Mt. Fuji Climbing Rules 2026: The 4,000 Yen Fee, the 2 PM Gate, the Daily Cap, and FUJI NAVI Explained

Based on notices from Yamanashi Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing. The 2026 climbing season ended on September 10, and so did the 2026 rules. The 2027 rules have not been announced yet. Use this page to understand how the system works, then check the official sites again before you book for 2027.

Climbers and mountain huts on the upper Yoshida Trail of Mt. Fuji — The upper Yoshida Trail, where many huts sit close together and crowds build up. Photo: Alpsdake, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Short Version

Season: the Yoshida and Subashiri trails were open July 1 to September 10. The Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails were open July 10 to September 10. Opening can be delayed by weather or leftover snow.
Fee: 4,000 yen per person per climb on every trail.
Afternoon and night entry: from 2:00 PM to 3:00 AM, the Yoshida Trail gate at the 5th station is closed, and on the Shizuoka side you may only enter if you are staying at a mountain hut. Either way, a hut booking is what lets you start late.
Daily cap: only the Yoshida Trail has one, at 4,000 climbers per day. The Shizuoka trails have no cap.

Comparison chart of 2026 Mt. Fuji rules. Yamanashi side: 4,000 yen fee, gate closed 2 PM to 3 AM except hut guests, 4,000 per day cap, optional pass reservation. Shizuoka side: 4,000 yen fee, night entry only with a hut booking, no cap, FUJI NAVI required. — 2026 rules on the Yamanashi and Shizuoka sides. Based on the Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing and prefectural notices. Created by Yama Nikki.

Yamanashi Side: Yoshida Trail

From Yamanashi Prefecture's 2026 notice and the Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing.

Item	2026 rule
Season	July 1 to September 10 (may start later because of weather or snow)
Trail fee	4,000 yen per person per climb
Gate closed	2:00 PM to 3:00 AM (hut guests excepted)
Daily limit	4,000 climbers (hut guests excepted)
Advance reservation	Optional. Reserving means paying the 4,000 yen fee in advance

While the gate is closed you cannot go up, but you can always come down. Tell the staff at the gate.
Once 4,000 people have passed, climbers without a reservation are turned away (hut guests excepted).
With a hut booking you can pass the gate after 2:00 PM, but you still pay the fee (you can pay on site). Yamanashi's leaflet still asks climbers, as a rule, to pass the gate before 2:00 PM.
A reservation does not help if you arrive late: if you have not passed the 5th station gate by 2:00 PM, the closure applies to you unless you are staying at a hut.
Starting below the 5th station does not avoid the fee if you use the climbing trail. Walking the Ochudo path or sightseeing at the 5th station outside the gate is free.
Reservations for 2026 opened on April 27, 2026.

Required Gear Check

At the 5th station, staff check that you have all three of these. Only climbers with all three can pass the gate:

Warm clothing
Separate rain jacket and rain pants
Shoes suitable for mountain climbing

When you book online, you also agree to 13 pledges, such as not climbing through the night without a hut stay (so-called "bullet climbing"), staying on the trail, and taking your trash home. A headlamp is not on the official list of three, but you will still want one, along with good rain gear.

Shizuoka Side: Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and Subashiri Trails

From Shizuoka Prefecture's 2026 notice.

Item	2026 rule
Season	Subashiri: July 1 to September 10 / Fujinomiya and Gotemba: July 10 to September 10
Climbing fee	4,000 yen per person per climb
2:00 PM to 3:00 AM	You may only enter if you are staying at a mountain hut
Pre-learning	A short online course on rules and manners, with a quiz, is required
Entry procedure	The "Shizuoka FUJI NAVI" app (you can also do it on site). You receive a wristband once done
Daily limit	None

FUJI NAVI pre-registration opened on May 8, 2026.
These conditions are set by prefectural ordinance and apply to everyone entering from a 5th station.
The Futagoyama course at Gotemba, the Kofuji course at Subashiri, and visits to Komitake Shrine are not covered. The Hoei Crater course at Fujinomiya is covered.

Note the difference in wording: Shizuoka does not close a gate. Its rule is that entering between 2:00 PM and 3:00 AM requires a hut stay.

Fee Questions

From the Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing FAQ:

Children: there is no age discount. Everyone pays 4,000 yen. People with a Japanese disability certificate, and students climbing as part of a school class, can apply in advance for an exemption.
Per climb: you pay once for each climb.
Crossing between sides: if you pay on the Shizuoka side and come down the Yoshida Trail, you do not pay again, and the same goes the other way. You may be asked to show proof of payment.

What "Bullet Climbing" Means

Yamanashi says the gate rules exist to stop bullet climbing and reduce crowding. Bullet climbing means climbing overnight without staying at a hut, usually to catch the sunrise at the summit. It raises the risk of altitude sickness, hypothermia, falls, and getting lost. Stay at a hut and plan plenty of time. The weather near the summit changes fast.

Huts and Bookings

To start between 2:00 PM and 3:00 AM, you need a hut booking on the Yamanashi side and a hut stay on the Shizuoka side. Each hut has its own booking method, so check the hut's own website. Our Mt. Fuji mountain huts guide covers booking and prices.

Planning for 2027

Shizuoka says the 2026 measures ended on September 10 and that next year's details will be announced once decided. If you plan to climb in 2027, check Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and the Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing before the season opens.

Summary

In 2026, every trail charged 4,000 yen per person per climb
From 2:00 PM to 3:00 AM, the Yoshida gate closed, and Shizuoka allowed entry only for hut guests
Only the Yoshida Trail had a daily cap (4,000 people)
The Yoshida gear check covers warm clothing, separate rainwear, and proper shoes
The Shizuoka side required pre-learning and entry through FUJI NAVI