Mt. Fuji Climbing Season 2026: Dates, the ¥4,000 Fee, Daily Cap and Four Trails

Quick answer: the 2026 rules at a glance

The official climbing season is July 1 – September 10, 2026 for the Yoshida and Subashiri trails, and July 10 – September 10, 2026 for the Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails (the crater-rim path around the summit follows the Fujinomiya dates). Every trail now charges a 4,000 yen entry fee per person per trip. On the Yoshida Trail, entry is capped at 4,000 climbers per day and the 5th-station gate closes 14:00 to 03:00 unless you hold a mountain-hut reservation. All of these rules come from the official Mt. Fuji climbing site run by the prefectures — links at the end.

Season dates trail by trail

Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi side): July 1 – September 10, 2026.
Subashiri Trail (Shizuoka side): July 1 – September 10, 2026 — brought forward from July 10 for the first time in 13 years.
Fujinomiya Trail (Shizuoka side): July 10 – September 10, 2026.
Gotemba Trail (Shizuoka side): July 10 – September 10, 2026.

The official notice adds that the opening can be delayed by remaining snow or severe weather. Outside the season, the trails are officially discouraged, huts and most facilities are closed, and weather is genuinely alpine — every year people need rescue in June and late September.

The 2026 fee and reservation system

4,000 yen per person, per trip, on all four trails. The older system — a mandatory fee on the Yoshida Trail and a separate voluntary "conservation cooperation" payment on the Shizuoka trails — has been replaced by this unified charge.
Yoshida Trail: pay in advance through the official reservation site to secure a slot; same-day booking is possible when slots remain, and advance bookers receive the commemorative wooden tag while supplies last.
Daily cap: 4,000 climbers per day on the Yoshida Trail, excluding climbers with mountain-hut reservations.
Gate closure (Yoshida): 14:00 to 03:00 the next morning. If you are not staying at a hut, you must pass the gate before 14:00 or after 03:00. The point of this rule is to stop "bullet climbing" — going up through the night with no sleep, which is the single most common cause of altitude sickness and rescue calls on this mountain.
Equipment check: at the Yoshida 5th Station, staff can check for winter clothing, two-piece rain gear and proper climbing footwear. Climbers without adequate gear may be turned back.

The four trails compared

Yoshida Trail — the default for first-timers

Starts at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (2,300 m). Most huts, most English support, easiest access from Tokyo via Kawaguchiko, and a separate descent path. Its popularity is also its drawback: in August you will queue on the upper slopes.

Fujinomiya Trail — the shortest climb

Starts highest (2,400 m) on the Shizuoka side, so it has the least total elevation gain to the summit. Rocky and exposed. Best reached from Shin-Fuji / Fujinomiya via the Shizuoka side.

Subashiri Trail — forested and gentler start

Starts at 2,000 m and climbs through forest before joining the Yoshida route near the top. The lower section offers shade and wind protection that the bare volcanic slopes do not.

Gotemba Trail — long, quiet, sandy

Starts at just 1,440 m, making it by far the longest ascent. Very quiet, and famous for the "sand run" descent on loose gravel. Realistically a route for experienced, well-prepared climbers.

July vs. August

Early July: fewer people, but more chance of lingering snow near the summit and colder nights. Opening can slip if snow remains.
Mid-July to late July: the sweet spot for crowd-averse climbers — full hut operation, stable-ish weather before the August peak.
August: warmest and busiest. Obon week in mid-August is the single most crowded period; expect hut bunks to sell out far ahead and queues above the 8th station before sunrise.
Early September: thinning crowds, cooling weather, higher chance of the first autumn systems arriving. The season hard-stops on September 10.

Whenever you go: even in August, pre-dawn summit temperatures are typically in the low single digits Celsius, and with wind chill the felt temperature can drop below freezing. Rain gear is not optional — the mountain's weather changes faster than lowland forecasts suggest. Check the climbing weather index for the trail grades in the days before your climb, and treat official Japan Meteorological Agency warnings as hard stop signals.

Huts, water and the overnight plan

The standard plan is: start early afternoon from the 5th station, sleep at a hut around the 7th–8th station, resume at ~01:00–02:00, and summit for sunrise ("goraiko"). Book huts as far ahead as your dates allow — popular weekend bunks in August are gone months early. Toilets on the mountain are fee-based (coins/IC in some places, typically 200–300 yen), water is not available for free refills, and everything you carry up generates trash you must carry down.

Getting to the trailheads

Yoshida Trail: from Tokyo take the highway bus or Fuji Excursion train to Kawaguchiko Station (see our transport guide), then the seasonal Fujikyu bus up the Fuji Subaru Line tollway to the 5th Station — roughly 50 minutes of switchbacks. The tollway is closed to private cars on peak summer days, when a park-and-ride shuttle system applies.
Fujinomiya Trail: Shinkansen to Mishima or Shin-Fuji, then local train/bus to Fujinomiya Station and the seasonal bus to the Fujinomiya 5th Station. In season, Fujikyu City Bus also runs a direct climbing bus from Mishima Station.
Subashiri / Gotemba trails: reached from Gotemba-area stations by seasonal buses; confirm timetables before relying on them, especially for early-morning starts.

Altitude sickness: the rules that actually matter

The summit is 3,776 m — airport-pressure-altitude territory, reached in a single day from sea-level Tokyo, which is exactly why Fuji has a reputation for altitude sickness. The evidence-backed basics:

Go slow. Pace so you can hold a conversation; racing the sunset is how people get sick by the 8th station.
Sleep low-ish and split the climb: the hut plan (sleeping at 7th–8th station) halves your continuous ascent and doubles your acclimatization time.
Hydrate aggressively — the cold dry air dehydrates you invisibly.
Know the turn-back rule: severe headache with vomiting, or loss of coordination, means descend immediately. Every meter down helps; the mountain will be there another year.

FAQ

Can I climb Mt. Fuji without a guide?

Yes — the trails are well-marked and, in season, never lonely. What you cannot skip is preparation: proper boots, layers, rain gear, headlamp, cash, and an honest assessment of how you handle altitude. Move slowly above 3,000 m and turn back if you feel unwell.

How do I pay the 4,000 yen fee?

Online in advance via the official prefectural reservation pages linked below. On the Yoshida Trail this doubles as your slot reservation for the daily cap.

Is bullet climbing really banned?

On the Yoshida Trail, yes — the 14:00–03:00 gate closure without a hut booking is exactly this ban in enforceable form. Physically you may still be capable of it elsewhere; medically it remains the most dangerous way up the mountain, with high rates of acute mountain sickness.

Can children or seniors climb?

There is no formal age limit, but this is a 3,776 m volcanic climb, not a hike. Families do climb it with well-acclimatized teenagers; it is rare and riskier with young children. Consult the official safety guidance first.

What if I want to climb outside the season?

Off-season climbing is strongly discouraged by the authorities: huts are closed, first-aid stations are gone, weather is winter-alpine, and you must file a climbing plan with the police. It is a mountaineering objective, not a tourist activity.

Sources

Written by the VoyBird Team. Rules and dates above reflect the official notices as of September 2026 — always confirm current conditions on the official site before your climb. More about who we are.