During the summer climbing season, it's possible to take a direct bus from Shinjuku to the Fifth Station on the shoulder of Mount Fuji and climb it from there. Or, you can just take a stroll along the shoulder of the mountain. You can visit the towns around the base of the mountain year-round to get a view of the mountain.
Fuji Mountain and Sakura branches
The Takeaway
- Mount Fuji is 3,776 meters or 12,389 feet high, which is high enough to cause altitude sickness.
- The Mount Fuji climbing season is from 1 July to 14 September.
- You can take a direct bus from Shinjuku to about halfway up Mount Fuji and climb to the summit from there.
- You can climb in one day if you're fit. But it's better to spend a night in a mountain hut on the mountain (or just climb through the night).
- Reservations are required for mountain huts, but you can pay to enter a hut and take a break without a reservation.
- For our in-depth guide to climbing Mt Fuji, visit our Mt Fuji Climbing Guide.
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The Details
Getting to Mount Fuji from Tokyo
- Mount Fuji is about 100km or 62 miles west of Tokyo. There are many ways to get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, but the most convenient way for those who want to climb the mountain (or just visit it) is a direct highway bus from the Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal. The bus takes you all the way to the Subaru Fifth Station, which is the start of the Yoshida Trail up Mount Fuji (the most popular route). The direct bus takes 2 hours and 30 minutes and costs Y2700. You can reserve buses online in English using the Highway Buses English Reservation Page. Note that seats sell out well in advance of the climbing season, so try to reserve well in advance.
Climbing Mount Fuji
- It takes the average person between 5 and 7 hours to climb Mount Fuji from the Subaru Fifth Station to the summit via the Yoshida Trail. It takes another three to five hours to descend. Here is a detailed PDF Map of the Yoshida Trail.
- The most popular way to climb Mount Fuji is to take a bus from Shinjuku to the Subaru Fifth Station and arrive in the early afternoon and then climb to one of the mountain huts on the route. You spend the night there and then wake very early before dawn to climb to the summit in time to see the sunrise. Note that if you want to sleep in a mountain hut, you'll have to reserve in advance. Here is an English-language list of the mountain huts and their phone numbers. Few huts have English speakers, so it's best to have a Japanese person call to reserve. Or, you can use the Fuji Mountain Guides hut booking service.
- Because reserving a hut can be a hassle, some people choose to climb the mountain in one day, by taking an early bus from Shinjuku. Others choose to climb through the night and only stop to rest in a hut in the wee hours of the dawn (you have to pay an hourly fee to rest in the huts but you don't need to reserve). If you choose this option, you can take a late bus from Shinjuku. Note that these options are only good for really fit people. If you have any doubts about your fitness or your ability to climb to 3776 meters, reserve a place in a hut.
- This page is a general guide to visiting or climbing Mt Fuji. For a detailed climbing guide with maps and suggested routes etc, visit our Mt Fuji Climbing Guide.
When to Climb Mount Fuji
- The official climbing season on Mount Fuji is 1 July to 14 September. We recommend climbing during this time. Note that the mountain gets very crowded on weekends and during the mid-August Obon holidays. One way to avoid the crowds is by climbing on a weekday outside of the middle of August. Late July and early September are good bets for avoiding the crowds.
What About the Weather?
- Needless to say, you only want to climb Mount Fuji on a good day. The problem with reserving the bus and a mountain hut is that it locks you into a fixed day. If you have several days in Tokyo, one option is to keep on top of weather forecasts and only go to the mountain when the forecast calls for good weather for the next 48 hours. Then, call the Highway Bus company on (03)-5376-2222 and try to buy a ticket on a bus leaving late that day. Then, climb through the night and see the sunrise the following morning, resting in a hut en route. Again, this is only an option for fit climbers with experience at altitude!!
What If You Only Want to See or Visit Mount Fuji?
- One option is to view Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko. We have prepared a great itinerary for this day trip. Have a look at our Day Trip to the Mt. Fuji Area: Lake Kawaguchiko to find out how you can enjoy Mount Fuji without the climb.
- Another options is to take the bus but get off at the final stop (Subaru Fifth Station) and take a walk on the Ochudo Hiking Trail. Here is a good English guide to the Ochudo Hiking Trail. Or, you can take a bus to the towns at the base of the mountain like Fuji Yoshida and enjoy the view from there.
Useful Links
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
