Mount Fuji Tour: a Helpful Guide of 2025

Last Updated: June 15, 2025

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Mount Fuji is more than just a postcard icon of Japan. It’s a sacred mountain, a spiritual journey, and an ever-changing landscape depending on the season, the sky, and your own mindset. Whether you come for the climb, the cultural experience, or the stillness of sunrise, a Mount Fuji tour promises something unforgettable.

But climbing Japan’s tallest peak isn’t just about showing up and going up. Between rapidly shifting weather, new 2025 regulations, ancient shrines, and different trail options, this guide will help you prepare and plan your visit with confidence and awe.

What type of volcano is Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is a stratovolcano – a layered, conical volcano built by centuries of eruptions, ash, lava, and snow. Its symmetrical silhouette has inspired everything from Hokusai prints to Shinto rituals.

Though it's considered dormant by the public, geologists classify it as an active volcano. Its last eruption in 1707, known as the Hōei eruption, blanketed Edo (modern Tokyo) in ash. While it has remained silent for over 300 years, it is still carefully monitored by scientists.

How was Mount Fuji formed

Mount Fuji as we see it today is actually the product of several volcanic phases. Its current form sits atop two older volcanoes: Komitake and Ko-Fuji.

The newer, central cone—called Shin-Fuji—formed around 10,000 years ago. Powerful eruptions shaped its near-perfect cone, and it continues to evolve. Its geologic complexity and beauty are part of why it became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

For clear views and cooler temperatures, visit Mount Fuji between November and February. Skies are crisp and cloud-free, especially from Lake Kawaguchiko or Chureito Pagoda. Just bundle up.

If you're planning to climb, the official season runs from early July to early September, when trails are open and mountain huts operate. Outside this window, snow, ice, and closures make climbing risky and inadvisable.

Packing Advice for Mount Fuji Tour

If you're sightseeing, bring a camera, comfortable walking shoes, and layers – Fuji weather is famously unpredictable. A rain jacket or windbreaker is a must, even on sunny days.

Climbers should come prepared with hiking boots, thermal layers, gloves, and a headlamp for predawn ascents. Most important? Water, snacks, a trekking pole or two, and mental endurance for high-altitude hiking.

Mount Fuji tour itinerary

Day Trip (Sightseeing)

1. 7:00 AM: Depart Tokyo (Shinjuku) by tour bus
2. 9:30 AM: Arrive at Fuji 5th Station
3. 11:00 AM: Visit Oshino Hakkai springs
4. 12:30 PM: Lunch near Lake Kawaguchiko
5. 2:00 PM: Explore Chureito Pagoda & lake views
6. 4:00 PM: Optional stop at Shiraito Falls or Ice Cave
7. 8:00 PM: Return to Tokyo

2-Day Climb (Yoshida Trail)

Day 1

1. Morning: Travel to Kawaguchiko, check-in
2. Afternoon: Orientation and gear check
3. 3:00 PM: Start climb from 5th Station
4. 8:00 PM: Rest at 8th Station hut

Day 2

1. 1:00 AM: Resume hike
2. 4:30 AM: Reach summit for sunrise (Goraiko)
3. 6:30 AM: Start descent
4. 11:00 AM: Return to 5th Station
5. Afternoon: Onsen visit & head back to Tokyo

Mount Fuji tour cost

Sightseeing tours range between ¥10,000–¥20,000 ($65–$130), depending on the itinerary and transportation. These usually include lunch, park access, and guides.

Climbing tours cost around ¥20,000–¥40,000 ($130–$260). This covers the mountain guide, hut stay, insurance, and equipment. From 2025, climbers must pay a ¥4,000 ($26) toll per route (Yoshida, Gotemba, Subashiri, or Fujinomiya).

Mount Fuji tour packages

Many agencies like Club Tourism offer guided tours with trained mountaineering experts. These often include:

1. Overnight stay in a mountain hut
2. Access to sunrise viewpoints (Goraiko)
3. Climbing at a slower pace with breaks
4. Hot spring bath after descent
5. Luggage storage on the bus

Tour packages also include special items like waterproof maps or commemorative hiking sticks (Kongo-jo), stamped at every station.

FAQs

What city is Mount Fuji in?

It straddles Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, not one city.

How old is Mount Fuji?

Roughly 100,000 years old in its current form.

How tall is Mount Fuji?

3,776 meters (12,389 feet).