Fuji is divided into 10 ‘stations’ from base (first station) to summit (10th), but most climbers start from one of the four fifth stations, reachable by road. The most popular is Kawaguchi-ko Trail , accessed from the Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station , because of its direct access by bus from Shinjuku Station. From the fifth stations, allow five to six hours to reach the top and about three hours to descend, plus 1½ hours for circling the crater at the top.
Trails below the fifth stations are now used mainly as short hiking routes, but you might consider the challenging but rewarding 19km hike from base to summit on the historic Old Yoshidaguchi Trail , which starts at Fuji Sengen-jinja in the town of Fuji-Yoshida. You can start from the station or take a bus part of the way to Umagaeshi (¥500).
The Climbing Mt Fuji brochure, available at the tourist centres at both Mt Fuji and Kawaguchi-ko Stations, is useful.
