Let’s take a step back to an unforgettable time: a high school student named Shiho Miyaoka from Kyoto, with her parents, at the tallest point of Mount Fuji – a mile high – in time to see the sun rise. Was it a wonderful experience? Yes. Was it easy to get here this year? No.
If you plan on climbing Fuji in 2025, expect some surprises – and a lot more expense!
Speaking of which, allow us to introduce: Mount Fuji Entrance Fee
This is not the same hike.
It is official: the entrance fee for climbing Mount Fuji via the famous Yoshida Trail has been raised to 4,000 yen (approximately USD 25 or IDR 450,000). This is double what it was last season. Why is this happening? Because of overuse and the impact on the environment.
The number of hikers allowed on the Yoshida Route – the most popular hiking trail – is now limited to 4,000 people a day to find a balance between safety and sustainability.
No Booking = No Climbing (After 2 PM)
It’s a new rule: if you are not staying overnight at one of the approved mountain huts, you cannot get past the 5th station after 2 PM. That’s right, two hours earlier than last year – which was 3 PM.
Local authorities have increased restrictions, most noticeably after observing an uptick in non-prepared tourists that shocked by how physically demanding the 3,776-meter ascent could be.
No one is in flip-flops and thin hoodies anymore – under these new guidelines, if you do not have proper hiking boots and warm clothing, you will not be allowed through the gate. Mountain Fuji rangers are now patrolling the gate and checking everyone’s gear (if you do not have the proper gear or are not dressed for it, you will be turned away).
Not Just a Mountain, Mount Fuji is an Icon
Not to mention Fuji has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. It is one of the most popular natural sites in Japan. Each climbing season, it brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors (the climbing season ends on September 10, 2026 this time around).
As international travel is booming again post pandemic, we will definitely see increasing numbers of people flock to Fuji every summer for the foreseeable future. Thus, it is about time that Japan is getting serious about the safety and sustainability of the experience!
How About the Other Trails?
If you’re looking to avoid the Yoshida Trail crowds, three other routes in Shizuoka Prefecture will reopen on July 10. Good news: the same fee of 4,000 yen. Bad news: there’s no cap for the number of climbers, so things will probably get busy quickly.
Final Thought: Plan, or Don’t Go
Look, nobody’s telling you not to climb Fuji. But if you’re going in 2025 then you better plan it like a pro. We mean:
- Book a hut ahead of time
- Wear good gear for hiking
- Read the rules for the trail carefully
- Be early (especially if you’ll try to beat the closing of the gate)
Because the view from the top will change your life, but getting there ill-prepared will ruin it.
