Mount Fuji Climbing Rules 2025: Fees, Daily Caps & Gate Hours Explained
Updated July 17 2025
TL;DR: ‑ Every climber now pays a mandatory ¥4,000 hiking fee, books an online slot in advance, and can only pass the 5th‑station gates outside 2 pm: 3 am unless you hold a hut reservation. The Yoshida Trail is capped at 4,000 climbers per day; Shizuoka’s three trails have no cap (yet) but follow the same fee + gate hours.
Why the rules changed
Mount Fuji welcomed more than 220,000 hikers in 2024, and overcrowding led to dangerous traffic jams near the summit, record litter, and overworked rescue teams. Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures responded with tighter regulations in 2025 to balance safety, environmental protection, and local resident pressure.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | 2025 rule |
|---|---|
| Mandatory fee | ¥4,000 per person (all four trails) |
| Daily cap | 4,000 climbers per day Yoshida Trail only |
| Gate closure | 2 pm: 3 am (no entry without hut booking) |
| Season | Early July: early September |
| Reservation window | Opens April 1: end of season |
| Same‑day slots | 1,000 Yoshida slots released 00:01 JST daily |
| Gear check | Random checks for headlamp, rain gear, insulation, cash, map |
1. Pay the ¥4,000 hiking fee ‑ where & how
- Online at the time of reservation: credit/debit, Apple Pay, or convenience‑store code.
- On‑site: cash only at the Subaru‑Line 5th Station (Yamanashi) or any of the Shizuoka 5th stations. Queues average 20–30 minutes in peak weeks.
- Descending Yoshida after ascending another route? Pay the fee at the 6th‑station kiosk on descent.
Where the money goes: trail repair, toilet maintenance, free Wi‑Fi & GPS beacons for rescues, and extra medical staff.
2. Book your slot in the online system
Yamanashi and Shizuoka share the Mount Fuji Climbing Registration portal. Create an account (passport number required), choose a trail and date, pay the fee, then download the QR code.
- Opening day: 00:00 JST 1 April 2025.
- Advance pool: 3,000 Yoshida slots/day. Shizuoka trails uncapped.
- Same‑day releases: At 00:01 JST each calendar day, the remaining 1,000 Yoshida slots go live. They routinely sell out before 06:00 JST on weekends.
- 変更 / cancellation: Free until 7 days out; 50 % refund 72–24 h; no refund <24 h.
What if the date you want is sold out?
- Check Shizuoka trails: no cap means availability, but plan transport (bus to Fujinomiya, Gotemba, Subashiri 5th stations).
- Refresh at midnight for cancellations that drop back into the pool.
3. Understand the gate hours (2 pm: 3 am)
For safety, prefectures now ban entry during “fatigue hours” when most accidents occurred.
| Time | Who can pass |
|---|---|
| 03:00: 14:59 | Anyone with valid reservation QR |
| 15:00: 01:59 | Only hikers with hut booking confirmation |
| 02:00: 02:59 | Gate closed for trail maintenance |
- Hut staff scan both your climb QR and your hut reservation.
- Arriving late? You must wait at the 5th station until 03:00 unless your hut is booked.
4. Gear checks: what’s on the list
Random inspections target poorly equipped hikers. Expect staff to ask you to show:
- Waterproof shell & pants
- Mid‑layer insulation (fleece or down)
- Headlamp + spare batteries
- Gloves & beanie (above 3,000 m wind‑chill is real!)
- 1 L minimum water + 500 kcal snacks
- Cash (toilets & huts are cash‑only)
- Paper or offline digital map
Fail the check and you’ll be turned back or told to rent gear on‑site.
5. Trail‑by‑trail quirks
Yoshida (Yamanashi)
- Most popular, sunrise side, 4,000 daily cap.
- Subaru‑Line road occasionally closes in heavy rain; watch our visibility forecast for storm alerts.
Fujinomiya (Shizuoka)
- Steepest but shortest to summit; no cap.
- Trailhead sits at 2,400 m: acclimatise properly.
Subashiri (Shizuoka)
- Best descent through volcanic sand (run down “ōsuna‐bā”).
Gotemba (Shizuoka)
- Lowest 5th station (1,450 m) and longest day.
6. If you miss your slot
- No‑show? Fee is forfeited; you must re‑book another day.
- Late arrival (after 2 pm) without hut booking: wait until 03:00 or take the bus back.
- Bad weather closure: refunds or re‑date free within 30 days.
7. Tips to beat the crowds & stay safe
- Aim for weekdays (Tue‑Thu): Yoshida traffic drops 35 % vs weekends.
- Start pre‑dawn (enter between 03:00–04:00) to dodge bottlenecks at the 8th station.
- Use our 8‑day visibility forecast to pick a clear window rather than locking a random date months out.
- Book a hut if you’re unsure about pace; it guarantees gate entry and cuts altitude sickness risk.
- Carry ¥10,000 in coins/notes: toilets cost ¥200 per use.
8. Useful links
- Official reservation portal: https://fujisan223registration.com
- Our real‑time Mt. Fuji weather & visibility forecast: https://isfujivisible.com
- Pocket‑WiFi rental (affiliate): japan-wireless.com
- Klook Mt. Fuji activities (affiliate): klook.com
Affiliate note: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.