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Mt Fuji FAQ
This page covers a range of frequently asked questions, split up into four categories, Mt. Fuji Tour, Climbing Mt. Fuji, Mountain Huts and Climbing Mt. Fuji off season. Many of your questions regarding our tour, the climb or your mountain hut logistics will be answered here. Take some time to navigate through this page and if you've still got questions, feel free to contact us.
Mt. Fuji Tour
The frequently asked questions immediately below, are in relation to our Mt. Fuji tours. If you are looking for information regarding mountain huts on Mt. Fuji, climbing Mt. Fuji or off season climbing, continue to scroll down.
Where does the tour leave from and how do I get there?The tour departure location and time is listed in the itinerary page for each respective tour. Here are links to the 2 day Mt. Fuji tour itinerary and 2 day off season Mt. Fuji tour itinerary.
All Fuji tours depart in front of Tochomae Station (pronounced "Toe-cho-ma-é) on the Toei Oedo line. How do you get here? Click here for directions on Google Maps. We'll meet right in front of the only ticket machines inside this station. What happens if I show up to the meeting time late?Our tours run on "Japan time". This means that we leave promptly at the published departure time. If you are late, the tour will leave without you and your reservation will be forfeited without refund. Please make your greatest effort to show up on time.
Will I be able to store baggage anywhere before climbing Fuji?There will not be any place to store your extra baggage on our tour. Any extra luggage you have needs to be dealt with BEFORE joining our tour in either Tokyo or Gotenba. Options for luggage storage include, coin lockers at Shinjuku or Gotenba, hotel baggage storage services or sending by 'takkyubin' (postal service) to your next destination.
How long does it take to get up and down Mt. Fuji?On our 2 day tours the climb to the summit is spread out over two days. On the day 1 we will hike about 6 km to our lodging for the night (3,400 meters) in about 6-7 hrs. From here to the summit on day 2, it is about a 1 1/2 hr. climb and the descent to the 5th station tends to be 3-4 hours. These are just approximations, as the time it takes to hike up and down Mt. Fuji varies from group to group.
Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag?
Bedding is provided by our mountain hut. Sleeping bags are lined up on top of futon mats, with an extra blanket available for when you get cold. Pillows are also provided, but most westerners find them hard and uncomfortable. Fill your stuff sack with some extra clothes and you've got yourself a makeshift pillow.
When is a good time to climb Mt. Fuji?If you're looking to avoid the crowd's try climbing during the first three weeks of July or some time in September/October. Join our off season 2 day tour and you will find the trails as well as mountain hut to be almost completely deserted.
During Japanese school's summer vacation, approximately July 20 thru the end of August, Mt. Fuji takes on an extra amount of pedestrian traffic. Especially avoid weekend's and the the 'Obon' period, August 13-16 2015, as most Japanese companies will give their workers vacation during this time. How much money should I bring? Are credit cards accepted?
FMG tours include all transportation and lodging costs plus two hot meals. You will only be required to provide for yourself 2 lunches, as well as snacks for the climb. If you wish to buy this on the mountain, the average cost for lunch is around ¥1000. We recommend you buy snacks before hand as prices are extremely inflated once on Mt. Fuji.
If you are only planning to spend money on lunch then ¥3000 will be sufficient. If you wish to also buy souvenirs it would be wise to bring at least ¥5000. You must bring cash, as mountain huts on Fuji do not accept credit card. Do you offer pick up and drop off in the Mt. Fuji area?On our in season and off season two day tours, we offer the option of starting and ending our Mt. Fuji tours in Gotenba. Depending on your tour, the pick up and drop off time will vary. Please see the two day tour itinerary or off season tour itinerary for more details on the pick up/drop off location as well as time.
Gotenba pick up and drop off is especially popular for those wanting to spend time in Hakone before or after our tour, as well as a convenient drop off for those traveling on to Kyoto. Do you provide guiding services during the off season? Photograph by Seán Ó Crabháin
Yes we provide guiding during the month of September and October, all weather permitting. See our Off season 2 day Mt. Fuji tour for more information.
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How do we book a two day Mt. Fuji tour?
Reservations for our two day tours can be made through our online booking engine and secure payment processor.
Book the Two Day Tour Book the Off Season Two Day Tour What level of fitness should I be in
Visit our physical fitness guide page and come ready to tackle Mt. Fuji. We have provided a detailed program to help people prepare for their Mt. Fuji ascent.
What sort of equipment will I need?Good question. Check out our equipment lists for a complete guide on what to bring on your climb up Mt. Fuji.
Do you offer rental equipment?We sure do. A full list of our rental equipment may be found here
What is the tour cancellation policy?In the event of a tour being cancelled, a full refund is provided. Tour cancellations are determined before departure from Tokyo for Mt. Fuji. Once a tour has departed Tokyo there will be no refunds, regardless of whether the summit is reached on any particular tour. Read up on our full terms of agreement for our Two Day Mt. Fuji Tour and Off Season two day Mt. Fuji Tour.
What is the maximum and minimum group size we might be with?
On our in season and off season two day tours, between late June and mid October, the guide to participant ratio is 1 to 9, with a maximum potential of 3 guides and 27 participants per tour.
Each and everyone of our tours is operated at a minimum of one participant. Where can I find a weather forecast?
Take a look at snow-forecast.com to view a 5 day weather forecast on Mt. Fuji. A forecast for 2252, 3,014 and 3,776 meters is available.
However, be aware that conditions on Mt. Fuji may change suddenly. Therefore at FMG we make it a priority to make sure our clients are prepared for cold weather, wind and rain. Check out our equipment lists for more info regarding proper wear on Mt. Fuji Are there trash cans available?
Trash cans are not available on Mt. Fuji. Climbers are asked to use leave no trace methods of “pack it in, pack it out”, in an effort to maintain the natural beauty of Mt. Fuji. This is why we require everyone on our tour to bring a ziplock bag or something similar, for storing trash and packing it out. Read more about FMG philosophy.
Will there be restrooms?
At each mountain hut there are public restrooms. Toilets on Mt. Fuji cost ¥200 per use. It would be wise to keep a pouch or ziplock full of coins handy for whenever you need to use the facilities. The exception is on our off season two day tours. During this period, all but one mountain hut will be closed and toilet facilities on the mountain other then our lodging, will not be available.
Would we be able to get a walking stick branded along the way?Each particular trail on Mt. Fuji sells the traditional walking sticks and at almost every hut, branding is operated. Typically the price for one branding is ¥200. Note that the summit mountain huts are open between mid July and the end of August, and the summit branding is only available during this time.
What is the fastest route to Kyoto from Mt. Fuji?The fastest route to Kyoto from Mt. Fuji, is via Gotenba train station. Gotenba train station is best accessed from the Subashiri, Fujinomiya and the Gotenba trails. From Gotenba, travel by train to Mishima station, from where the shinkansen departs for Kyoto. If descending the Yoshida trail to Subaru line 5th station, the best option is to travel to Shinjuku by highway bus and connect to the bullet train from Tokyo or Shinagawa station.
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Mt Fuji Mountain Hut
The below frequently asked questions are in reference to questions surrounding Mt. Fuji mountain huts
Does FMG assist in making mountain hut reservations?In cooperation with the Fujiyoshida City Hall FMG now accepts mountain hut booking requests for Fujisan Hotel and Taishikan mountain huts. Mountain hut reservations can be made for Fujisan Hotel, a mountain hut located at the 8th station (3,400m) on the Yoshida and Subashiri trails and Taishikan mountain hut, located on the Yoshida trail at 3,100 meters.
For more information on this, please visit our mountain hut reservations page. Please note, mountain hut reservations will start the beginning of April for each prospective season. Will FMG arrange mountain hut reservations at any mountain hut on Mt. Fuji?Currently we are only affiliated with Fujisan Hotel (Yoshida/Subashiri trail 3,400m) and Taishikan mountain hut (Yoshida trail 3,100m) and are unable to help with reserving any other mountain hut on Mt. Fuji. If looking to stay elsewhere on Mt. Fuji, here is a list of mountain huts compiled by the Fujiyoshida city hall, along with each hut's contact information.
Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag?Bedding is provided by the mountain huts. Sleeping bags are lined up on top of futon mats, with an extra blanket available for when you get cold. Pillows are also provided, but most westerners find them hard and uncomfortable. Fill your stuff sack with some extra clothes and you've got yourself a makeshift pillow.
Which trail is Fujisan Hotel located on?The Fujisan Hotel can be accessed by both the Yoshida and Subashiri trail's and is located at the 8th station, just under Tomoekan and one station below Goraiko-kan.
Where is Taishikan mountain hut located?Taishikan mountain hut is located on the Yoshida trail at 3,100 meters one below Haraikan and one above Toyokan mountain huts. Note that there are multiple 8th stations on the Yoshida trail as both Fujisan Hotel and Taishikan are considered 8th stations but are 300 meters apart from each other.
Are there certain rules/etiquette specific to Mt. Fuji mountain huts?Absolutely. Mountain huts on Fuji are a unique cultural experience but come with their own set of implied etiquette which foreigners can stomp all over unknowingly if they're not careful.
Take the time to review the information on Mountain Hut Etiquette before you head out on your climb up Mt. Fuji. |
Will I need a reservation to stay at a mountain hut?It is definitely recommended that you make a reservation at a mountain hut, if you intend to spend the night on Mt. Fuji. Price range is usually between ¥6,000-¥9,000 depending on whether your stay lies on a weekday or weekend, or if you choose to have dinner/breakfast included. Making a mountain hut reservation can sometimes be difficult, based on the language barrier, as well as a lack of information on mountain huts online. Recognizing the difficulty faced by foreigners in making mountain hut reservations, the Fujiyoshida City Hall has compiled a list of mountain huts along with trail information for the Yoshida trail, which you can find here.
I am trying to book a hut but the reservation page says that my preferred date is fully booked. Is this true and is there any way that we can make it work so we can stay in a hut?
The dates displayed on our website as available for a mountain hut reservation, are strictly for the Fujisan Hotel and Taishikan mountain huts. If there happens to be a blacked out date, this does not necessarily mean that all mountain huts on Mt. Fuji are also full on this particular date. If your preferred date of stay is shown as full, use this list of mountain huts on the Yoshida trail, to search for availability at a mountain hut. Currently we are only affiliated with Fujisan Hotel and Taishikan, and unfortunately are unable to help with reserving any other mountain hut on Mt. Fuji.
Is it possible to request a private room at Fujisan Hotel or Taishikan?
There are no private rooms available at either Fujisan Hotel or Taishikan. Sleeping quarters are determined by the mountain hut staff. The rooms and sleeping arrangement look something like this -- see picture on left.
Are vegetarian meal options available?
Fujisan Hotel does provide an optional vegetarian meal of vegetables stewed in a tomato sauce, served over white rice. At most mountain huts on Mt. Fuji however, there is no option for a vegetarian meal.
What time is breakfast served?In typical fashion of the mountain huts on Mt. Fuji, breakfast comes in the form of a lunch box and is handed out following dinner. Inside tends to be rice and or sandwich and sometimes comes with a bottle of water. If intending to watch the sunrise from the summit, it is most common for this packed breakfast to be eaten at the summit or someway along the trail to the summit.
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Climbing Mt. Fuji
The below frequently asked questions are in reference to general Mt. Fuji climbing related questions
When is a good time to climb Mt. Fuji?Mt. Fuji is best climbed between late June and the middle of October, if you are looking to avoid any snow on the trails. If you want to avoid the crowd's try climbing during the first three weeks of July or some time in September/October. Join our off season 2 day tour and you will find the trails as well as mountain hut to be almost completely deserted.
During Japanese school's summer vacation, approximately July 20 thru the end of August, Mt. Fuji takes on an extra amount of pedestrian traffic. Especially avoid weekend's and the the 'Obon' period, August 13-16 2015, as most Japanese companies will give their workers vacation during this time. How difficult is the climb?
Do not believe the blogs that say Mt. Fuji is an easy climb. Make no mistake; at 3776m/12,388ft the climb up Mt. Fuji is characterized by serious elevation gain, rapidly changing extreme weather, steep inclines, and long switchbacks.
This is not a climb that you want to attempt without proper conditioning and physical preparation. While it is true that some people climb Mt. Fuji in sneakers, jeans, and a sweatshirt, they are taking serious personal risks that should never be replicated. Despite weather forecasts, the weather on Mt. Fuji can never be predicted 50% of the time. This means that unexpected thunderstorms, rain downpours, snow storms, hails storms, etc. are common and should be properly prepared for with proper equipment. While it is true that many young children and old adults are able to climb Mt. Fuji, you need to remember that those old people on the mountain have been doing this their whole life and those young kids are generally the exception and not the rule. But do not be frightened; with proper gear and proper physical conditioning, Mt. Fuji is an exciting and challenging climb worthy of its place in the book, "100 Things to do Before You Die". What sort of equipment is needed to climb Mt. Fuji?For a great reference on what you should bring on your upcoming climb, check out our two day tour equipment list.
Is going up or coming down Mt. Fuji more difficult?This probably sounds like a silly question; maybe you might think this is a no brainer, that the ascent is obviously more difficult then the descent. Wrong! The correct answer is - ascending and descending Mt. Fuji are equally tiring. The climb up Fuji is steep from start to finish, on average being a 35-40 degree angled slope. It is very important to keep in mind that the summit is merely the half way point of your climb - you've got to get back down. Save enough energy for the descent which is surprisingly long and requires a significant amount of energy and leg strength.
What are the prospects for a clear or rain-free day?
Weather patterns are different every year, for each month and each day. There is no way to tell months in advance, when the most favorable weather for climbing will be. Typically June thru the middle of July tends to be the rainy season in Japan, but in some years August will receive more rain on Mt. Fuji then July. September is also traditionally known to be typhoon season in Japan. Again though, some years July, August or October have received more typhoons then September.
Take a look at our Mt. Fuji weather page to see a 5 day weather forecast on Mt. Fuji and be aware that conditions on Mt. Fuji may change suddenly. Be sure to come prepared for summer heat, winter cold, wind and rain. Check out our equipment lists for more info regarding proper wear on Mt. Fuji Does FMG rent equipment to participants not joining one of your tours?As a matter of fact, YES we do offer rental equipment to non-FMG participants as well. If you're planning to climb Mt. Fuji without joining a guided tour, but are still looking to find rental equipment, click here.
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What is the official climbing season for Mt. Fuji?The official climbing season is said to be from July 1st - August 31st but is subject to change depending on the weather conditions. Usually this means that the season starts a little after the first week of July. Most mountain huts are only open during this time, although on the Yoshida trail you will find that most huts are open through to the first week of September. FMG provides guiding services to the summit of Mt. Fuji, June thru October. If you wish to climb outside of the official climbing season, see our 2 day off season Mt. Fuji tour.
How many trails are there on Mt. Fuji?There are four different trails leading up to the summit of Mt. Fuji, each starting from its own separate 5th station. The Subashiri, Fujinomiya and Gotenba trails are on the Shizuoka side of Mt. Fuji with the Yoshida trail being on the Yamanashi side. Very often you will hear just the words, 'Mt. Fuji 5th station', without a specific trail defined. This can be confusing, seeing as there is more than one 5th station on Mt. Fuji. Please be aware that, 'Mt. Fuji 5th station', is primarily used in reference to the Kawaguchi-ko 5th station. The Kawaguchi-ko 5th station is the largest, most developed 5th station on Mt. Fuji and is connected to the Yoshida trail. Fuji Mountain Guides conducts its tours on the Subashiri trail, while some times descending using the Yoshida trail.
Will there be restrooms?At each mountain hut there are public restrooms. Toilets on Mt. Fuji cost ¥200 per use, sometimes ¥300. It would be wise to keep a pouch or ziplock full of coins handy for whenever you need to use the facilities.
Are there trash cans available?Trash cans are not available on Mt. Fuji. Climbers are asked to use leave no trace methods of “pack it in, pack it out”, in an effort to maintain the natural beauty of Mt. Fuji. This is why we require everyone on our tour to bring a ziplock bag or something similar, for storing trash and packing it out. Read more about FMG philosophy.
Where can I find a weather forecast?
Take a look at our Mt. Fuji weather page to see a 5 day weather forecast on Mt. Fuji. This forecast is for 3014 meters.
However, be aware that conditions on Mt. Fuji may change suddenly. Therefore at FMG we make it a priority to make sure our clients are prepared for cold weather, wind and rain. Check out our equipment lists for more info regarding proper wear on Mt. Fuji Where can we leave our luggage before ascending Mt. Fuji?This depends on your point of departure for the climb. At the most commonly used trail head, Subaru line 5th station (Kawaguchi-ko 5th station), there are lockers where luggage can be stored. The number of lockers there is very limited, so the other option is to leave luggage at a train station such as Kawaguchi-ko or Gotenba. Mailing luggage within Japan is also unbelievably cheap. A large suitcase can be delivered to your next destination for around ¥1,500-¥2,000 and can be done at any hotel as well as most convenience stores in Japan.
On a typical day, what is the temperature at the 5th station and the temperature at the summit? (in season July/August)This will depend highly on the time of day, whether it's sunny, cloudy or rainy, but typically you can expect summer conditions at the 5th station and winter conditions at the summit. Although on a beautiful blue sky, sunny, absolutely no winds day it might be possible to climb from the 5th station to the summit in shorts and a t-shirt, this is the exception and not the rule. It would be extremely foolish to climb without the proper warm weather and waterproof rain gear, in case of bad weather rolling in and especially so when planning the ascent at night.
Take a look at our Mt. Fuji weather page to see a 5 day weather forecast on Mt. Fuji and be aware that conditions on Mt. Fuji may change suddenly. Be sure to come prepared for summer heat, winter cold, wind and rain. Check out our equipment lists for more info regarding proper wear on Mt. Fuji |
Climbing Mt. Fuji Off Season
The below frequently asked questions are in reference to climbing Mt. Fuji in the off season
When is considered off season on Mt. Fuji?Off season climbing is in reference to the period of time during which almost all mountain huts on Mt. Fuji have stopped operating. This period usually extends from mid September through to late June.
What sort of conditions can I expect to see on Mt. Fuji during the off season?
Since the 'off season' on Mt. Fuji, takes up the majority of the year, conditions will vary from month to month. Typically winter conditions on Mt. Fuji begin usually late November and last through to late March/mid April, depending on the year. During these months Mt. Fuji is a serious climb, which should only be undertaken by experienced climbers. The wind conditions near the summit of Mt. Fuji in winter time, are known to be similar to the same wind conditions on peaks over 8000 meters. The surface turns to ice, like that of a frozen waterfall, hard enough that your ice axe and crampons can't dig in. Temperatures in late Feb will be around -20 to -30 degrees celsius with a wind chill of -50 degrees celsius.
From late April through late June, there will still be snow on the trails leading up to the summit of Mt. Fuji. The risk of avalanches still exist and crampons/ice axes are necessary for a safe climb. |
Is off season climbing on Mt. Fuji allowed?
Contrary to popular belief, climbing Mt. Fuji outside of the months of July and August is permitted. Upon reaching a Fuji trailhead in the off-season however, one will encounter signposts that say that the trail is closed. These signs are an indirect way of saying, "climb Mt. Fuji at your own risk". It is best to note that the risk of climbing Fuji in the off-season increases substantially as compared to climbing during the official season.
Between late October and the middle of June, off season climbing requires the knowledge and use of winter climbing skills and techniques. Especially between November and April, the winds and ice on Mt. Fuji can make for an extremely difficult climb and should not be attempted by novice climbers. Do I need a permit to climb Mt. Fuji during the off season?Permits are not required but it is requested by the prefecture police department, that a climbing form (attached below) is filled out and submitted in case of an emergency. This is especially true for those attempting a climb between November thru April.
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