Mount Fuji Yoshida Trail

The Yoshida Trail is the most climbed of Mount Fuji's four official ascent routes, starting from the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station on the mountain's northern, Yamanashi-prefecture face at roughly 2,305 meters elevation. The route climbs through forested switchbacks past the 6th Station before opening onto exposed volcanic scree above the treeline, passing a dense string of mountain huts between the 7th and 8th stations where climbers commonly break the ascent into two days, sleeping a few hours before a pre-dawn push for sunrise (goraiko) at the 3,776-meter summit. A full round trip, including a hut stay, typically takes 10 to 12 hours of walking spread across two days, though experienced hikers attempting a single overnight push without sleeping can complete it faster. The trail is officially open only from early July to early September; outside this window the mountain huts close, emergency services are not staffed, and climbing is strongly discouraged due to ice, high winds, and the absence of rescue infrastructure. Because the Yoshida Trail is the most accessible route from Tokyo, it also draws the heaviest congestion, and Yamanashi Prefecture has introduced a nighttime gate closure (typically 4:00pm–3:00am) and a daily climber cap during peak season to reduce bullet climbing (climbing through the night without rest) and overcrowding near the summit. Descent uses a separate, mostly switchback gravel path that rejoins the ascent route only near the 5th Station.