Mt.Fuji 5th Station

Mt. Fuji 5th Station (approximately 2,300 m elevation) is the highest point on Mt. Fuji that can be reached by car. It has lodges for climbers, shops, restaurants, horseback riding experiences, a shrine, and observation areas where you can enjoy Mt. Fuji even without hiking. Beyond the 5th Station parking lot and past the trailhead is the “Satomi-daira” viewpoint, a spectacular spot offering views of Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka (two of the Fuji Five Lakes), the foothill city of Fujiyoshida, and even the Japanese Alps on clear days. Next to Komitake Shrine—said to bring blessings for matchmaking—you can also watch the “Mt. Fuji sunrise.” There are also short walking courses around the 5th Station. A particularly easy route runs between the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station and Okuniwa: about 3 km one way and roughly 1 hour. The path is paved and has benches for resting, making it a relaxed way to enjoy the surrounding scenery and seasonal alpine plants. Even in summer, temperatures can be low and windy, so dress warmly—wearing a windbreaker is recommended. The 5th Station also has the “Mt. Fuji 5th Station Simple Post Office.” Despite being a “simple” post office, it provides standard postal services: you can mail postcards and even make savings deposits. Postcards mailed from here can receive a special “Mt. Fuji” postmark, and deposits can be stamped in your bankbook with a special “Mt. Fuji” savings stamp. Access to Mt. Fuji 5th Station is via four climbing routes: Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya. For the Yoshida Route trailhead, take a climbing bus from Fujikyu Railway “Kawaguchiko Station,” “Fujisan Station,” or “Fujisan Parking.” For the Subashiri Route trailhead, take a climbing bus from JR Gotemba Line “Gotemba Station” or Odakyu Odawara Line “Shin-Matsuda Station.” For the Gotemba Route trailhead, take a climbing bus from JR Gotemba Line “Gotemba Station.” For the Fujinomiya Route trailhead, take a climbing bus from JR Tokaido Main Line “Mishima Station,” JR Tokaido Shinkansen “Shin-Fuji Station,” JR Tokaido Line “Fuji Station,” or JR Minobu Line “Fujinomiya Station.” If driving, the Fuji Subaru Line is convenient: about 50 minutes from Chuo Expressway Kawaguchiko IC via the Subaru Line, or about 50 minutes from Higashi-Fuji-Goko Road Fujiyoshida IC via the Subaru Line.