Climbing Mount Fuji with Kids

Last Updated: January 22, 2024

Mount Fuji in Japan is a great mountain to climb if you are looking for one of around the 4,000m (3,776m to be precise!) size with children.

It’s got everything you would want for a first time hike on a mountain of this size.

A challenging, but reasonably safe hike, with great views along the way.

With no guide mandatory, easy access, only a small entrance fee and reasonably priced lodges, it also makes this one of the more cost friendly mountains we’ve come across. And not just for Japan!

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The short climbing season does make the mountain one you have to plan well. But, if you can be in the area for the couple of months it is open, then Mount Fuji is one we would recommend for a challenging, but doable, hike with kids.

When can you climb Mt Fuji?

Official climbing season is usually between early July to early September.

It can change slightly for each year and each trail, so check the Mt Fuji official website for exact dates. And, as Fuji is quite a popular mountain to climb, it can get quite busy due to this short season.

But you can avoid some of the crowds (but not all) if you plan a little ahead.

Avoid weekends if you can, as it’s naturally more busy then.

Also, try to arrange your trip before or after the school holidays if you can, which are around the last couple of weeks of July to the end of August.

And it gets particularly busy during Obon Week, avoid this for sure!

We went right on the end of the season in the first week of September. Which ended up being a really good time to go as it usually gets quieter towards the end of the season.

The weather was particularly good the days we went as well. Obviously this is a bit of pot luck and the you can easily walk through all four seasons when going up. But generally the weather is a bit more stable in September than early July.

So if you’re looking to avoid crowds and unpredictable weather, but still within the season, we would recommend early-ish September as you tick all the boxes.

You can theoretically do it out of season, but transport to and from the mountain is tricky and the facilities such as lodges, toilets and first aid areas are closed. Weather conditions can be more treacherous outside of the season as well. So it’s not advisable.

How long does it take to climb Mount Fuji?

You can theoretically climb it in a day, but this is not advised as the biggest obstacle you will have is the altitude sickness.

The quicker you climb the more at risk you are as your body does not have time to adjust to the lesser oxygen. So it’s best to do it over 2 days, with a night at a lodge on the way.

This helps acclimatise and it also makes the climb less strenuous.

The mountain is split into 10 ‘stations’, 1 being the bottom and 10 being the top.

They basically act as marker points on the route and some have facilities at them.

Most people actually start from the 5th station (as we did) as this is where you can drive to and where most buses and coaches drop you off.

You can go all the way from the bottom at station 1, but again, this is for the hard core!

You also have 4 trails to choose from, Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya.

Each has it’s own length and difficulty and the stations are separate for each trail (i.e. station 5 of Yoshida is not in the same place as station 5 of Gotemba).

Some trails/stations do overlap, but you should think of them separately. And you will need to choose your trail before you arrive to ensure you get your transport to the right place.

We chose Yoshida. This is by far the most popular and considered the easiest to climb. It is also one of the easiest to get to/from Tokyo and has the most facilities such as lodges, toilets and first-aid huts.

So it’s a good choice for people with kids, as it offers some level of safety nets. And one of the best things is that the sun also rises on this side of the mountain (more on this later).

So for the purpose of this post we’ll concentrate on the Yoshida Trail.

We started in the afternoon at around 15.00 on day one and arrived back around 17.00 the following day. This included a sleep at a lodge, so we were actually walking for approximately 16 hours (12 up, 4 down), including breaks.

This is longer than the average climb (around 6 up, 3 down), but if you’re with kids you will naturally need a little longer. Whilst our eldest is a very good hiker, he does have shorter legs than adults and is still a child, so a slower pace and more rests were needed.

You obviously know yourself and your children better than anyone. So use these times as a guide and you should be able to give yourself a rough estimate of your climbing time.

We climbed for 4 hours to our lodge on day one. Then 8 hours to the top and 4 hours down and day two.

We would have preferred to split it more evenly and climber to a higher lodge on day one, but unfortunately I left the bus booking a bit late and the earliest I could get to Fuji from Tokyo was 14.00 in the afternoon. So I then purposely booked a lower lodge so we could get there easily before nightfall.

But if you plan it better than I did an get an earlier bus, you could get a bit higher on day one giving you less climbing on day two.

Is it Difficult to Climb Mount Fuji on the Yoshida Trail?

The climb itself is challenging, but not extreme and no special climbing skills or equipment are needed on the Yoshida trail. It is essentially a hike. You will at times need to use your hands in the rocky areas, but they’re fairly short lived.

Having said this, do not underestimate the mountain.

It is a serious mountain to climb, so show it respect.

The weather can change rapidly and gusts of winds can happen without warning knocking you over and potentially onto sharp rocks so take care at all times.

Be prepared and serious about it, don’t turn up in shorts and flip flops and expect to get too far!

You should also check the weather on the official website before you ascend. If the weather is going to be particularly harsh or poor visibility it may be advised to postpone.

Aside from the weather, your biggest challenge will likely be the possibility of altitude sickness.

The air gets thinner and the oxygen drops as you go up, this is why it is important to acclimatise.

Spending an hour at the 5th station when you arrive is a good idea before you head up. Then staying at a lodge overnight will also help.

As you get higher the risk is greater, so taking it slow is important the higher you get.

You can also get some oxygen from one of the shops at the 5th station before you head up.

We didn’t suffer any altitude sickness and this was probably down to our easy pace. We did purchase some oxygen as a precaution and so began to use it once we got to the 9th station as a preventative, but probably would have been fine without it.

Do you need a guide on Mount Fuji?

Guides are not a requirement, as they are on some mountains, but guides and tours are available.

There are lots to choose from. With private guides and group tours available. You can easily sort them out online or in Tokyo.

We didn’t get one and wouldn’t really say they are necessary on the Yoshida trail as it is a well trampled and obvious trail (in the right weather conditions). And there’s plenty of facilities and other people likely attempting the trail at the same time if you are doing it in the official climbing season.

But people do still sometimes get into trouble on the mountain. So if you want the help of a guide or a group then look into it.

If you go it alone, ensure you have taken all the right preparation and precautions and follow the advice from officials at all times.

How do you get to Mount Fuji from Tokyo?

You can stay in one of the hotels near Fuji if you want an early start (or even if you don’t), but it is also possible to head there straight from Tokyo to start your climb.

We went on a 2 day excursion from Tokyo and it’s pretty easy with a few options to get there and back. You can get the train then a bus, but easiest method is to take a direct coach from Shinjuku station.

This was super easy despite me doing it last minute. You can just walk into Shinjuku station and head to one of the information offices. They will then take you through the available times/coaches and sell you your tickets. There’s also plenty of online booking options if you prefer.

You can get the coach from Shinjuku Express Bus Station. Which is just on the edge of the main Shinjuku Metro and Train Station.

Shinjuku Station is absolutely huge (we got lost in it for 45 minutes one night!). And it can be difficult to find the right exit for the coach station.

So if you are planning on getting the metro to the station before getting the coach, we would suggest doing a dry run from whichever line you will be alighting from at some point, depending on where you’re staying, so you don’t end up getting lost and missing your coach.

Which lodge should you book for Mount Fuji?

Which lodge to book really depends on your itinerary.

First, you need to know the trail you are taking, as different lodges are on different trails. Yoshida has the most choice.

Second, what time are you arriving. So you can get to your lodge preferably before nightfall, although you can still trek in the dark if you have a head torch.

Third, if you want to get to the top for sunrise. As then obviously the higher you are, the later you can set off the following morning to get to the top.

Fourth, how much you’re willing to spend. They don’t differ that much, but some are cheaper and have an option with or without food etc.

And finally, how you wan to book it.

You usually have to book, it’s a bit of a risk just turning up so wouldn’t advise it!

A lot of the lodges only take phone bookings and you’re not guaranteed an English speaker.

Some do online bookings though. So for ease of process I chose one I could book online, which made it a lot easier.

The ‘beds’ are essentially just sleeping bags lined up on shelves with some thin mattress’ and they can get very cramped.

Our lodge was quiet when we went and on our shelf was just us and then 2 people from the USA at the other end, so we had plenty of space. But when I counted up the sleeping bags I got to 12, which had they all been full it would have been very cramped.

The idea though is not really to get an amazing nights sleep. It is to get rest, warmth, food and to help acclimatise. And the lodges are all good for that.

So base your choice on your logistics rather than which one looks better as they don’t differ too much.

We stayed in the Tomoekan Lodge, they have two lodges, one on the 7th station and another on the 8th, we stayed at the 7th.

This is a good choice if you want to book online as it has English website with lots of info and the choice of the two lodges and various packages and types of bed with or without meals.

What do you need for climbing Mount Fuji?

You should be well prepared for this mountain.

You can buy water, snacks and even oxygen at the various lodges dotted along the stations as you climb, but they are very overpriced.

So it might be advisable to take most of your supplies with you.

I carried quite a heavy backpack, but this was because I knew that we would be taking it easy and it would get lighter as we went up (as we drank the liquid and ate the snacks). So I was OK with this.

Get the balance right for what you can carry and don’t overdo it. If you think your pack is to heavy try to lighten it a little so you don’t exhaust yourself before you’ve barely begun.

You wont need any special equipment, but usual trekking rules apply, so you will need;

• Snacks – Light and high energy foods, some lodges provide you with a hot evening meal and breakfast.
• Water/Energy Drinks – Make sure you take plenty of water. There are toilets and taps at some of the lodges, but the drinking water may not be completely safe. So if you’re looking for water purification bottle we recommend the drinkSAFE Travel Tap.
• Hiking Boots/Shoes – We recommend getting ones with ankle support to stop any ankle rolling or twists.
• Warm Clothes – Take clothes that you can layer easily so you can adapt to the ever changing temperature as you ascend and descend.
• Water Proofs (Top & Bottoms)
• Warm Hat
• Sun Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sun Cream
• Head Torch – You may do some climbing in the dark, so make sure you have one of these per person.
• Mobile Phone – You will occasionally get signal. And can also be used to take those all important snaps.
• Camera – If you’re not using your phone as one.
• 100 and 200 Yen Coins – For the toilets, as they usually have a small charge
• Walking Pole – If you don’t have your own you can buy a wooden one at the 5th station (they have adult and kid sizes). Then as you go up you can get them stamped at various points to show your progress (this does cost a few Yen). This is a really cool memento you can take back. Poles are particularly useful for the steep descent.

What’s it like to climb Mount Fuji with kids?

Whilst intermediate hikers should be able to climb Mount Fuji without too much difficulty, we still found it tough at times and had to really dig deep.

My eldest was struggling at various points and a lesser person would have given up. But he’s an extremely determined kid and was adamant he was getting to the top despite me giving him the option to turn back and he really pushed himself.

Kids Quote: “I’m so tired, but I want to keep going, if we don’t get to the top it will be for nothing.”

Laith, Age 9

I had to literally drag him up the last 50m by tying my belt to my backpack and he held onto it to give him some extra hoist.

So it wasn’t easy and it is not for the faint-hearted. But the climb was also so enjoyable and rewarding.

And the feeling when getting to the top was indescribable.

So I would highly recommend Fuji if you’re looking for similar things that I’ve listed above and you have a child who is a relatively good hiker.

Remote and quiet it is not, so if you’re after a solitary climb this mountain is not the one you’re looking for.

However you should be able to find some moments of peace and solitude along the way, as we did during the highly anticipated sunrise moment…

Where is Best for Sunrise?

Sunrise is an important part of the climb and most people are obsessed with watching it from the top.

Despite the majority of websites, posts and most of the regular climbers and lodge workers saying it is not the best idea.

This is because of the popularity of it.

The top is usually very crowded at sunrise and there is usually a bottle neck approaching the top around this time, which means you even have to queue sometimes as you get nearer.

You may get lucky and not have crowds, but it’s unlikely in climbing season.

There is also then the ‘pressure’ of ensuring you get to the top in time. This sometimes makes people rush the climb. This adds to the risk of altitude sickness, so they miss the sunrise anyway because they’re throwing up!

This sounded incredibly unappealing to me and immediately deterred me from the idea.

Having spoken to one of the workers at our lodge, they further cemented this and suggested a much nicer way was to get up around 4.00am, walk up for about an hour and then watch the sunrise from somewhere just above the 8th station (we were staying at the 7th).

He said it would be quiet and we shouldn’t be clambering in the dark for too long with the head torch as visibility would be reasonable by this time.

Then we could take our time, head to the top, which would also be quieter by the time we got there, take it in and head down when we were ready.

And I am so glad I took his advice.

Our sunrise moment was so peaceful and rewarding.

We were the only two people where we were and we just sat and watched it rise whilst sipping our morning drinks in complete silence. This is still one of my favourite moments from our RTW Trip.

This only works of course if you are on one of the trails that is on the side of the mountain where you can see the sunrise. Hence another reason why Yoshida is a good choice with kids (or even without).

To some though, the novelty of watching the rising sun from the highest point in the land of the rising sun is too much of a temptation to refuse, and can’t pass up that Instagram moment of being at the top of Fuji as it rises.

So if that’s what you want to do; leave your lodge early enough so you don’t rush and have enough time to accommodate any possible queues and ensure you have a head torch as you will be climbing in the dark.

But be prepared for crowds. You have been warned!