Mount Fuji

Introduction

The cone is snow-capped in winter and spring and has long carried religious meaning in both Shinto and Buddhist practice. Fuji last erupted in 1707 but is still classed as active. Four main routes lead up: Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya. The Yoshida Trail, the most used, starts at the Kawaguchiko Fifth Station around 2,300 metres, and the climb to the summit takes about 5 to 7 hours up and 3 to 4 hours down. Mountain huts charge around 5,000 to 8,000 yen a night with meals, and there is no trail fee. The Fuji Subaru Line toll road costs about 3,000 yen round trip per car. From Tokyo, take the JR Chuo Line to Otsuki and the Fujikyuko Line to Kawaguchiko, about two hours in total, or a highway bus from Shinjuku. Late autumn and early winter often bring the clearest views of a snow-capped peak; the mountain is visible year-round from Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi.