Approximately 300,000 people climbed Mount Fuji in 2009.
The most popular period for people to hike up Mount Fuji is from July to August, while huts and other facilities are operating and the weather is warmest.
Buses to the trail heads typically used by climbers start running on July 1.
Climbing from October to May is very strongly discouraged, after a number of high-profile deaths and severe cold weather.
Most Japanese climb the mountain at night in order to be in a position at or near the summit when the sun rises.
The morning light is called 御来光 goraikō, "arrival of light".

There are four major routes to the summit, each has numbered stations along the way.
They are (clockwise, starting North): Kawaguchiko, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya routes.
Climbers usually start at the fifth stations, as these are reachable by car or by bus.
The summit is the tenth station on each trail.
The stations on different routes are at different elevations; the highest fifth station is located at Fujinomiya, followed by Yoshida, Subashiri, and Gotemba.
There are four additional routes from the foot of the mountain: Shojiko, Yoshida, Suyama, and Murayama routes.

Even though it has only the second-highest fifth stations, the Yoshida route is the most-popular route because of its large parking area and many large mountain huts where a climber can rest or stay.
During the summer season, most Mount Fuji climbing tour buses arrive there.
The next-popular is the Fujinomiya route, which has the highest fifth station, followed by Subashiri and Gotemba.
The ascent from the new fifth station can take anywhere between five and seven hours while the descent can take from three to four hours.

Even though most climbers do not climb the Subashiri and Gotemba routes, many descend these because of their ash-covered paths.
From the seventh station to near the fifth station, one could run down these ash-covered paths in approximately 30 minutes.

Besides these routes, there are tractor routes along the climbing routes.
These tractor routes are used to bring food and other materials to huts on the mountain.
Because the tractors usually take up most of the width of these paths and they tend to push large rocks from the side of the path, the tractor paths are off-limits to the climbers on sections that are not merged with the climbing or descending paths.
Nevertheless, one can sometimes see people riding mountain bikes along the tractor routes down from the summit.
This is particularly risky, as it becomes difficult to control speed and may send some rocks rolling along the side of the path, which may hit other people.

The four routes from the foot of the mountain offer historical sites.
The Murayama is the oldest Mount Fuji route and the Yoshida route still has many old shrines, teahouses, and huts along its path.
These routes are gaining popularity recently and are being restored, but climbing from the foot of the mountain is still relatively uncommon.
Also, bears have been sighted along the Yoshida route.

Huts at and above the fifth stations are usually manned during the climbing season, but huts below fifth stations are not usually manned for climbers.
The number of open huts on routes are proportional to the number of climbers—Yoshida has the most while Gotemba has the fewest.
The huts along the Gotemba route also tend to start later and close earlier than those along the Yoshida route.
Also, because Mount Fuji is designated as a national park, it is illegal to camp above the fifth station.

There are eight peaks around the crater at the summit.
The highest point in Japan, Ken-ga-mine, is where the Mount Fuji Radar System used to be (it was replaced by an automated system in 2004).
Climbers are able to visit each of these peaks.
Approximately 300,000 people climbed Mount Fuji in 2009. The most popular period for people to hike up Mount Fuji is from July to August, while huts and other facilities are operating and the weather is warmest. Buses to the trail heads typically used by climbers start running on July 1. Climbing from October to May is very strongly discouraged, after a number of high-profile deaths and severe cold weather. Most Japanese climb the mountain at night in order to be in a position at or near the summit when the sun rises. The morning light is called 御来光 goraikō, "arrival of light".
There are four major routes to the summit, each has numbered stations along the way. They are (clockwise, starting North): Kawaguchiko, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya routes. Climbers usually start at the fifth stations, as these are reachable by car or by bus. The summit is the tenth station on each trail. The stations on different routes are at different elevations; the highest fifth station is located at Fujinomiya, followed by Yoshida, Subashiri, and Gotemba. There are four additional routes from the foot of the mountain: Shojiko, Yoshida, Suyama, and Murayama routes.
Even though it has only the second-highest fifth stations, the Yoshida route is the most-popular route because of its large parking area and many large mountain huts where a climber can rest or stay. During the summer season, most Mount Fuji climbing tour buses arrive there. The next-popular is the Fujinomiya route, which has the highest fifth station, followed by Subashiri and Gotemba. The ascent from the new fifth station can take anywhere between five and seven hours while the descent can take from three to four hours.
Even though most climbers do not climb the Subashiri and Gotemba routes, many descend these because of their ash-covered paths. From the seventh station to near the fifth station, one could run down these ash-covered paths in approximately 30 minutes.
Besides these routes, there are tractor routes along the climbing routes. These tractor routes are used to bring food and other materials to huts on the mountain. Because the tractors usually take up most of the width of these paths and they tend to push large rocks from the side of the path, the tractor paths are off-limits to the climbers on sections that are not merged with the climbing or descending paths. Nevertheless, one can sometimes see people riding mountain bikes along the tractor routes down from the summit. This is particularly risky, as it becomes difficult to control speed and may send some rocks rolling along the side of the path, which may hit other people.
The four routes from the foot of the mountain offer historical sites. The Murayama is the oldest Mount Fuji route and the Yoshida route still has many old shrines, teahouses, and huts along its path. These routes are gaining popularity recently and are being restored, but climbing from the foot of the mountain is still relatively uncommon. Also, bears have been sighted along the Yoshida route.
Huts at and above the fifth stations are usually manned during the climbing season, but huts below fifth stations are not usually manned for climbers. The number of open huts on routes are proportional to the number of climbers—Yoshida has the most while Gotemba has the fewest. The huts along the Gotemba route also tend to start later and close earlier than those along the Yoshida route. Also, because Mount Fuji is designated as a national park, it is illegal to camp above the fifth station.
There are eight peaks around the crater at the summit. The highest point in Japan, Ken-ga-mine, is where the Mount Fuji Radar System used to be (it was replaced by an automated system in 2004). Climbers are able to visit each of these peaks.
Mount Fuji