Mount Fuji summit trails stay closed after 30 September
Published on 10/04/2026 at 02:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Mount Fuji (Fujisan) remains closed above its seasonal trail points after an official restriction notice issued on 30 September 2026. The closure affects summit access for visitors planning a trip from Fujinomiya, Japan, during October and early November.
Mount Fuji closure covers the Fujinomiya Trail
The Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing lists the mountain as currently closed and says the 2026 climbing season has ended. Its 30 September notice covers the Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri routes and sets the 2026 mountain opening periods through 10 September.
For the Fujinomiya Trail, the winter closure runs from the sixth station to the summit. The Yoshida, Subashiri and Gotemba routes are closed from their fifth stations to the summit, while the mountaintop crater-rim route is also closed. The 30 September restriction notice also explains that the restrictions are intended to protect the World Heritage site and support safe climbing.
Mount Fuji links pilgrimage routes with a World Heritage landscape
Mount Fuji rises to 3,776 metres and stands about 100 kilometres south-west of Tokyo. UNESCO inscribed Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration, as a cultural World Heritage property in 2013.
The property contains 25 sites, including pilgrimage routes, crater shrines, Sengen shrines, traditional lodging houses and natural volcanic features. The mountain therefore connects the current access restriction with a cultural landscape shaped by religious journeys rather than with a single summit path. UNESCO describes the World Heritage property around Fujisan as a series of places reflecting the mountain’s sacred and artistic importance.
Winter access changes what visitors can do at Mount Fuji
The current closure concerns the upper climbing routes, not every landscape or settlement around the mountain. However, visitors should not treat the summit trails as ordinary walking paths during the closed period.
The official climbing information warns that mountain huts and first-aid facilities are closed outside the climbing season. It also points to severe weather, limited mobile phone service and difficult conditions as reasons to avoid an unprepared ascent.
Visiting Mount Fuji: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The relevant restriction notice was issued on 30 September 2026, and the Fujinomiya Trail is closed from the sixth station to the summit during the current off-season.
- Summit access is not available through the Fujinomiya Trail during the closure. The official site also lists the upper sections of the Yoshida, Subashiri and Gotemba routes as closed.
- Fujinomiya lies on the south-western side of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. The city provides a regional base for viewing the mountain and reaching sites around its lower slopes.
- The mountain is a 3,776-metre stratovolcano. Any route involving high elevation, steep ground or exposed terrain requires conditions and equipment appropriate to the season.
- Japan's official language is Japanese and its national currency is the Japanese yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Mount Fuji on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Mount Fuji
What has changed at Mount Fuji?
The summit routes are closed during the off-season. The official restriction notice was issued on 30 September 2026.
Where is Mount Fuji and how do you get there?
Mount Fuji is in central Japan, with Fujinomiya on its south-western side. Fujinomiya provides access to the lower mountain area.
What is Mount Fuji?
Mount Fuji is a 3,776-metre stratovolcano and part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.
