Visiting Mt. Fuji's 5th Station Without Climbing: Roads, Car Restrictions and Tolls

You don't have to climb Mt. Fuji to stand on it. Four mountain roads lead up to "5th stations", the points where the climbing trails begin, and from there you can look down over the lakes and forests, walk a short nature path, visit a shrine or simply have lunch above the clouds. But the roads have their own rules: one is a toll road paid in cash, private cars are banned in summer, and in the cold months some roads close for the season. This guide sets out what applied in 2026, using the official pages of the Yamanashi Prefecture road corporation, the prefectures and the official climbing site.

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The four 5th stations and their roads

The road corporation's FAQ explains that each trail has its own 5th station, in a different place and at a different height. On the Yamanashi side, the Fuji Subaru Line is a toll road; on the Shizuoka side, the Fuji Skyline and the Fuji Azami Line are free. The official climbing site lists the 2026 dates:

On the Shizuoka side the roads close in winter (dates above, and they can change with snow). The Fuji Skyline also had night closures, from 17:00 to 8:00 the next morning, until mid-May in 2026.

The Fuji Subaru Line (Yamanashi side)

According to the Yamanashi Prefecture road corporation, the Subaru Line is a mountain toll road of about 30 km, starting near Kawaguchiko Station, up to the 5th station at 2,305 m, about 40 minutes from the toll gate.

• Open all year, with no seasonal closure, but only within operating hours. Outside them, the gates are shut and neither people nor cars may stay on the road, including in the parking lots (except during the climbing season).
• Closures: heavy rain, strong wind, ice and snow can close all or part of the road on the day. Tolls are not refunded if the weather stops you reaching the 5th station.
• Tolls (2026): a regular car pays 2,800 yen return for the whole road; a kei car or motorcycle over 125 cc pays 2,300 yen. One way is half the return price. Tolls are cash only (or coupon tickets): no credit cards, no ETC and no travel company vouchers.
• Winter driving: snow and ice can appear suddenly above 2,000 m; fit winter tires or carry chains. The toilets at two parking areas on the way are closed in winter because the pipes freeze.

Summer: park and ride

During the private car restriction (in 2026, from July 3 at 18:00 to September 10 at 18:00), private cars, kei cars and motorcycles can't use the Subaru Line. Yamanashi Prefecture's 2026 leaflet asks drivers to park at Fujisan Parking in Fujiyoshida and take the shuttle bus or a taxi. The shuttle bus cost 3,400 yen return for adults (junior high school age and up) and 1,700 yen for elementary school children, valid for 2 days. The Shizuoka roads have their own restriction periods (see the figure above); check the official climbing site for how to get up during them.

No climbing fee for sightseeing

The climbing rules and fees apply above the 5th station trailheads. Yamanashi Prefecture's leaflet says 5th station sightseeing, such as nature tours, hiking activities, shops, restaurants and the shrine, is not affected by the climbing restrictions. On the Shizuoka side, the prefecture says the Mt. Futago course and the Kofuji course, and visiting Komitake Shrine, are outside the rules, but the Hoei crater course is covered. Climbing rules are explained in our climbing rules guide.

Whatever the season, dress warmly: the road corporation notes that the weather on the way can change from cloud to rain to fog to sun as you climb, and at 2,305 m it is much colder than at the lakes.

Quick checklist

1. Driving up the Subaru Line? Bring cash for the toll, and check today's operating status.
2. Summer (early July to September 10)? Park below and take the shuttle bus.
3. Winter? Shizuoka-side roads are closed; the Subaru Line needs winter tires or chains.
4. Bring a warm layer, even in summer.

Thinking about going higher outside the season? Please read our off-season guide first. More on our Mt. Fuji area page.

Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Road dates, restriction periods and tolls change each year. Please confirm on the official pages below.

References

• Yamanashi Prefecture Road Corporation: Outline of the Fuji Subaru Line (Japanese)
• Yamanashi Prefecture Road Corporation: Tolls and operating information (Japanese)
• Yamanashi Prefecture Road Corporation: FAQ (Japanese)
• Yamanashi Prefecture: 2026 private car restriction and shuttle bus leaflet (Japanese and English, PDF)
• Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing: Operating periods for each facility (2026)
• Shizuoka Prefecture: Climbing rules on the three Shizuoka trails (Japanese)