“If climbing Fuji was so easy,” friends, fans and haters alike will ask me, “Then why haven’t you done it again?” To answer them, I quote an ancient Japanese proverb.
A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once—
Only a fool climbs it twice.
My experience of climbing Mount Fuji, to be sure, was not ideal in some ways (which I’ll describe later in the post). But its difficulty (or lack thereof) was definitely not among them. And unless you’re disabled or in extremely bad shape, I don’t suspect it will be for you, either.
Climbing Fuji Isn’t Really “Climbing”
When my private clients tell me that they want to climb Mount Fuji, they’re sometimes disappointed by the truths I tell them, first among them that the journey is not typically a “climb.” To be sure, while you can technically go on foot all the way from ground level (specifically, in the town of Fujiyoshida), the vast majority of travelers begin at the so-called 5th Station, more than halfway up the mountain, past which point the journey is more or less a hike.
Additionally, you can only climb Mt. Fuji during the warmest part of summer—in most years, from around July 15-September 1—which is the only part of the year when Fujisan isn’t wearing its snowcap. And even during these short weeks, frozen or semi-frozen precipitation often falls. On the plus side, you almost certainly won’t need crazy climbing gear, let alone the portable oxygen cans that so many Japanese authorities recommend for the “climb.”
How to Climb Mt. Fuji
Book a “hut”
If you intend to summit Mt. Fuji for sunrise, you will need to spend the night at the 8th Station near the top of the mountain. Unfortunately, you won’t be sleeping in a hotel, but rather in a medieval “mountain hut.” You can book these online up as early as April 1 of a given year on this website; I recommend doing so as early as you can. There is virtually no chance you’ll be able to turn up and get a coffin-like cubby here.
Set out in the morning
Although climbing Fuji doesn’t take all day, the larger journey will take up most of your day, especially if you spend the night in Tokyo. If you did, you’ll need to go by train either to Gotemba or to Kawaguchiko. From here, you’ll need to transfer to a bus, which may require you to wait a short while, depending upon how precisely you plan your journey out.
Get yourself to the 5th Station
Unless you’re doing the absolutely epic trip from Fujisan Sengen Shrine in Fujiyoshida City, you’ll start your “climb” at the so-called 5th Station, which is more than halfway up the mountain. Note that there are multiple 5th Stations, depending upon which trail you want to hike, be it the mainstream Yoshida Trail or lesser-used ones (but not by much, to be sure) like the Subashiri Trail.
Sleep as early as you can
The ideal way to climb Mt Fuji is to arrive at the 5th Station at or just after lunch time, and get to the 8th Station in time for sunset. You can then eat something else at your mountain hut; if you can, I recommend sleeping soon after this. I say “if you can” because the cramped conditions (and often, the rude manners of fellow Fujisan hikers) can make falling asleep difficult or even impossible.
(And wake up early the next morning, too)
In summer, the sunrise is eastern-central Japan takes place during the 4 AM hour. This means that, assuming a hiking time of around 90-120 minutes from the 8th Station (and maybe longer, if you get caught in a human traffic jam), you will need to wake up at 2 AM, or 2:30 at the latest. This reinforces why, if at all possible, you should sleep soon after the sun sets on the day you start your hike/climb.
Mount Fuji and “Overtourism”: Fact vs Fiction
In recent years, as has been the case for Japan more broadly, Mt. Fuji’s coverage in the media has broadly focused on the issue of overtourism. Or the canard, as it were: I generally find “overtourism” to be a racist, classist trope that the media uses in order to put a certain kind of traveler in their place, under the guise of environmentalism or social consciousness. But I digress.
Indeed, regardless of my opinion on the topic, Japanese authorities have nonetheless put in place certain barriers for travelers who want to climb Fuji. In some cases, these are literal barriers: You need to purchase an entry ticket (priced, as of 2025, at ¥4,000) in order to enter these gates and access the trail. Additionally, in order to discourage so-called “bullet climbing” (i.e. going all the way to the summit in the afternoon or evening, without sleeping) only travelers with a confirmed mountain hut reservation can pass these gates after 4 PM.
Other FAQ About Climbing Mount Fuji
Can a beginner climb Mount Fuji?
A beginner who is in reasonably good shape can absolutely climb Mt. Fuji. I’ve hiked to Everest Base Camp, scaled Machu Picchu and done all kinds of other hiking and climbing routes around the world. And I can safely say that out of all the “major” ones, Fujisan was definitely the easiest.
Is Mount Fuji hard to climb?
If you are healthy, fit and not extremely elderly, Mount Fuji is not hard to climb at all—it’s really more of a hike, as far as I’m concerned. However if you have any mobility difficulties or underlying health issues, it might be worth considering a guided journey to the summit, if only as a precaution.
How long does it take to climb up Mount Fuji?
For me—I was 34 when I climbed Mt. Fuji, and ran around 7 km per day, every day—it took less than four hours to reach the 8th station of Mt. Fuji (where I spent the night) from the 5th station, via the Subashiri Trail. The next morning, I needed an additional 90 minutes to reach the summit. Your times might slightly exceed this, but the vast majority of other travelers I encountered appeared to be moving at a similar pace to me.
The Bottom Line
The good news? Climbing Mount Fuji is really more of a hike—you almost certainly won’t need to take the crazy precautions that Japanese authorities recommend. On the other hand, the mountain can throw plenty of curveballs, including frigid precipitation (even in the middle of the summer, which is the only time you can climb it), and 100% cloud cover, sometimes within hours or even minutes of a clear view. Now, I may never climb Fuji again, due to a proverb I heard after I did it the first time, and how partial I am to superstition. But you should—and you should hire me to plan your Japan itinerary to make sure you do it right.
