quick tour
Fuji Mountain Climbing 2024: The Most Complete Pre-trip Preparation Checklist
Mount Fuji, with an altitude of 3776 meters, is the highest point in Japan. It is also the place where many people hope to climb to the top every year and enjoy the most beautiful sunrise.
However, compared to you who live in the city, climbing Mount Fuji is undoubtedly a new challenge that you have never tried before, such as the weather on the mountain, climbing routes, mountaineering equipment, etc. There are many things that have never been done in the past. I have experienced this during my Japan travel itinerary. Not to mention that this time you have to wait for the sunrise in a cold, dark, and windy environment at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. This time climbing Mount Fuji will bring you the most profound Japanese travel experience.
Is it difficult to climb Mount Fuji? Some people think it is not difficult, because Japanese primary school students successfully climb to the top of the mountain every year, and there are also Japanese people living near Mount Fuji who choose to climb it once a week. Some people think that climbing Mount Fuji is not easy, and even those who climb Mount Fuji for the second time are fools.
No matter what, if you are preparing for your first Mount Fuji climbing trip, and you are also researching Mount Fuji’s climbing routes, climbing information, surrounding attractions, accommodation information, and transportation routes, we can prepare the most complete and practical information for you. Let you successfully climb to the top of Mount Fuji this summer to enjoy the most beautiful sunrise, and then safely return to the starting point to continue your hot spring vacation and Tokyo shopping trip.
It is worth mentioning that if you have friends who are also preparing to climb Mount Fuji, you can also share this article with more people, so that more people can experience the unforgettable memory of watching the sunrise on the top of the mountain.
More travel information around Mount Fuji: Climbing Mt.Fuji / Lake Kawaguchi / Tokyo
Latest Mount Fuji travel discounts: Tokyo attractions deals / Tokyo Accommodation Deals / Lake Kawaguchi Accommodation Deals
Frequently asked questions about climbing Mount Fuji
Are you also preparing to climb Mount Fuji for the first time? How well do you know about mountaineering itinerary planning, accommodation arrangements, mountaineering equipment and other information? The following are some problems that climbers often encounter. Spend some time in advance to understand every climbing detail, so that you can safely climb to the top of Mount Fuji and enjoy the most beautiful sunrise and sea of clouds.
- Which month is best for climbing Mount Fuji?
- How to obtain the map and climbing route information of Mount Fuji?
- How to plan a Mount Fuji climbing trip? How to calculate climbing fees and sunrise time?
- How can I get the weather forecast while climbing Mount Fuji?
- What means of transportation are available from Tokyo to the Mount Fuji trailhead?
- How to reserve accommodation on Mount Fuji? Mount Fuji Hut List & Reservation Procedure
- What climbing equipment and clothing are needed to climb Mount Fuji?
- Are there any guided tours of Mount Fuji suitable for beginners?
- I don’t have any mountaineering equipment at home. Is there any rental service for mountaineering equipment?
- Will climbing Mount Fuji cause altitude sickness? Is there any way to avoid it?
- What are the rules to follow when climbing Mount Fuji?
- How much does it cost to climb Mount Fuji?
- Are there any hot spring hotels worth visiting near Mount Fuji?
- Recommended travel itineraries with the theme of climbing Mount Fuji
If you have never climbed Mount Fuji, you can plan your entire trip to climb Mount Fuji according to each of the above questions, including climbing dates, climbing routes, transportation arrangements, accommodation planning, mountaineering equipment arrangement, costs of climbing Mount Fuji, and climbing Things to note when climbing Mount Fuji, and itinerary planning other than climbing Mount Fuji.
In this way, you can easily plan a travel itinerary with climbing Mount Fuji as the core experience, and take advantage of different offers to save you money on climbing Mount Fuji.
A must-buy transportation package for climbing Mount Fuji: Shinjuku – Mount Fuji JR Ticket / Tokyo Airport Skyliner Ticket / JR Pass Tokyo Wide Area Pass
Seize opportunities to save on travel expenses
[The most complete] Latest deals on Tokyo attractions/tickets
From tickets to travel experiences, we have it all!
Important planning before climbing Mount Fuji
Whether you choose to climb Mount Fuji to challenge your life goals or simply for sightseeing, for a trip to climb Mount Fuji, being able to successfully climb to the top of the mountain to enjoy the sunrise on a day with good weather, and then return to the starting point safely is a key factor. Even a perfect hiking trip.
Since Mount Fuji is not suitable for climbing at any time, and there are not a large number of shops on Mount Fuji, for people who generally live in the city, Mount Fuji needs to take the time to understand every detail before setting off, as you just saw "Frequently Asked Questions on Climbing Mount Fuji Trip", the following will prepare you with practical information for each frequently asked question one by one.
Best time to visit Mount Fuji
There are many different ways to experience Mount Fuji. If you want to enjoy the hot springs while admiring the shape of Mount Fuji, you can basically book a hot spring hotel in Lake Kawaguchi at any time and in any season, and then appreciate the shape of Mount Fuji from many different angles.
However, if you want to set foot on the mountaineering route of Mount Fuji and plan to climb to the top of Mount Fuji, you must wait until the annual climbing season is open. This is the safest way to plan your mountaineering itinerary.
More Mount Fuji sightseeing Local Tour: Mount Fuji classic route sightseeing one-day tour (from Tokyo)
Fuji mountain climbing course opening hours
For every climber who climbs Mount Fuji for the first time, July to September every year is the opening time of various climbing routes on Mount Fuji, and it is also the most suitable time to climb Mount Fuji.
The reason is simple. Since every climbing route on Mount Fuji is located in a high-altitude environment above 2,500 meters, the climbing route will basically be covered by snow most of the time. Only in the summer can the entire climbing route be clearly seen. , reducing the risk of falling from high places while allowing you to reach the top of the mountain safely. On the other hand, the official opening of the Mount Fuji climbing route also means that various shops, restrooms, and rescue facilities along the climbing route will be open for business. This is a very important support for climbers.
There are a total of 4 climbing routes on Mount Fuji, namely the Yoshida Route, the Subashiri Route, the Fujinomiya Route, and the Gotemba Route. According to records over the years, the Yoshida route is the first climbing route to be opened. It opens on average around July 1st every year, and then closes around September 10th. As for the Subashiri Route, Fujinomiya Route, and Gotemba Route, they usually open around July 10th every year, and then remain open until around September 10th.
One thing worth noting: Any unexpected accident or bad weather will cause the hiking route to be delayed or closed suddenly. In the past, there were also cases where the local municipal government postponed the opening date of all hiking routes for safety reasons due to rockfall incidents on the hiking trails.
climbing route | opening hours | Closing time |
---|---|---|
Yoshida route | July 1 | September 10 |
required route | July 10 | September 10 |
Fujinomiya Route | July 10 | September 10 |
Gotemba Route | July 10 | September 10 |
If you choose to climb Mount Fuji during the opening period of the mountaineering route, you will not only be able to get rescue quickly in times of crisis, but more importantly, you can book a mountain hut on the mountaineering route, so that you can safely stay indoors to avoid sudden strong winds and thunderstorms, and wait for a suitable time to reach the top of the mountain again.
To put it simply, if you hope that your Mount Fuji climbing itinerary will not be affected by other factors, you need to prepare a relatively long travel itinerary, so that you can change the date of climbing Mount Fuji at any time according to the weather and actual conditions at the time.
Based on past experience, the city government generally announces the actual opening date of hiking routes in May each year. If you plan to book discounted air tickets and hotels a few months in advance, it will be safer to set the climbing date after July 15th.
Is it possible to climb Mount Fuji outside of the opening hours of the climbing route?
Mount Fuji's hiking trails are open from July to September every year. Can I still climb the mountain outside of the opening hours?
The answer from RakuRakuJP editors is: Absolutely not recommended, and no tourist bureau staff will encourage you to do so.
Although many people believe that Mount Fuji is not a completely enclosed area, climbing Mount Fuji outside of summer is actually not as difficult as imagined. However, the plan stipulates that Mount Fuji is in a semi-closed state/fully closed state outside of summer, which means that all climbing entrances will be closed, and any sightseeing trips to climb Mount Fuji will be prohibited. Basically, only professional mountaineers who have a mountaineering permit and have submitted a climbing plan to the government and received approval are eligible to climb Mount Fuji outside of the hours when the climbing routes are open.
There are winter closure regulations on Mount Fuji because none of the facilities on Mount Fuji are open for business, and there are typhoon-level strong winds, snow, and even avalanches from time to time. Climbing Mount Fuji in winter will not only endanger your own life, but also harm any local staff involved in rescue operations. What's more serious is that fatal accidents caused by climbing Mount Fuji in winter occur almost every year, and some of them are experienced mountaineers.
Professional climbers who have climbed Mount Everest have said that the difficulty and danger of climbing Mount Fuji in winter is actually comparable to climbing Mount Everest. Especially if the climbing path is covered with snow, serious accidents such as avalanches and lost accidents can easily occur if you are not careful. Moreover, the strong wind environment of Mount Fuji in winter also greatly increases the difficulty of climbing Mount Fuji.
In other words, following the instructions of the local government to arrange an appropriate Mount Fuji climbing itinerary and reducing trouble for local people are the best manifestations of every climber's care for Mount Fuji.
How to choose the best date for mountain climbing?
Now that you know that Mount Fuji’s climbing routes are open from July to September every year, have you decided on which day to plan your Mount Fuji climbing itinerary?
Although you can choose to climb Mount Fuji any day from July to September, Mount Fuji is actually divided into busy periods and non-peak periods, which will also determine the difficulty of booking mountain hut accommodation and the day of viewing. The level of crowding during exit.
On the other hand, July – September is summer in Japan, and various weather conditions may affect your Mt. Fuji climbing itinerary and your chance of enjoying a perfect sunrise. So before officially deciding on a climbing date, you need to consider the following points:
- Need to avoid the rainy season
- Be aware of weekends, Sundays, Japanese public holidays, and Japanese school summer holidays
- Pay attention to the season and time of typhoons in Japan
What is the rainy season? How to avoid the rainy season?
If it rains while climbing Mount Fuji, it’s not the worst thing to happen. Because when hiking during the hot summer months, occasional rain can not only help cool down the mountain but also reduce the chance of cloudy weather during sunrise. For a mountaineering trip where the goal is to enjoy the sunrise, a brief spell of rain can do more good than harm.
However, climbing Mount Fuji during the "rainy season" is definitely not fun.
Because the "Meiyu period" means non-stop rain for many days in a row. It is very likely that it will rain continuously for several hours from the first second you start climbing Mount Fuji, making you wet every moment while climbing Mount Fuji. The biggest problem when climbing Mount Fuji during the "rainy season" is that the rain will damage your mobile phone and camera, and being exposed to the rain for a long time will also lower your body temperature and physical strength. You may suffer from hypothermia and physical exhaustion before reaching the mountain hut. Basically, the chance of successfully seeing the sunrise is not high, and it may also pose a health risk.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's rainy season records over the years, the rainy season usually starts in early June and ends in late July every year.
More data records during the Meiyu period: The rainy season records of the Japan Meteorological Agency over the years
Simply put, avoiding climbing Mount Fuji during the rainy season not only increases your chances of seeing a perfect sunrise, but also reduces your risk of climbing in heavy rain. If you think that your physical strength is not enough to cope with climbing during rainy days, it would be the most reasonable plan to set off to climb Mount Fuji in late July or August.
However, when considering that Japan often encounters typhoons in late July and August every year, and many people plan to climb Mount Fuji in August, it is not easy to successfully book a mountain hut. To put it simply, there is no day from July to September that is suitable for climbing Mount Fuji. Should we give up the idea of climbing Mount Fuji?
of course not. As long as you confirm that your physical strength can cope with climbing Mount Fuji in the rain for a long time, as long as you don’t mind the possibility of not seeing the sunrise at all, and as long as you simply enjoy the process of climbing Mount Fuji, you can choose to go from early July to July Climb Mount Fuji in the middle of the season, which is the "rainy season".
Not only is it easier to book a mountain hut, but the hiking trails are less crowded, making it easier to wait for the sunrise in a better location. More importantly, the rainy season does not mean that it rains 24 hours a day. If you are lucky enough, you may actually have a chance to see the sunrise.
Avoid weekends/Japanese public holidays/Japanese school summer holidays to climb Mount Fuji
For local students and families in Japan, climbing Mount Fuji is an activity that is very suitable to arrange during summer vacation. Just like the annual school trip, they will go to different scenic spots in Japan to learn about the local history and culture of Japan. Therefore, when you are climbing Mount Fuji, especially on weekends/Japanese public holidays, you may encounter a student tour group from Tokyo or a family going to climb Mount Fuji.
If climbing Mount Fuji is an important goal in your trip, and you want to make it easier to book a mountain hut, then arranging to climb Mount Fuji on off-peak days will make it easier to avoid crowds.
Under normal circumstances, the busiest time for Mount Fuji is the third weekend in July and all weekends throughout August. The crowds of people climbing can definitely be compared to the commuter trains at Shinjuku Station in the morning. In addition, there are statutory holidays in mid-July and mid-August every year. In addition, August is also the summer vacation for many companies. Many employees choose to take vacations during this time, causing Mount Fuji to be closed from late July to late August. It is the busiest season for Mount Fuji.
In other words, if you have enough time to freely decide which day to climb Mount Fuji, and schedule your climb on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, you can enjoy climbing Mount Fuji more comfortably.
More Japan holiday information: National Days and Holidays in 2024 / Continuous holidays in 2024
If you want to understand it more simply, you can refer to the following mountaineering schedule as an example:
According to past records, the less busy times for Mount Fuji are concentrated in early July and early September. The calendar shows more green, representing days when Mount Fuji is less crowded.
Relatively speaking, the entire month of August every year is the busiest time for Mount Fuji. You'll easily see that the calendar shows more red, representing days when Mount Fuji is very crowded. It also displays red, which represents days when there are more people climbing Mount Fuji. If you plan to climb Mount Fuji during this period, be sure to book all accommodation options for the entire trip in advance.
On the other hand, days with different colors also represent the crowded conditions of hiking trails:
- red day, for example, during weekends and public holidays, which means that the hiking trails are very crowded most of the time, and you have to wait in line to reach the top of Mount Fuji, and there are also many people waiting for the sunrise at the same time.
- yellow day, which means that the hiking trails are sometimes relatively crowded, and some photo hotspots will have more people queuing up.
- green day, which means you can walk at your own pace most of the time except for sunrise time.
More Mount Fuji sightseeing package deals: Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass / Hakone Freepass / Fuji-Q Highland Tickets
Enjoy the entire Mt. Fuji & Hakone with one set ticket!
[Best Offer] Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass
The best choice to save transportation expenses!
Mount Fuji climbing routes and maps
Basically, when participating in any mountaineering activity, you must take the time to study the walking direction of each mountaineering route in advance, and investigate the facilities on the mountaineering route in advance, so that you can quickly go to a specific location when needed.
Under normal circumstances, you can find a complete climbing map at the entrance of each Mount Fuji climbing route. It includes the most popular Yoshida Route, as well as Subashiro Route, Gotemba Route, and Fujinomiya Route, and provides free access to maps in Chinese, English, and Japanese.
If you don’t want to waste paper and are afraid that the paper map will get wet during rain, you can also download the following map to your mobile phone in advance. This map contains four climbing routes on Mount Fuji. Each route clearly shows the location of each mountain hut, the location of the restroom, and the location of the rescue station.
A must-buy transportation package for climbing Mount Fuji: Shinjuku – Mount Fuji JR Ticket / Tokyo Airport Skyliner Ticket / JR Pass Tokyo Wide Area Pass
Which hiking routes are suitable for beginner climbers? Comparison of difficulty of Mount Fuji climbing routes
There have always been four main climbing routes on Mount Fuji, namely
Among the above four climbing routes, the Yoshida Line is the most popular. Almost every year, more than half of the climbers climb to the top of Mount Fuji via the Yoshida Line. However, in addition to the above four climbing routes, there are actually the Summit Bowl Tour Route located at the top of Mount Fuji and around the summit crater, and the Mount Fuji 3776 Special Route that goes from the seaside to the top of Mount Fuji.
Each of the above hiking routes has different levels of difficulty and requires different time to complete.
To put it simply, the Yoshida Line is the easier of the four main climbing routes, while the Mount Fuji 3776 Special Route takes the longest to complete. In addition, the summit bowl tour route requires sufficient physical strength and perfect weather to experience it, so not all climbers who climb Mount Fuji can experience it.
More Mount Fuji climbing routes: Peak bowl tour route / Mount Fuji 3776 Special Course / A collection of Mount Fuji mountain climbing routes
More transportation information on Mount Fuji: Fujikyu bus routes / JR Fuji Cruise
Tips for climbing Mount Fuji:
The Yoshida Line is a mountaineering route with relatively low difficulty and complete facilities.
Why is the Yoshida Line the best climbing route for beginners? Mainly because there are so many mountain huts on the Yoshida Line, there is one almost every 100 meters above sea level, so it is easier to arrange rest time. In addition, the Yoshida Line also has the densest transportation routes. It has a variety of transportation routes connecting Lake Kawaguchi and Tokyo. It is most suitable for arranging scenic spots in Lake Kawaguchi and Tokyo as a follow-up trip to climb Mount Fuji.
Because of this, when you climb to the top of Mount Fuji on the Yoshida Line, you will easily encounter some student groups preparing to climb to the top. At the same time, it also proves that climbing Mount Fuji is not as difficult as imagined. On the contrary, it can be achieved as long as you have enough perseverance and sufficient preparation in advance.
To put it simply, as long as you prepare with appropriate physical training before departure, and always maintain awe of Mount Fuji, and do not force yourself to challenge Mount Fuji, you can successfully climb to the top of the mountain and return to the starting point safely.
More Tokyo attraction ticket deals: Shibuya Sky / tokyo skytree / Tokyo Disneyland
Mount Fuji mountain climbing preparation/itinerary/consumption/sunrise time
What’s the hardest thing about climbing Mount Fuji from overseas? No matter whether you succeed or not, no matter what kind of weather you have to face, you only have one chance to climb Fuji. You can never try to climb again next week like usual mountain climbing activities. Your next chance to climb Mount Fuji may be a few years later, or even more than ten years later.
Because of this, you need to be well prepared before setting off, so that you can increase your chances of successfully reaching the top of Mount Fuji and enjoying the sunrise.
The Physical Demands of Climbing Mount Fuji
The physical strength requirement is moderate, the need is not explosive power, but endurance is more important
What kind of physical training is needed to climb Mount Fuji? If you are preparing to climb Mount Fuji from the Yoshida Line, you only need to maintain moderate exercise every day for 3 months before departure and practice climbing stairs to train your thigh muscles. You can basically cope with the entire climbing trip. Since the Yoshida Line has many mountain huts where you can rest, the physical requirements are not very high. And when you arrive at the mountain hut, you will have 4 to 6 hours of rest time to replenish your energy before heading to the top of Mount Fuji.
However, since Mount Fuji has relatively low oxygen levels, you will find that you need to tire faster than usual during your climb. Keeping your breathing smooth and slowing down your pace can help reduce the chance of altitude sickness.
Mountaineering itinerary arrangement and selection of mountaineering days
Climbing Mount Fuji usually takes 2 days and 1 night. If you want to be more relaxed, you can arrange a 3 days and 2 nights trip.
As for the actual itinerary, it will be decided according to the physical strength of yourself and your teammates.
If you are a first-time climber to climb Mount Fuji, you can consider arranging a 2-day and 1-night climbing trip. During the approximately 24-hour climbing trip, you will start from the entrance of the hiking route, then arrive at the mountain hut to rest for 6 hours. After the rest, you will climb to the top of the mountain to wait for the sunrise, and then return to the starting point of the hiking route.
If you want to be more relaxed, you can also arrange a 3-day-2-night itinerary and let yourself rest one night at a B&B along the hiking route. After you have adapted to the high altitude environment of Mount Fuji, slowly climb to the mountain hut of Mount Fuji, and then wait for the sunrise. Compared with a 2-day and 1-night trip, this kind of climbing progress is relatively slow and requires additional accommodation expenses. However, with sufficient rest time, the chances of altitude sickness and injuries are greatly reduced.
As for the fast mountain climbing method called "dangan mountaineering", you choose to start from the starting point of the climbing route at 21:00 in the evening, and then climb to the top of Mount Fuji in one go. We do not recommend this fast climbing method at all.
The reason is simple. Although this method of climbing seems to save time and the cost of staying in a mountain hut, if you lack adequate rest and climb quickly in a dark environment, you will easily develop altitude sickness and increase the risk of hypothermia. risks of. By then, the medical expenses and rescue expenses caused by the accident will definitely far exceed the cost of staying in a mountain hut. Therefore, projectile mountaineering is definitely a way of mountaineering that is not worth the gain.
More itinerary planning for climbing Mount Fuji: How to calculate departure time, climbing time, and descending time
Budget required for climbing Mt. Fuji
Assuming that you have prepared all the climbing equipment before setting off, and purchased enough food and drinking water in advance, you will also need to prepare an extra amount of money to cover the expenses during the climb to Mount Fuji.
Additional preparation required during mountain climbing ¥3000 yen – ¥5000 yen
The above extra expenses allow you to use paid restrooms during the climb, buy extra food, buy souvenirs of your climb to Mount Fuji, etc. A budget of ¥3,000 yen – ¥5,000 yen is basically enough for you to buy a few extra cup noodles, a commemorative climbing coin, and a few commemorative engravings.
If you are not very interested in these things, this ¥3000 yen – ¥5000 yen can be your spare cash. When you need to change your itinerary and need to book additional mountain huts, you will need to prepare more budget.
Climbing Mount Fuji requires cash and coins
Prepare 10 – 20 ¥100 yen coins, which are as important as your hiking equipment
So far, electronic payment systems are not the main method of transaction between mountain huts on Mount Fuji, and the most mainstream credit cards are not applicable to every store on Mount Fuji, so cash has become the most important method of transaction.
One thing worth noting: most restrooms on the Mount Fuji hiking route require payment, and they only accept cash and no refunds are provided. If you do not prepare a sufficient number of ¥100 yen coins in advance, you may not be able to find a store willing to exchange coins with you. Unless you are willing to spend money to buy their products, if you simply ask them for help in exchanging coins, your chances of being rejected are very high.
More travel information around Mount Fuji: Climbing Mt.Fuji / Lake Kawaguchi / Tokyo
Latest Mount Fuji travel discounts: Tokyo attractions deals / Tokyo Accommodation Deals / Lake Kawaguchi Accommodation Deals
Weather forecast for climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is an independent high mountain and also has an environment where the weather changes very quickly. So until the moment you finish your mountaineering trip, you have to keep checking the latest weather forecast and make important decisions about your next trip.
How quickly can the weather change on Mount Fuji? In just a few hours, the Grade A weather forecast for sunny days can be quickly changed to a Grade C weather forecast for continuous heavy rain.
When you see the Grade A weather forecast at the starting point of the hiking route, you will definitely be looking forward to the sunrise tomorrow morning. Who knew that thunderstorms and heavy rain would occur in Fuji in the middle of the night, and the weather forecast that was originally Grade A was changed to Grade C. Or maybe when you set out, it was the Grade C weather forecast, and you unexpectedly managed to catch the most perfect sunrise.
This is how Mount Fuji’s weather changes, and it’s what makes Mount Fuji’s dignitaries in awe.
More weather information for Mount Fuji: Mount Fuji weather forecast, weather ratings
More Japanese mobile phone SIM cards and Wi-Fi: Latest deals on Japanese WiFi sharers & Internet SIM cards
How to connect to the Internet in Mount Fuji
If you want to use your mobile phone to share the experience of climbing Mount Fuji with friends during mountain climbing, or even live broadcast the sunrise from the top of Fuji, you can use the Wi-Fi equipment in the mountain hut, the Wi-Fi hotspot on the top of the mountain, or bring your own A Wi-Fi sharer that provides a stable connection.
So far, you can get a Wi-Fi card for free wireless Internet access at the entrance to each hiking trail, so that you can use the official Wi-Fi service at the entrance to the trail and the top of the mountain. In addition, you can also use the Wi-Fi service in the mountain hut to share your hiking itinerary anytime and anywhere, and check the latest weather forecast.
On the other hand, you can also reserve some Japanese Wi-Fi sharers and Japanese mobile phone SIM cards, but you must pay attention to the coverage of different telecommunications companies in the Mount Fuji area. Since Mount Fuji is a suburban and remote area, you will find that the signals received in the Mount Fuji area are very weak compared to the high-speed network services in Tokyo.
The main reason is that only large telecommunications companies like NTT Docomo have the ability to cover telecommunications services to the Mount Fuji area. Therefore, when choosing different types of mobile phone SIM cards and Wi-Fi sharers, you can give priority to using NTT Docomo services.
Simply put, if you want to keep in touch with friends while climbing Mount Fuji, you might consider ordering some Wi-Fi sharers that use high-end Japanese local telecommunications plans. Compared with some third-party mobile phone SIM cards or some cheaper network solutions, this ensures that you get better coverage and stronger reception signals.
The price will be relatively high, but being able to share the moment of sunrise with friends will be a very important travel memory.
More NTT Docomo coverage information: NTT Docomo telecommunications coverage map
More Wi-Fi sharer information: Japan DOCOMO 4G LTE Pocket WiFi (Japan Airport Pickup)
How to upload videos while climbing Mount Fuji without losing the connection?
[New] NTT Docomo Unlimited Mobile Data Sharer Service Plan
Faster and cheaper!
How to get to Lake Kawaguchi & Mount Fuji from Tokyo
If you have decided to use the Yoshida route to climb Mount Fuji, you can choose to head to Mount Fuji from Tokyo and take the opportunity to visit Lake Kawaguchi along the way.
The most common way to travel to Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji is to take a Fujikyu bus from Shinjuku Station directly to the entrance of the Yoshida Line hiking trail. Or take the Fujikyu Bus/JR Fuji Express train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station, and then transfer to the bus to the entrance of the Yoshida Line hiking trail. Which mode of transportation you choose depends on whether you plan to arrange a day trip to Lake Kawaguchi and stay at a hot spring hotel next to Lake Kawaguchi.
If you have not decided on the entire Mount Fuji climbing itinerary, you may also consider taking a Fujikyu bus from Shinjuku, Tokyo directly to the entrance of the Yoshida route. When you finish climbing Mount Fuji, take the bus back to Kawaguchiko Station and check into one of the hot spring hotels located next to Lake Kawaguchi. At noon the next day, we took the Fujikyu Bus/JR Fuji Express train from Kawaguchiko Station back to Shinjuku Station.
More Lake Kawaguchi transportation information: JR Fuji Express train timetable / Fujikyu bus route map
On the other hand, you can also buy a JR Pass Tokyo wide area pass, or a Mount Fuji-Hakone area 3-day pass, so that you can go to more different attractions after completing the mountain climbing trip, and you can also significantly save transportation. fee.
More Lake Kawaguchi transportation deals: JR Fuji Express train / JR Tokyo Wide Area Pass / Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass
Fuji hut accommodation, mountain hut list, and reservation process for Gokuraikokan
Among all preparations for climbing Mount Fuji, which one is the most important? That is to successfully reserve a mountain hut.
Starting in 2024, in order to solve the problems caused by "projectile mountain climbing", the local government will further tighten the rules for climbing Mount Fuji. In the future, if you want to climb Mount Fuji, a reservation notice for mountain hut accommodation may become a necessary condition for entering Mount Fuji.
How important is a mountain hut on Mount Fuji? First of all, a mountain hut can provide you with a shelter from the wind and rain, and can reduce your chance of being struck by lightning during thunderstorms. In addition, although mountain huts are not as luxurious as hotels in Tokyo, they still provide the most basic food, drinking water, and heating facilities, which can reduce the chance of altitude sickness and hypothermia.
Another advantage of staying at a mountain hut is that you can also arrive at the mountain hut before sunset and choose to watch the sunrise in front of the mountain hut before slowly climbing to the top of Mount Fuji. This way you can completely avoid climbing in the dark and reduce your chances of falling and getting injured while climbing.
Simply put, mountain huts are built for the safety of climbers, and a lot of time and resources are invested in transporting food and fuel from the ground to the top of the mountain for every climber to use.
Since mountain huts are very important to the itinerary of climbing Mount Fuji, it is of course necessary to research in advance which mountain huts there are on Mount Fuji and when each mountain hut will start accepting reservations.
To put it simply, April/May every year is the time when Mount Fuji huts open for reservations. At that time, you have to log on to the website of each mountain hut to check the latest room balance. In general, the closer a mountain hut is to the top of Fuji, the sooner all vacancies will be reserved. Especially the Goraikokan, which is located at the highest point of the Yoshida Line, because you can enjoy the sunrise and sea of clouds outside the mountain hut. So basically on the first day when reservations are open, all the places will be reserved first.
Of course, the mountain hut at which altitude you want to reserve is completely determined by your own physical ability. If you don’t have enough energy to climb to an altitude of 3,450 meters, even if you successfully book a vacant room in the Yulaikou Hall, you will still not be able to check in. You will also have to spend an extra amount of money temporarily to book a mountain hut at an altitude of 3,200 meters. In the end, the gain outweighs the loss.
More information on Mount Fuji Hut: Yulaiguangkan reservation method / Mount Fuji hut list
More hotel accommodation deals: tokyo hotel / Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel
Seize opportunities to save on travel expenses
[The most complete] Latest deals on Tokyo attractions/tickets
From tickets to travel experiences, we have it all!
Climbing Mount Fuji requires suitable climbing equipment and clothing.
Although the local government does not explicitly prohibit climbing Mount Fuji with light equipment, in order to protect your own safety and reduce the trouble caused to others due to injuries, preparing a complete set of mountaineering equipment is a good sign of a responsible climber.
Climbing Mount Fuji is just like other mountaineering activities. Preparing a complete set of climbing equipment can reduce your chances of injury and hypothermia.
A set of equipment suitable for climbing Mount Fuji has three main goals:
- Easy to walk/avoid spraining legs
- Can be windproof/waterproof/warm
- Prevent sunburn / Prevent hypothermia / Prevent heat syndrome (heat stroke)
Simply put, a complete set of mountaineering equipment includes mountaineering shoes, mountaineering backpacks, breathable clothes, warm clothes, hiking poles, lighting supplies, storage supplies, etc. Every piece of equipment you bring to climb Mount Fuji must be there to solve a specific problem. Therefore, you can refer to the mountaineering equipment list we have prepared for you, and then modify this mountaineering equipment list into a mountaineering equipment list that suits you according to your physical strength and the number of people traveling with you.
More information on Mount Fuji climbing equipment: Mount Fuji climbing equipment list
Lighten your luggage with a mountaineering equipment rental service
If you have the habit of frequent mountaineering, you can easily prepare the most complete set of mountaineering equipment. However, many people have never had the habit of mountain climbing. It would be a bit wasteful to spend money on a large amount of equipment just for one mountain climbing trip.
In any case, if you don’t have a complete set of mountaineering equipment, or you don’t plan to fill your suitcase with mountaineering equipment, you can consider using a mountaineering equipment rental service to cope with your Mount Fuji mountaineering trip. Although the price is not very cheap, compared to buying a complete set of mountaineering equipment, the cost is actually not very high, and it can also save space in your suitcase, allowing you to buy a few more souvenirs to take home.
It is worth noting that some of these companies that provide mountaineering equipment rental services will open branches at the entrance of the mountain trail, allowing you to pick up the equipment on the day you set out to climb Mount Fuji. However, the quantity of mountaineering equipment is usually very limited, so it is recommended to reserve the mountaineering equipment you need in advance.
More mountaineering equipment rental information: Mount Fuji mountaineering equipment rental service
Let a professional guide take you up Mount Fuji – Local Tour of Mount Fuji
There are many different ways to climb Mount Fuji. You can choose to climb Mount Fuji alone, climb Mount Fuji with a few friends, or let a local professional guide take you to climb Mount Fuji. Each of the above mountaineering methods will bring you a completely different mountaineering experience.
The process of climbing Mount Fuji is not very difficult, but you need to spend a lot of time researching various information related to climbing routes, transportation information, etc. before setting off. If you don’t want to spend time researching, you can consider booking some Mount Fuji Local Tours and let professional tour guides arrange your itinerary to climb Mount Fuji.
Choosing some local tours on Mount Fuji can help you solve most of your problems.
Rather than spending time researching every piece of information about climbing Mount Fuji yourself, you will find that the professional tour guides responsible for taking you to climb Mount Fuji have a very deep understanding of Mount Fuji. Even the number of times they climb Mount Fuji each year exceeds the number of times ordinary people climb Mount Fuji in a lifetime, and they can also tell you the chance of successfully seeing the sunrise.
On the other hand, they can all arrange mountain huts for you to climb Mount Fuji and transportation connecting Tokyo to Mount Fuji at the same time. Basically, you only need to arrive at the meeting point on time on the day, and the mountaineering guide will prepare every detail of the entire mountaineering process for you. Even if it is rest time and itinerary that changes due to weather, they will have enough experience.
To put it simply, if you don’t have much mountaineering experience, you can book a Local Tour to climb Mount Fuji and let a professional tour guide accompany you to climb Mount Fuji. What’s more important: Even if you are just one person, you can still participate in these Local Tours to climb Mount Fuji
More Local Tours to climb Mount Fuji: Recommended local tour for climbing Mount Fuji
A must-buy transportation package for climbing Mount Fuji: Shinjuku – Mount Fuji JR Ticket / Tokyo Airport Skyliner Ticket / JR Pass Tokyo Wide Area Pass
How to deal with altitude sickness when climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is a large mountain with an altitude of 3,776 meters. The main climbing routes are all above 3,000 meters. For people who generally live at sea level, climbing Mount Fuji within a short period of time may increase the chance of suffering from altitude sickness.
Severe altitude sickness can be fatal. The best way to solve altitude sickness is to get down the mountain as soon as possible.
Altitude sickness can be divided into mild symptoms and severe symptoms. Mild symptoms can be relieved by adjusting your breathing and using an oxygen tank. As for severe mountain sickness, you must seek help from mountain huts and rescue stations on various climbing routes as soon as possible.
More information about altitude sickness on Mount Fuji: 8 Ways to Prevent Altitude Sickness While Climbing Mount Fuji
What you need to climb Mount Fujienergy supplementation, food preparation
Climbing Mount Fuji is just like other outdoor sports. It requires sufficient energy and hydration to complete the entire long climbing trip. Therefore, when purchasing food and drinks, be sure to choose foods that are light and provide high energy. In addition, you should also avoid choosing foods that will make you uncomfortable, such as milk and foods that are not easy to digest.
On the other hand, since there are no garbage disposal facilities in the entire Mount Fuji, you must choose foods with simple packaging when choosing food. Certain foods that will create extra garbage must be avoided. Another point is that you can consider buying food from the mountain hut, so that you can reduce the weight of your backpack and at the same time get hot food during the climb.
More information on food for climbing Mount Fuji: Food Preparation Checklist for Climbing Mount Fuji
Rules, etiquette, and necessary fees you need to pay attention to when climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is one of the world cultural heritages and deserves to be protected by every climber. Therefore, when climbing Mount Fuji, do not take any stones, animals, or plants from Mount Fuji home. On the other hand, don’t light fires, use tents on Mount Fuji, and take away all trash you create while climbing.
To put it simply, we try our best to maintain the original appearance of Mount Fuji, so that those who climb Mount Fuji in the future can experience the natural environment of Mount Fuji.
In addition, when you start climbing Mount Fuji at the trailhead, there will usually be staff charging you a climbing fee. Although this fee is not a mandatory "mountain climbing entrance fee", it is established for the continued operation of Mount Fuji. For example, the expenses of the rescue station, restroom equipment, mountaineering trail maintenance costs, etc. all rely on this money to operate.
More information on climbing Mount Fuji: Things to note when climbing Mount Fuji / Mount Fuji admission limit
Budget for Climbing Mount Fuji
How much does it cost to climb Mount Fuji? If you simply calculate it based on the process of climbing Mount Fuji, then transportation expenses, accommodation expenses, food expenses, and unexpected accident reserves are the consumption budget that you must prepare.
On the other hand, if you plan to rent mountaineering equipment and book a mountaineering Local Tour with a professional guide, you will need to prepare an extra budget to complete this trip to climb Mount Fuji.
In addition, if you also want to buy trekking poles, Mount Fuji climbing souvenirs, visit the shrine on the top of the mountain, and buy food on the way to climb Mount Fuji, you will need to prepare a higher consumption budget to complete it. In other words, different people have different consumption habits. Some people only need to spend ¥40,000 yen to successfully climb Mount Fuji, while others need to spend ¥100,000 yen to complete the entire climbing trip.
You can refer to the consumption list we have prepared for you, and then calculate a consumption budget that suits you.
More information on the cost of climbing Mount Fuji: Fuji mountain climbing cost budget list
Seize opportunities to save on travel expenses
[The most complete] Latest deals on Tokyo attractions/tickets
From tickets to travel experiences, we have it all!
Hot spring hotels around Mount Fuji
After climbing Mount Fuji for 24 hours and all night, you must find a comfortable hot spring hotel after descending the mountain to enjoy the hot springs and appreciate Mount Fuji from another angle.
The most famous hot spring area in the Mount Fuji area is the hot spring hotel located next to Lake Kawaguchi. The characteristic of these hot spring hotels is that you can see Mount Fuji from the rooms, restaurants, and hot spring facilities. When you were waiting for the sunrise on the top of Mount Fuji yesterday, now you can enjoy a private bath while admiring the changes of Mount Fuji at different times.
More hot spring hotels around Mount Fuji: Lake Kawaguchi hot spring hotel list / Meifujien / Wind Terrace KUKUNA / Xiufeng Pavilion Lake Moon
Recommended attractions after completing your mountaineering trip
If it is your first time to plan a trip to climb Mount Fuji, and you have never visited Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone, two areas famous for their hot spring hotels, you can arrange an extra three days to visit these two areas. Rather than returning to Tokyo after completing the climb to Mount Fuji, you will miss out on the experience of experiencing a hot spring hotel and sightseeing in the suburbs of Tokyo.
Lake Kawaguchi
Lake Kawaguchi is the busiest tourist area in the entire Mount Fuji area and is also the transportation hub connecting Mount Fuji to Tokyo. As long as you arrange a 2-day and 1-night trip to Lake Kawaguchi, you can experience Lake Kawaguchi’s cable cars and cruise ships, stay in hot spring hotels where Mount Fuji can be seen from the room, and enjoy the reflection of Mount Fuji on Lake Kawaguchi in the morning.
On the other hand, every June and July is the time when Lake Kawaguchi holds the Lavender Festival, and you will see a different Mount Fuji.
More Lake Kawaguchi tourism information: Kawaguchiko area / Lake Kawaguchi itinerary / Lake Kawaguchi Transportation / Shinjuku – Mount Fuji JR Ticket
Hakone
Hakone is one of the most popular hot spring areas in the Kanto region. Almost most accommodations in the Hakone area are of the hot spring hotel type.
Compared with Kawaguchiko, you can find some hot spring hotels with private baths more easily in Hakone, and the room prices are generally cheaper. You can arrange a 2-day and 1-night itinerary to visit different attractions in Hakone, and then take the train back to Tokyo to continue your shopping/sightseeing trip.
More Hakone travel information: Hakone / Hakone itinerary / Hakone hot spring hotel list
More Hakone Transportation Package Deals: Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass / Hakone Freepass
The most popular hot spring hotels in Hakone: Ten Yu Inn Hakone Kowakien / Hakone Lake Ashino Hanori / Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora
Transportation discount package in the Mount Fuji area
The most important means of transportation from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji are to take JR trains and Fujikyu buses. If you plan to visit Lake Kawaguchi, Hakone, or other suburbs of Tokyo after completing your Mount Fuji climbing trip, you can use different types of discount packages to save more transportation costs.
JR Tokyo Wide Area Pass
The JR Pass Tokyo Wide Area Pass is a ticket issued by JR East that allows you to ride designated Shinkansen for 3 consecutive days. If you plan to stay at a hot spring hotel in Lake Kawaguchi after going down the mountain, and then go to Nikko, Karuizawa, Yuzawa, Utsunomiya and other areas, the JR Pass Tokyo Wide Area Pass is best for you to use in the morning of the day you leave Lake Kawaguchi. This way you can visit 3 different tourist attractions in 3 days
More JR Pass Tokyo Wide Area Pass information: JR Pass Tokyo Wide Area Pass Latest Discounts
Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass
The Mount Fuji-Hakone Area 3-Day Pass is a discount package that covers most transportation options in the Lake Kawaguchi area and Hakone area. The Mount Fuji-Hakone area 3-day pass allows you to use sightseeing transportation in the Lake Kawaguchi area, transportation in the Hakone area, transportation connecting Hakone-Lake Kawaguchi, and includes Hakone-Shinjuku tickets.
In addition, you can enjoy discounts on admission fees when visiting designated attractions with this Mount Fuji-Hakone Area 3-Day Pass. If you plan to visit Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone at the same time, this Mount Fuji-Hakone Area 3-Day Pass is a must-buy discount package.
More information on Mount Fuji-Hakone Area 3-Day Pass: Mount Fuji – Latest discounts on Hakone Area 3-Day Pass
Hakone Freepass
The Hakone Free Pass is a discount package specially designed for Hakone sightseeing itineraries. This Hakone Free Pass allows you to take most of the transportation in Hakone at will. It is very suitable for those who are visiting Hakone for the first time and want to visit the hot spring valley and take a sightseeing boat.
More information about the Hakone Free Pass: Hakone Free Pass Latest Discounts
Mt. Fuji Transportation Pass
The Mount Fuji Transportation Pass is a discounted ticket that combines multiple sightseeing spots and Mount Fuji transportation. You can use this Mount Fuji Transportation Pass to visit Fuji-Q Highland, Grinpa Forest Park, Mount Fuji Scenic Ropeway, Lake Kawaguchi Cruise, Yamanakako Cruise, and take buses in the Mount Fuji area.
Compared to buying tickets for different attractions separately, using the Mount Fuji Transportation Pass allows you to enjoy additional discounts and save on bus transportation fees.
More information on the Mount Fuji Pass: Mt. Fuji Transportation Pass
Summarize
Climbing Mount Fuji is a very interesting thing, especially when you climb it for the first time, you will want to climb it a second time; when you climb it for the second time, you will start planning to climb to the top of Mount Fuji every year to enjoy the sunrise. , until you can no longer climb mountains.
It is not very difficult to successfully climb Mount Fuji. As long as you have enough preparation and perseverance, you can basically successfully climb to the top of Mount Fuji. As for your chances of successfully seeing the sunrise, it all depends on the weather changes on the day and your luck.
In addition to this article about climbing Mount Fuji, we have also prepared more travel information on different topics for you. If you will visit Tokyo's attractions and Tokyo suburbs this time, you can check out different articles. I hope we can plan a unique itinerary experience for you.
Before you officially start your journey to climb Mount Fuji, we wish you success in reaching the top of Mount Fuji.
More tourist information on the Mt. Fuji area
Preparation before climbing Mount Fuji
Fuji Mountain Climbing 2024》First summit strategy/climbing route/climbing time & necessary information
Mt Fuji Packing List: What to Wear & What to Bring When Climbing Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji Hut Reservation: Complete Guide to Book Goraikoukan (Highest Mountain lodge of Mt. Fuji)
Fuji Mountain Climbing Route List》Opening Hours/Route Map Overview
Fuji Mountain Hut Reservation Information Checklist & 7 Essential Things During Your Stay
⋯⋯and MORE
Recommended itinerary after climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, and Hakone travel information
Tokyo Travel Information
Mount Fuji, the latest travel deals in Tokyo
Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel Deals
Hakone Onsen Hotel Deals
Tokyo Hotel Deals
Tokyo attractions ticket discounts
More Japan Travel Information:
Tokyo|Kyoto|Hokkaido|Climbing Mt.Fuji|Hakone|Lake Kawaguchi
Tips for Traveling in Japan | Japan Hotel Deals | Klook Latest Promo Code