Mount Fuji Yoshida Trail – Climbing Japan’s Highest Peak at (3,776m) from Yamanashi, the North Side.

Region: Yoshida Trail, Mount Fuji – Yamanashi (North Side), Japan

Places To Stay: Hiking Japan’s highest mountain is an unforgettable experience, but it requires some planning. Most climbers overnight in simple mountain huts around the 7th or 8th station, with futon-style dorms, no showers, and hearty meals. At the base, towns like Fujiyoshida and Kawaguchiko offer hotels and guesthouses, making it easy to prepare and recover either side of your climb.

The Yoshida Trail is the classic way to climb Mount Fuji, beginning at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station at around 2,305 metres and climbing to the roof of Japan at 3,776 metres. It’s the most popular of Fuji’s four main climbing routes, and although that means you certainly won’t have the mountain to yourself, it also has the greatest concentration of mountain huts, facilities and support along the way.

But don’t let the infrastructure fool you into thinking Fuji is easy. You still have around 1,450 metres of height to gain to the summit, the effects of altitude become increasingly noticeable above 3,000 metres, and the exposed volcanic landscape can be cold and unforgiving even when conditions lower down are warm. Taking your time and allowing your body to acclimatise is a big part of climbing it safely.

My route goes a little further than simply reaching the top of the Yoshida Trail. The GPX covers approximately 18.1 km and continues around the Ohachi-meguri summit crater circuit to Kengamine, the true 3,776m highest point of Mount Fuji, before using the dedicated Yoshida descent route to return to the 5th Station.

For many walkers the dream is to watch the sun rise from Mount Fuji. The best way to do that is to split the climb over two days, staying in a mountain hut around the 7th or 8th Station before continuing towards the summit in the early hours. Standing above the clouds as the first light spreads across Japan is one of those mountain experiences that is difficult to forget.

Looking for more trails in Japan? Visit my Japan Hiking Trails page.

Below are 3 ideas for trips, transfers and tours around Mount Fuji, with GetYourGuide offering great discounts and availability + Much more!

For a wider choice of accommodation in the Tokyo, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

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Nearest major gateways: Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport, which is 80.6 km away

Getting There: Directions, GPX and App Link

• Start/Finish: Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (bus from Kawaguchiko or Fujisan stations).
• Seasonality: Climb only during July–early September when huts and facilities are open; outside this window conditions are dangerous.
• GPX: Download the GPX file here
• You can follow this route on my Outdooractive and Komoot profiles.

Hike Profile

• Route: Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station → Yoshida Trail → summit → Ohachi-meguri → Kengamine → Yoshida Descent Trail → 5th Station
• Distance: Approx. 18.1 km using your GPX, including the summit crater circuit
• Standard Yoshida route: Approx. 13.8 km without completing Ohachi-meguri
• Start/Finish: Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station – approx. 2,305m
• Highest point: Kengamine – 3,776m
• Elevation difference: Approx. 1,450m from 5th Station to the summit
• GPX cumulative ascent: Approx. 1,900m including crater circuit/undulations*
• Standard walking time: Approx. 6 hrs 10 mins ascent + 3 hrs 35 mins descent
• Crater circuit: Allow approximately 90 minutes extra
• Recommended duration: 2 days / 1 night using a mountain hut
• Difficulty: Strenuous – high altitude, sustained ascent, loose volcanic terrain and potentially severe weather
• Route type: Return route using separate ascent and descent trails
• Terrain: Forest initially, then volcanic gravel, scoria, rocky sections, switchbacks and exposed summit terrain
• 2026 climbing season: 1 July–10 September, subject to conditions

Stages & Distances (Typical 2-Day Itinerary)

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Hike Description

The Yoshida Trail begins at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station on the Yamanashi side of Mount Fuji, already more than 2,300 metres above sea level. It can feel strange arriving so high by bus, stepping out amongst restaurants, shops and crowds of other climbers, but don’t be in too much of a hurry to start walking. Spending some time here gives your body an opportunity to begin adjusting to the altitude before you climb another 1,450 metres towards the summit.

The opening section is relatively gentle. The trail initially heads away from the 5th Station through a surprisingly green landscape before reaching the 6th Station and the Safety Guidance Center. Behind you the Fuji Five Lakes and Yamanashi countryside gradually begin to appear, while ahead the enormous volcanic cone makes it very clear just how much climbing is still to come.

Beyond the 6th Station, Fuji begins to change character. Vegetation becomes increasingly sparse and the route starts zigzagging upwards through volcanic gravel and rock. By the 7th Station there are steeper rocky sections where you’ll occasionally use your hands for balance, and the collection of mountain huts spaced along the slope provides natural targets to walk towards.

This is where I think the best approach to Fuji is to forget about speed. Walk steadily, stop regularly, drink, eat and pay attention to how you’re feeling. Above 3,000 metres the thinner air becomes increasingly noticeable and even very fit walkers can be affected by altitude sickness. There is absolutely no prize for pushing on if your body is telling you otherwise.

For an overnight climb, the mountain huts around the 7th and 8th Stations break the ascent into two much more manageable days. They’re basic rather than luxurious, don’t expect showers or hotel-style accommodation, but sleeping on the mountain gives you some rest and allows you to continue towards the summit in the early hours without attempting the dangerous overnight ‘bullet climbing’ that the authorities now actively discourage.

As the summit gets closer, the atmosphere can become extraordinary. In the darkness, strings of headtorches zigzag across the mountainside while the lights of towns sit thousands of metres below. Progress can be slow where climbers converge near the top, particularly around sunrise, but eventually the Yoshida Trail reaches Kusushi-jinja Shrine on the crater rim.

And this is where my route doesn’t simply turn around.

If the weather, visibility and your energy levels allow, the Ohachi-meguri path makes a circuit around Mount Fuji’s huge summit crater. It takes roughly another 90 minutes and leads to Kengamine at 3,776 metres — the actual highest point in Japan. The crater landscape is completely different again: exposed, barren and often extremely windy, with views disappearing into the immense volcanic bowl on one side and across Japan on the other.

Seeing the sun rise from this height is understandably one of Fuji’s great attractions. When conditions cooperate, watching daylight slowly spread across the landscape from above the clouds is every bit as memorable as you’d imagine. But the summit is also where Fuji can remind you that it is a serious mountain. Temperatures can fall below freezing even during the summer climbing season and weather can deteriorate remarkably quickly, so the crater circuit should always be treated as optional.

The return follows the dedicated Yoshida descent trail rather than retracing the ascent. Long zigzags drop across loose volcanic gravel and make losing height surprisingly quick, although they can be punishing on tired knees. One particularly important point is the junction with the Subashiri descent route near the 8th Station area, take care here because continuing down the wrong trail can leave you on the opposite side of the mountain.

Eventually the barren slopes give way to vegetation again and you return to the bustle of the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station. After spending so many hours amongst black and red volcanic rock, shops, buses and crowds can feel almost surreal.

Mount Fuji isn’t a wilderness climb and the Yoshida Trail isn’t technically difficult in the way many mountain routes are, but neither of those things make it easy. The altitude, enormous sustained ascent, unpredictable weather and long descent make reaching 3,776 metres a serious physical challenge. What makes it special is the combination of all of that with the shrines, mountain huts, pilgrims and climbers from around the world.

Walk this route yourself in 3D!

The video is a 3D walkthrough of this route; it’ll give you a great idea of what to expect before you set foot on the mountain.

I’ve created 3D videos of my walks and shared them with the Outdooractive and Welsh Man Walking communities.

Mount Fuji Yoshida Trail – 3D Walkthrough

Places to Stay – Mount Fuji & the Yoshida Trail.

Mountain huts must be booked in advance during climbing season. Below are a few options:

7th–8th Station Huts

Toyokan Hut (7th Station)

Popular mountain hut with meals included; futon dorms and early start location.

Check Availability

Hakuun-so Hut (8th Station)

Higher hut close to the summit trail, good for catching sunrise with a shorter push.

Check Availability

Base Stays

Kawaguchiko Hotel

Lakeside hotel with views of Fuji; good choice pre- or post-climb.

Check Availability

For a wider choice of accommodation in the Tokyo, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

Practicalities

2026 climbing season and access rules: For the Yoshida Trail, the planned 2026 climbing season runs from 1 July to 10 September, although opening can be delayed by snow or mountain conditions. The summit crater circuit normally opens later than the Yoshida Trail itself, so always check the official Mount Fuji website immediately before travelling.

Mount Fuji hiking fee and reservation: A ¥4,000 hiking fee per person is compulsory. The Yoshida Trail also operates an advance reservation system. Advance booking is not compulsory, but it guarantees passage while spaces remain available and makes entry at the mountain smoother. Climbers staying in mountain huts must still pay the hiking fee.

Gate restrictions: The Yoshida Trail gate at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station is closed between 14:00 and 03:00 the following morning, except for people with mountain-hut accommodation. There is also a daily limit of 4,000 non-hut climbers. These restrictions are designed partly to discourage dangerous overnight ‘bullet climbing’.

Getting to the 5th Station: The easiest approach is by bus to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, with seasonal services from Kawaguchiko and other locations around the Fuji Five Lakes. Private vehicle restrictions operate on the Fuji Subaru Line for much of the main climbing season, so drivers may need to park lower down at Fujisan Parking and transfer to a shuttle bus. Check the current timetable and road restrictions before travelling.

Acclimatisation: Don’t step off the bus at around 2,300m and immediately start climbing. Official guidance recommends spending roughly an hour acclimatising around the 5th Station, or dividing that acclimatisation time between the 5th and 6th Stations. Walk steadily and avoid racing other climbers. Headache, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue can all be signs of altitude sickness; if symptoms worsen, the safest treatment is to descend.

Mountain huts: If you are splitting the climb over two days, book your mountain hut well in advance. Accommodation is deliberately basic, normally shared sleeping areas with no showers or washing facilities, although simple meals and drinking water are available. Staying around the 7th or 8th Station gives you time to rest and makes an early-morning summit considerably more sensible than attempting a continuous overnight climb.

What to carry: Treat Fuji as a proper high mountain rather than a tourist attraction. Take sturdy hiking footwear, waterproof jacket and trousers, insulating layers, gloves, hat, headlamp with spare power, sun protection, first-aid supplies and an offline map or GPX. The official guidance suggests a backpack of around 30 litres and approximately 1–2 litres of drinking water, with additional water available to buy from mountain huts.

Weather and temperature: Conditions at the 5th Station can give a very misleading impression of what awaits higher up. The summit can be close to 0°C before sunrise even in summer, with strong winds making it feel considerably colder. Thunderstorms and rapid weather changes are also possible. Check a proper mountain forecast before setting off and be prepared to turn around.

Food, water, toilets and cash: Food, snacks and drinks can be bought from mountain huts on the ascent, but prices rise with altitude because supplies have to be transported up the mountain. Carry Japanese yen, including plenty of ¥100 coins, as cash is useful for huts and toilets. There are no rubbish bins on the mountain, so everything you carry in should be carried back out.

Navigation and the descent: The Yoshida Trail is well signposted and uses yellow route markings, but don’t switch off mentally on the descent. The Yoshida and Subashiri routes separate near the 8th Station area and climbers have accidentally followed the Subashiri Trail down the wrong side of Mount Fuji. Check the signs, your GPX and your destination carefully at the junction.

Ohachi-meguri crater circuit: My GPX includes the summit crater circuit and Kengamine, the true 3,776m highest point of Mount Fuji. Allow roughly another 90 minutes for Ohachi-meguri. It is exposed to strong wind and poor visibility, so treat it as an optional extension rather than something you must complete. If you’re tired, suffering from altitude or the weather is deteriorating, leave it for another day.

Leave enough for the descent: Reaching the summit is only half the job. The long Yoshida descent is loose, dusty and repetitive and can be hard on tired knees. Keep water, food and energy in reserve, know the time of your last bus and be prepared to turn around before the summit if progress has been slower than expected.

Below are 3 ideas for trips, transfers and tours around Mount Fuji, with GetYourGuide offering great discounts and availability + Much more!

Mount Fuji (Yoshida Trail) FAQs

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