The snow on the way around the top vanish in the end of June and we have the first snow in the middle of September in ordinary year. A few huts open from the end of June to the beginning of September and few huts open in other season above the fifth station.
One needs full equipments for winter climbing (crampon, ice axe, climbing rope, partners, etc.) from October to the beginning of June in ordinary year.

See Page "Mt.Fuji Climbing in Winter" in Marchan's Mountaineering Advice for foreginers in Japan for further information.

If you need a guide for winter climbing, please contact the guide society below. But it should be better to reed the above linked page before it.

Japan Alpine Guide Society
105 Maison Yoyogi
2-39-7 Yoyogi Shibuya-ku Tokyo Japan
151-0053
TEL +81-3-3379-4183
FAX +81-3-3320-1583

1.Kawaguchiko route.Kawaguchiko means Lake Kawaguchi.
2.Fujinomiya route.
3.Gotenba or Sunahashiri route. You can go down at a run(hasiru) on sand(suna) on this way.
4.Subashiri route.

This route is the most popular route to the top of Mt fuji and from lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi prefecture. We often call this route Fujiyoshida route. The 5th station of this trail,the starting point and the last stop of a bus,is about 2350 meters high.
This route has 2 ways, one for going up and the other for going down. You can see sunrise easily on this way, because this route is on the east face. But of course you need stay or climb over night in order to see sunrise.
It is a weak point of this route that Kengamine, the most highest point (3776 meters high) at the top, is located on the other side of the crater of the top. To reach Kengamine, you have to go around the crater. But it is no matter for many people to reach at Kengamine or not.

1.From Tokyo to the 5th station (5go-me).(10 go-me means the top.)

a)The west exit of Shinjuku satation in Tokyo
---(a through bus(Keio or Fujikyuko bus),about 2 and a half hours) --- the 5th station
Time table and telephone numbers [Use altavista for translation if you need].
You have better to make a reservation to get.

b)Shinjuku satation in Tokyo
---(Japan Railway Chuo line)--- Ostuki station
---(Fujikyuko line)--- Kawaguchiko station
---(fujikyuuko bus to the 5th station)---the 5th station

the 5th satation
---(climbing up in 5 or 6 hours except recess time)
--- the top (you have to take 1.5 hours to go around the crater)
---(going down in 3 hours)---the 5th station

Informatin and Attention in 1998

Information and Attention in 1997

9 July,Wed
The route will be opened from 11 July.

28 June,
The route is closed until about 10th July because Typhoon No.8 broken this trail.

This route is the 2nd most popular route and from Fujinomiya city in Shizuoka prefecture. the Shin(new) 5th station of this trail is about 2400 meters high. You can go to Mt.Hoei(Hoei is the name of an era in the Edo period,this volcano erupted in this age.)from the shin 5th station.

Shinfuji or Mishima station of JR Tokaido Shinkansen line
---(a bus)---shin 5th station
---(climbing up in 5 hours except recess time)---the top,(Kengamine)
---(going down in 2.5 hours)---shin 5th station

City and Mt. Fuji page by Fujinomiya City

Both routes have the same starting point and the same end point,the top. They are longer routes than 2 routes which I have explained avobe. You can go down at a run(hasiru) on sand(suna) on Sunahashiri way.

Sightseeing and Mt. Fuji climbing page by Gotemba City

JR Gotenba station(s station of JR Gotenba line) ---(a bus)---shin 5th station (different from shin 5th station of Fujinomiya route)
---(climbing up in 6 or 7 hours except recess time) ---the top,(Kengamine)
---(going down in 3 hours)---shin 5th station

This route is a little longer.
Many people use this way only to go down.

JR Gotenba station(s station of JR Gotenba line) ---(a bus)---shin 5th station (different from any other shin 5th station)
---(climbing up in 6 or 7 hours except recess time)---the top,you arrive at the same place when you take Kawaguchiko route. )
---(going down in 3 hours)---shin 5th station

Other usefull links