Mount Fuji via the Yoshida Trail

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About Mount Fuji via the Yoshida Trail

Mount Fuji has four trails to the summit, and the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi side is the most used. It starts at the fifth station on the Fuji Subaru Line, at about 2,300 meters, and climbs over volcanic gravel slopes, with mountain huts along the way, to the crater rim at 3,776 meters. The ascent generally takes 5 to 7 hours, and the descent 3 to 4 hours.

Climbing is only permitted during the official season, usually from early July to early September. Outside that period, trails above the fifth station are closed because of snow, ice and wind. On the Yoshida Trail there is a trail fee, a daily limit on the number of climbers and time controls at the gate of the fifth station; rules are set each season by the prefecture: check the official website before you go.

The most common plan is to climb in the afternoon, sleep in a mountain hut and set out at dawn to try to see the sunrise from the summit, the goraiko, if weather permits. Huts require reservations. At the summit it is cold even in summer, with temperatures near zero, and altitude can cause discomfort: the ascent requires preparation, warm and rain gear, a headlamp and sturdy footwear.

The fifth station is also an attraction in itself and is open to visitors who are not climbing. It has shops, restaurants, the small Komitake shrine and views of the lakes and mountains to the north. The Fuji Subaru Line usually operates from spring to early winter, and in summer private cars are often restricted, with access by bus.