Mount Fuji
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Fujisan, Sacred Place And Source Of Artistic Inspiration (2013); Special Place Of Scenic Beauty · Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi
Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 metres, a near-perfect volcanic cone on the border of Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, and the country's national symbol, painted by Hokusai and revered as sacred for centuries. It is a World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape, a place of pilgrimage and artistic inspiration. Most visitors never climb it; they come to see it, which is harder than it sounds because the summit is hidden by cloud much of the year, especially in summer. The classic views are from the Fuji Five Lakes, particularly Kawaguchiko, from the Chureito pagoda above Fujiyoshida, and from Hakone. Clear views are most likely on winter mornings. Climbing is possible only in the official summer season, roughly July to early September, on four trails; the Yoshida trail is the most popular. Many climbers start in the evening to reach the summit for sunrise. A mandatory climbing fee and advance registration now apply, with daily caps, after years of overcrowding. It is a hard, cold, crowded climb, not a scenic walk. Out of season, climbing is strongly discouraged.
Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 403-0005, Japan
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The structure: the official climbing season runs roughly early July to early September, with the Yoshida trail opening first; trail gates have a daily cap, an online registration and a fee, and the Yoshida gate closes to climbers without a hut booking from mid-afternoon until the early hours. The Subaru Line to the 5th Station has private-car restrictions in summer and closes in winter. The lakes, the Chureito pagoda and Oshino Hakkai are open all year, with ropeways and caves keeping daytime hours. Confirm registration, fees and season dates before going.