Overview
The Yoshida Trail is Fuji’s busiest route, and Yamanashi Prefecture caps it at 4,000 climbers a day (people with a mountain-hut reservation are not counted in that cap) and charges a ¥4,000 fee per person, paid in advance. The gate at the 5th Station checks it.
The other half of the rule is about safety: the gate is closed from 14:00 to 3:00 the next morning except for climbers with a mountain-hut booking, aimed at the “bullet climbers” who used to walk through the night for sunrise. The 2026 season ran July 1 to September 10 (the start can be delayed by snow); outside it the huts close.
At a glance
| Do you need a permit or reservation? | Climber reservation + entry fee |
|---|---|
| Cost | ¥4,000 |
| How to get it | Reserve and pay online through the official Yamanashi climbing system; paid reservations can be made up to the day of the climb. |
| When it opens | Hard to get · 2026 season: Jul 1–Sep 10 |
| All-inclusive alternative | None we can recommend: no tour we checked includes this access, so the official channel is the way in. |
| Official rules | fujisan-climb.jp Yoshida Trail rules: fee, daily cap, gate hours (fujisan-climb.jp) |
How the permit works
- 1Reserve and pay online through the official Yamanashi climbing system; paid reservations can be made up to the day of the climb.
- 2The fee is ¥4,000 per climber; save the QR code or wristband confirmation.
- 3If you plan to be on the trail overnight, book a mountain hut; without one, night entry through the gate is restricted.
- 4Show your reservation at the 5th Station gate; it is closed from 14:00 to 3:00 except for hut guests.
- 5Climb inside the official season. Outside it, huts, toilets and first aid are closed.
Required documents
- Online climbing reservation confirmation (QR code or wristband)
- Mountain hut booking if you’ll be above the 5th Station overnight
- Photo ID and proof of payment for the climbing fee
Insider tips
- Weekday mid-August is the peak crush; early July and the first week of September are far calmer and still fully serviced.
- A hut booking is worth it beyond the rules — a few hours of sleep at the 8th Station transforms both the summit push and the altitude.
- Rules and fees have changed twice in recent years and differ between the Yamanashi and Shizuoka routes. Confirm the current year on the official climbing site.
Sold-out alternatives
If your dates are gone, these get you a comparable experience.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to climb Mount Fuji?
On the Yoshida Trail, yes: a paid online reservation (¥4,000) under a daily cap of 4,000 climbers. Confirm current rules for your route and year.
Can I climb through the night for sunrise?
Not without a hut reservation. Night access past the gate is restricted specifically to discourage non-stop overnight climbs.
What happens outside the official season?
Huts, toilets and first-aid posts close and the trail is not patrolled. Off-season climbing is officially discouraged and much more serious.