The right paperwork with the authorities

According to the Yamanashi authorities climbing Mt Fuji in winter needs a permit. In reality this is more like registration as it is not something you pay for nor are permits limited, but it can be enforced by police present at the trailheads.

Like many of our other trips into reserve areas, registration is requested for both safety and to collate impact of visitors, and in places known for mountaineering, to help with any response. Unlike permits required for the Himalayas, these are not complicated affairs, and are per team rather than per individual.

We are all for the permitting system as it reduces ill-prepared people being on the mountain, something that has impacted our trips. We have 15 years worth of these permits showing we are doing things right, and don’t need the trips we run compromised by people who don’t.

Registration can be checked both at the bottom of the peak and higher up if the authorities are present at the 5th station. If not done prior online, teams will need to do them on paper, and it can be a 30min process. Gear is checked and details like emergency contact is taken

As tourism increases to Japan there have been more and more incidents involving foreigners, hence the climbing permit for Mt Fuji in winter has become ever more serious. As yet it is not legally binding, but there is discussion about it.

As we have been getting permits to climb Mt Fuji in winter for years we have a good relationship with the authorities and are waved through. We arrange it all for our climbers, including full spec gear, but do not procure registration for people not confirmed on one of our trips.