The new regulations for climbing Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji (Fuji, Fujisan) is a mythical destination and very popular in summer by tourists from all over the world. Standing 3,776 meters high, it has fascinated generations of Japanese for centuries. Victim of its success, to regulate the flow of climbers, the Japanese administration has put in place since 2024 a paid access and slightly different access conditions on each of the 4 trails allowing access to the summit.

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4 main trails allow access to the summit of Mount Fuji :

- Yoshida: It is the busiest and longest trail with 8.8 km from the famous 5th station (Fifth Station) at an altitude of 2,300 meters, the highest access point by road for vehicles. It is considered to be one of the simplest trails and offers beautiful panoramas on the north side of the volcano. This trail has several refuges to rest during the ascent, at each station along the way.

- Fujinomiya : With a length of 5.6 km from Fujinomiyaguchi 5th station at 2,400 m, it is the second most used trail, and also the shortest. It is famous for being steep but offers nice views of the southwest flank of Mount Fuji. This trail also has several refuges.

- Gothemba : With 7.8 km from Gotemba Trail New 5th Station at 1,450 m, this trail is the least frequented but known to be the most difficult because of its steep slopes and steep differences in altitude. However, it presents beautiful landscapes on the southwest of the volcano.

- Subashiri : 8.3 km long from the Subashiri Trail 5th Station at 1,950 m, this steep trail is considered to be one of the most difficult, especially because of its numerous hairpin bends. But it offers breathtaking views of the summit craters.

These four trails all converge on the last kilometers before reaching the summit.

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Since 2024, access rules have been defined by the Japanese government in each of the prefectures to which the 4 trails belong, in order to better manage the growing number of hikers and preserve this emblematic natural site of the country. In particular, these rules include paid access rights.

There are several reasons for this decision:

- Overattendance. In recent years, Mount Fuji has seen a record number of hikers, attracted by its beauty but also by the ease of access. In the high summer season, up to 10,000 people per day used the main trails, causing traffic jams and problematic overuse, with an average attendance of around 200,000 people over the entire opening period.

- Environmental degradation. This massive attendance had a negative impact on the natural environment of the volcano. We have seen an increase in waste left on the trails, increased erosion of soils weakened by trampling, or even degradation of vegetation around the trails.

- A lack of support and maintenance resources. Faced with this influx of visitors, the reception infrastructures and the teams dedicated to maintaining the trails found themselves overwhelmed. Shelters were often overloaded and emergency services were called upon on a recurring basis from careless or lost hikers.

By establishing entry fees, even modest ones, the government hopes to regulate the number of hikers but also to generate additional financial resources. This income will make it possible to better maintain the trails, recruit dedicated staff, develop reception infrastructures and conduct awareness campaigns among hikers.

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In the summer of 2025, the main rules to be respected are: :

For the Yoshida trail, managed by Yamanashi Prefecture, it is chargeable during the high season, with a rate of 4000 yen (about 23 euros) per person, and access to it is prohibited from 14:00 to 03:00 at night unless you have booked a refuge on the ascent. Access will also be closed if the number of hikers exceeds 4000 people, so it is strongly recommended to book in advance on a dedicated platform available from Mount Fuji Climbing official website (Official website for Mt. Fuji Climbing) so as not to be denied access by the authorities monitoring entrances to Fifth Station. It is also advisable to wear a helmet that can be borrowed free of charge at station 6 of the course, subject to a 2,000 yen deposit.

For the 3 other Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri trails, managed by Shizuoka Prefecture, the rules are the same: a payment of 4000 yen is required, and access between 14:00 and 03:00 is only possible if a refuge reservation has been made. In addition, it is required to complete an e-learning course before the ascent available on the official site.

These new, binding rules are considered necessary to preserve this natural jewel of Japan, which is almost sacred in Japan. A major challenge for the authorities.

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For more information:

Japan Times - Mount Fuji restrictions reduce dangerous overnight climbs

Japan Times - Mount Fuji Begins Charging Entrance Fees as Overtourism Prevention Measure

Official information to prepare for the Yoshida trail

Official information to prepare for the Fujinomiya trail

Official information to prepare for the Gotemba trail

Official information to prepare for the Subashiri trail

Mount Fuji Official Website (Official website for Mt Fuji Climbing)

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