Mt. Fuji Sunrise Hike

Visiting Japan was not on the top of my list when I set out on my travels, but an impromptu decision to meet up with my family led me to this amazing country. I can only say positive things about the two weeks I spent exploring Japan; My only regret was not staying for longer. The food, people, beaches, and generosity of the Japanese people put Japan on my favorites list, but climbing Mt Fuji for the sunrise was definitely the most memorable experience of my time in Japan. The Mt. Fuji Hike was definitely not easy, but it was 100% worth it! 

After my family flew home to California, I had a couple days to spend traveling solo. I knew I’d be disappointed if I didn’t make an effort to climb Mt. Fuji for the sunrise, so I did some research and hopped on a train from Shimoda to Gotemba (one of the stations you can access Mt Fuji from). It took me a  few hours from Shimoda, but it is definitely easier to access from Tokyo.

I decided to choose the Subashiri Trail over the Yoshida Trail because it is less crowded and a more beautiful hike up. I recommend checking out this website for more details on how to get to Mt. Fuji and which trail is best for you. I’m really happy that I chose the Subashiri Trail, and I will go into further details on the trail below.

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Arriving at Subashiri 5th station

Public Transport: From wherever you are, take the train to Gotemba Station. When you exit the station into the town you will turn to your left and see some ticket offices. This is where you can buy your shuttle ticket up to the Subashiri 5th Station. A roundtrip ticket costs 2060 Yen (about $20 USD). Make sure to look at the shuttle schedule when planning your trip. A big factor is making sure you have enough time to hike from the 5th station to your mountain hut if you are staying in one. I would recommend catching the 12:35 bus. However, I took the 14:35 bus (only available on weekends and public holidays) and was able to make it to my mountain hut by sunset. The Mt. Fuji hike starts from the Subashiri 5th station and takes 5-8 hours to reach the summit of Mt. Fuji.

The Beginning

So close, but so far

Above the Clouds

Banana 1

Banana 2

Staying in a Mountain Hut

Why not spend a night on the side of a volcano right? Staying in a mountain hut is the most popular way to experience the sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji because it allows you to rest for a few hours before you need to hike the rest of the way to the summit. As a solo traveler it was fun to meet some of the other travelers staying at the mountain hut, and I convinced some of the people I met on the trail, who were less prepared, to stay at the same hut. I even saved a couple  from spending the night outside when they didn’t have enough money to pay for the mountain hut.

Sunset at the Mountain Hut

Miharashikan Hut

I really recommend the Miharashikan Hut at the 7th Station. This is where I stayed and it was a good spot to depart from in the early morning. I was able to call the Miharashikan Hut from my accommodation the day of and make a reservation. I definitely recommend reserving a place to stay before hiking Mt. Fuji because they do fill up. If you don’t have access to a phone, I believe the visitor center when you get off the train in Gotemba can also call and reserve you a space.

The Miharashikan Hut provided a yummy dinner when I arrived and was a beautiful place to watch the sunset color the sky. Definitely plan to arrive at your hut before sunset because most people will be trying to sleep early and they stop serving food.

My hiking friend, Jingle, from China

Know Before: Mountain Huts are not for everyone

I enjoyed the mountain hut because it was a very unique experience and added more adventure to hiking Mt. Fuji, but staying in one is not for everyone. Expect to be packed like sardines into a big room. They create two levels of beds on each side of the room. You get a sleeping bag and a small pillow and there is nothing separating you from your neighbor. Like I said, not for everyone. I was able to sleep next to a couple friends I made on the hike up so I didn’t mind. Ear plugs and an eye mask would be helpful because there are lots of noises to keep you up.

The alternative to staying in a mountain hut is hiking through the night to see the sunrise or sleeping on the side of the mountain. It was really cold up on Mt Fuji, even in the middle of summer, so I was happy to at least stay warm for a couple hours. If you want to climb Mt Fuji for the sunrise I recommend resting at a mountain hut. 

I found this resource the most helpful in selecting and contacting a mountain hut.

Climbing Mt Fuji for the Sunrise

When I climbed Mt. Fuji, the sunrise was around 4:20 AM, so I woke up at 1:45 AM and was on my way by 2 AM. Technically I was not that far from the summit, but once the Yoshida Trail met the Subashiri Trail at the 8th station the foot traffic increased immensely and really slowed the pace down.

Congo Line up people up to the summit

It is quite the experience to see the congo line of flashlights going all the way up the face of the volcano. As you get closer to the summit, the slower everyone moves. A lot of times you have to stop completely to wait for the traffic in front of you to move. I had fun scurrying over boulders off the trail in order to pass big groups of people. At times, I was worried I was not going to going to make it to the top of Mt Fuji for the sunrise. Thankfully, the trail all the way up has a perfect view of the sunrise, so even if you don’t make it to the summit in time you will still have the same view.

Traffic

Summit of Mt. Fuji

I scurried my way to the summit just in time to find a spot to sit and watch the sunrise! Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long because it was so cold at the top, and once I stopped moving my body started getting really cold. The sunrise was amazing and thankfully I got to experience it on a pretty clear day.  There are thousands of people at the top, so don’t expect to be alone. I enjoyed being surrounded by so many people that had gone through the same physical test to summit Mt Fuji for the sunrise and experience the beauty.

Right before sunrise

Worth It!

Fellow Hikers

Checking out the Crater

The Hike Down Mt. Fuji

I basically ran down the side of the mountain. The trail down is different from the way up and pretty much just goes straight down the mountain. It consists of sandy volcanic rock and small rocks. It only took me 2 hours to get down, but it killed my knees and I had rocks in my shoes the whole time. Since I climbed Mt Fuji for the sunrise, I made it back to the 5th station by 8:15 in the morning. I was struggling by the end and so hungry but I was stoked to have accomplished such an epic hike!

Killer hike down

Reflecting on my Accomplishment

There is an old Japanese proverb about climbing Mt. Fuji “He who climbs Mt. Fuji is a wise man; He who climbs twice is a fool”

This proverb definitely captures how I felt after climbing Mt. Fuji. I am so happy I did it, but I don’t think I’d jump at the chance to do it again.

Is climbing Mt Fuji for the sunrise on your bucket list? Have you made the climb before?

Resources:

This is the official website for Mt. Fuji 

I recommend checking out this website for more details on how to get to Mt Fuji and which trail is best for you.

I found this resource the most helpful in selecting and contacting a mountain hut.