Japan’s majestic Mount Fuji to open for climbing!

Every year, thousands make the grueling hike for a view unlike any other atop Japan’s iconic Mt. Fuji. In 2020, this feat was one of many casualties of COVID-19, and for the first time in modern history, authorities closed access to Mt. Fuji’s four trails during the hiking season.

This year, however, climbing is back! The season usually runs from July through the first week of September as this is when Fuji’s snowcap melts and the conditions are ideal for the trek.

Mt. Fuji was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013 and every year attracts hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists. In 2019, about 236,000 people climbed to its peak, according to data from the Ministry of the Environment.

Officials of the surrounding prefectures are expected to announce the reopening as early as the end of June.

Expected mountain opening of Fuji (as of June 14)

• Yoshida Route (in Yamanashi Prefecture): July 1 – Sep 10
• Subashiri Route (in Shizuoka Prefecture): July 10 – Sep 10
• Gotemba Route (in Shizuoka Prefecture): July 10 – Sep 10
• Fujinomiya Route (in Shizuoka Prefecture): July 10 – Sep 10

The three roads that approach to the mountain’s fifth station – Fuji Skyline (8 miles), Fujikoentarobo-line (1 mile) and Fuji Azami-line (7.2 miles) – were also closed last climbing season, but are now open.

Shizuoka Prefecture officials also announced that parking lots at the foot of the mountain will have mandatory body temperature checks as a method of COVID-19 prevention.

For more information, see Official Website for Mt. Fuji climbing and The Complete Guide to Mt. Fuji.