Mount Fuji Sunrise AscentYoshida Trail

The Yoshida Trail is the oldest and most travelled of the four Fuji ascent routes: stone torii gates at the base, a series of mountain stations every few hundred metres, and a summit crater walk that completes the experience most climbers skip.

We avoid the all-night scramble of the classic sunrise climb, in which climbers start from the fifth station in the evening and reach the summit in the dark. Instead, we begin the ascent in the afternoon, reach a mountain hut on the upper slopes in the early evening for dinner and a few hours' rest, then make the final push to arrive at the summit crater rim as daylight breaks. Since 2024, climbers on the Yoshida Trail must reserve a hut in advance to climb overnight, and we make the reservation on your behalf.

Your private certified mountain guide sets the pace based on your acclimatisation, knows which sections to push and which to slow down on, and carries supplemental oxygen. After the sunrise and the crater walk, descent takes three to four hours via a separate volcanic scree trail that is oddly satisfying: long, rhythmic strides in volcanic ash.

Mount Fuji is a sacred mountain in both the Shinto and Buddhist traditions, and pilgrims have climbed it for centuries. The Yoshida Trail begins at the fifth station, at around 2,300 metres, and climbs through volcanic scree and old lava, passing a series of huts. The summit, at 3,776 metres, has a crater rim, a small shrine and, in season, a post office where you can send a postcard stamped from the top.

The rules for climbing have changed. In recent years, the authorities have introduced a fee, a daily cap on the number of climbers on the Yoshida Trail and a gate at the fifth station that closes in the afternoon and night for those without a hut reservation, to reduce crowding and the number of people climbing through the night without enough rest. These rules are enforced, and they can change from year to year, so check the current arrangements.

The climb is not technical, but it is demanding. The air at the top contains around two-thirds of the oxygen at sea level, and altitude sickness is possible, particularly for those who climb fast. Drink plenty of water, rest when you need to and tell your guide if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Supplemental oxygen is carried as a safeguard, and your guide will make the decision to turn back if conditions require it.

Temperatures near the summit can be close to freezing even in August, and the wind can be fierce. Bring a warm jacket, waterproof outer layers, gloves, a hat, a headlamp and sturdy boots. The trail is rocky, and trekking poles help on the descent, which follows a separate route of loose volcanic ash and takes three to four hours.

The official climbing season is from early July to around 10 September, when huts are open and the trails are free of snow. The busiest weeks are around the mid-August holidays, and weekends are always crowded. Weather can close the trail at short notice, and in that case, the climb is rescheduled or refunded according to the booking conditions.

Fuji's summit is often in cloud, and sunrise views are not guaranteed, though the sea of clouds below can be spectacular when the sky is clear.

A private certified mountain guide, a dinner and a short rest at the mountain hut, supplemental oxygen, trekking poles if needed, and a stamp at the summit post office are included. Transport to and from the fifth station and accommodation upgrades are not.