Winter, December to February
The clearest season and the coldest. Insulated jacket, gloves, hat, thermal base layer and grippy shoes. Lakeshore wind at sunrise feels far colder than the forecast number, and Chureito steps can be icy.
Practical
Mt Fuji packing list.
Fuji sits in its own weather system. The base can be mild while the summit is below freezing, and a clear sunrise is usually the coldest hour of your trip. Pack for the season you are actually visiting.
By season
What to wear
Spring, March to May
Big daily swings. Light down or fleece plus a windproof shell, and a thin scarf for early mornings. Sakura weeks bring rain showers, so a compact umbrella earns its space.
Summer, June to August
Humid and hazy at the base, cold on the summit. Breathable shirts, sun hat, sunscreen and a proper rain shell for tsuyu. If you climb, add fleece, hard shell, headlamp and gloves.
Autumn, September to November
The best balance. Mid layer plus shell, long trousers for evening, and a lens cloth: maple season mornings are damp and often start with mist over the lakes.
Every trip
Small things people forget
- · IC card such as Suica or Pasmo, many Fuji buses accept it, some rural ones do not
- · Cash in small notes for shrine offerings, lockers and roadside stalls
- · Power bank, cold weather drains phones fast at viewpoints
- · Small rubbish bag, bins are rare across the whole area
- · Refillable bottle, spring water taps at Oshino Hakkai and the shrines
- · Compact tripod or beanbag for sunrise and Diamond Fuji frames
- · Motion sickness tablets for the winding Subaru Line bus
- · Offline map, mobile signal drops in Aokigahara and above the fifth station
Plan