Climbing Mt. Fuji: Season, Fees and Rules (Official 2026 Rules and What to Expect in 2027)
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Mt. Fuji can only be climbed in summer. The official 2026 season dates for each trail, the ¥4,000 fee, the Yoshida Trail reservation and daily cap, the Shizuoka trails' registration, and why you must not climb off-season.
Mt. Fuji is Japan's highest peak at 3,776 m, and it is a real mountain climb, not a stroll. It can only be climbed during a short summer season, and each trail has its own rules.
The 2026 season has ended
The official Mt. Fuji climbing site says the 2026 climbing season has ended. The next season is scheduled for early July to early September 2027, and the official dates have not been announced yet. Do not climb Mt. Fuji outside the official season. The rules and dates below are the official 2026 ones, to help you plan. Check the official site for 2027 before you book anything.
At a glance (2026 rules)
- Season: July to around September 10
- Climbing fee: ¥4,000 per person
- Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi): optional reservation, and a daily cap of 4,000 climbers
- Shizuoka trails: online learning and registration in an app, and no overnight dash
The four trails and their 2026 dates
| Trail (prefecture) | 2026 opening | 2026 closing |
|---|---|---|
| Yoshida (Yamanashi) | July 1 | September 10 (descent-only sections run later) |
| Subashiri (Shizuoka) | July 1, 9:00 (moved up from July 10 in 2026) | September 10, 17:00 |
| Gotemba (Shizuoka) | July 10, 9:00 | September 10, 17:00 |
| Fujinomiya (Shizuoka) | July 10, 9:00 | September 10, 17:00 |
Openings can be delayed by snow or weather.
The ¥4,000 climbing fee
In 2026 the official site lists a ¥4,000 per person fee for climbing.
- Yoshida Trail: ¥4,000 per person per visit. The fee is required for the descending trail, so climbers who start from another gate also pay if they use that descent.
- Shizuoka trails (Fujinomiya, Gotemba, Subashiri): ¥4,000 per person, paid once.
- Parking and shuttle buses cost extra. The official pages we read do not show the amounts.
Yoshida Trail rules (Yamanashi)
- The gate is closed from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m.
- Advance reservation is optional. You pay the ¥4,000 in advance, and it is not a mountain hut booking.
- There is a daily limit: if climbers reach 4,000 per day, the gate closes and climbers without a reservation are refused. Guests with a hut booking can pass regardless.
- Do not attempt overnight climbs without staying in a mountain hut (the "bullet climb").
Shizuoka trail rules (Fujinomiya, Gotemba, Subashiri)
- Complete online learning and a short test first.
- Register in the "Shizuoka Prefecture FUJI NAVI" app, and pay the ¥4,000.
- Entry between 2 p.m. and 3 a.m. requires a mountain hut stay.
- Shizuoka has no daily limit on the number of climbers.
Plan and prepare
- Book a mountain hut if you want to climb overnight and see sunrise. Tents are not permitted. Hut prices were not on the official pages we read, so check them on the official site.
- It gets cold. The temperature falls about 0.6°C for every 100 m you climb, and the summit can be close to 0°C before sunrise.
- Gear: high-cut hiking boots, rain gear, winter clothing, a headlamp, and 1–2 liters of water.
- Use the official Mt. Fuji app for offline GPS.
- Altitude: go slowly and rest. If you feel unwell, turn back.
Never climb outside the season
Outside the season, first-aid stations and huts are closed, phone signal can be lost, and the weather is severe. Officials call off-season climbing "extremely dangerous".
Not up for the climb?
You can enjoy Mt. Fuji views without climbing. See our guide to a day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko.
A guided Mt. Fuji day tour on GetYourGuide
Sources
Prices change
Prices, exchange rates and rules in this article were checked on the date shown above. They can change at any time, so please confirm on the official website before you book or buy.
