Overview. This recommended itinerary takes place over 2 days. On the first day, the hike begins from the Fujinomiya 5th station (2,400m) and goes up to Akaiwa Hachigo mountain hut (3,300m) located at the 8th station where you rest for the night. This first climb is around 4km and will take most of the day.

The time required for a visit to Mount Fuji depends entirely on whether you intend to climb it or simply view it from the surrounding regions. For those wishing to summit, a typical itinerary requires at least two full days. Most climbers start at the 5th Station in the early afternoon, hike for several hours to a mountain hut at the 7th or 8th station to rest, and then begin the final ascent at midnight to reach the peak for the "Goraiko" (sunrise). After viewing the crater, the descent takes another 3 to 5 hours. If you are not climbing, a day trip from Tokyo (approx. 10–12 hours) is sufficient to visit the Fuji Five Lakes area, specifically Lake Kawaguchiko or the Chureito Pagoda, for iconic views. However, many travelers prefer to spend two days and one night in a ryokan with an onsen in Hakone or Kawaguchiko to increase the chances of seeing the peak, as Fuji is notoriously shy and often shrouded in clouds. A multi-day stay allows for more flexibility and the chance to visit the nearby Hakone Open-Air Museum or take the ropeway.