4,000≈ US$30
- ¥8,000–15,000≈ US$55–110
- ¥100–300≈ US$1–3
- ¥1,540–1,700≈ US$11–12
- ¥2,700≈ US$19
- ¥14,000≈ US$95
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Official Web Site for Mt. Fuji Climbing (Ministry of the Environment and the two prefectures) before you go.
Park rules
- Trail fee
- ¥4,000 per person on all summit trails in season; pay at the trailhead.
- Yoshida trail hours and cap
- No entry between 16:00 and 03:00, and a 4,000-a-day limit on the Fujiyoshida route.No entry between 4:00 PM and 3:00 AM, and a 4,000-a-day limit on the Fujiyoshida route.
- Stay on the trail
- Do not leave the marked path; landslide risk and clouds can cut visibility to near zero.
- Do not walk the bulldozer track
- On the Gotemba route the service road crosses the footpath; walking it is not allowed.
- Carry out rubbish
- No bins on the mountain; take everything down with you.
Where to stay
In the park
Mountain huts (7th–8th station)
Bunk, dinner and breakfast; book months ahead for weekends and Obon.
Near the park
Kawaguchiko and Fujiyoshida
Hotels, hostels and ryokan around the lake, 50 min by bus from the 5th Station.
Near the park
Hakone
Onsen inns with Fuji views on clear days; a separate base east of the mountain.
Safety
Altitude and cold at the summit medium
Sunburn and thin air medium
Off-season climbing high
Typhoons medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone and the lower shrine trails are reachable by car and bus with short walks.
- The summit trails are steep, rocky and unsuited to limited mobility; there is no vehicle access above the 5th stations.
Visiting lightly
- Pay the trail fee and use the pay toilets; the money funds maintenance and rescue.
- Carry all rubbish down; there are no bins on the mountain.
- Book a hut rather than sleeping rough, and keep to the marked path to limit erosion.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mount Fuji?
Since summer 2025 a fee of ¥4,000 per person applies on all trails to the summit, paid at the trailhead. On top of that, budget for a bus to the 5th Station (about ¥1,540–2,700 one way), pay toilets (¥100–300) and a hut bed (¥8,000–15,000 with meals).
What are the best hikes in Mount Fuji?
The Yoshida (Kawaguchiko) trail is the most popular and best served by huts. The Fujinomiya trail is the shortest and steepest and the best for a sunset. The Gotemba trail is the longest and quietest. All four summit routes need the ¥4,000 fee and are open only in the official season.
When is the best time to visit Mount Fuji?
To climb, early July to early September, on a weekday outside the 20 July–end of August school holidays. To see the mountain, October to February gives the clearest air; the summer months are the most clouded.
Can I climb Mount Fuji outside the season?
It is possible but extremely dangerous without alpine experience and equipment. Huts, buses and access roads close, and you must submit a climbing plan to the Yamanashi or Shizuoka prefectural police.
Do I need a reservation to climb Mount Fuji?
The Yoshida trail is capped at 4,000 hikers a day with no entry between 16:00 and 03:00, so book a hut or arrive early. Other trails have no daily cap but still charge the ¥4,000 fee.
How long does it take to climb Mount Fuji?
Most people take 5–7 hours up and 3–4 hours down on the Yoshida trail. The Gotemba route takes 7–10 hours up. An overnight climb for the sunrise is traditional but the busiest; a late-morning start for sunset is far quieter.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialOfficial Web Site for Mt. Fuji Climbing (Ministry of the Environment and the two prefectures)
- officialFujisan official site — climbing season risk guidelines
- officialFujiyoshida city — Mt. Fuji access information
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration
- secondaryWikipedia — Mount Fuji
- secondaryWikivoyage: Mount Fuji, revision 5283054 (CC BY-SA 4.0)