Gotemba 5th Station (Gotemba Trail)

What to know

Gotemba 5th Station (御殿場五合目, Gotemba Gogōme) is the least developed of Mount Fuji's four 5th stations, featuring only a small shop, bus stop, toilets, and parking.

At just 1,400 meters above sea level, it is by far the lowest of the 5th stations, making the Gotemba Trail the longest route to the summit. The ascent takes 7–10 hours along an exposed path through nearly featureless terrain of lava rock fields, with only a few mountain huts at the 7th and 8th stations.

However, this terrain becomes an advantage during descent. A thrilling section called Osunabashiri ("great sand run") is a wide, straight path covered in loose lava gravel where you can literally run down a third of the mountain. With long leaping strides, you can cover in minutes what took hours to climb, making the 3–6 hour descent comparable to other trails.

Buses run between Gotemba Station and Gotemba 5th Station every 2–3 hours during climbing season (see timetable) and less frequently on weekends and holidays in autumn (see timetable). The ride takes about 30 minutes and costs 1,280 yen one way; round-trip tickets are 2,300 yen. Seat reservations are not available.

Take the JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo to Kozu (75 minutes, frequent departures), then change to the JR Gotemba Line to Gotemba (50 minutes, 1–2 trains per hour). The total fare is 2,050 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Alternatively, take the Odakyu Railway from Shinjuku to Shin-Matsuda Station (80 minutes, 800 yen by express, frequent departures), walk to JR Matsuda Station, and take the JR Gotemba Line to Gotemba (30 minutes, 510 yen, 1–2 trains per hour). The Japan Rail Pass is valid between Matsuda and Gotemba but not between Shinjuku and Shin-Matsuda.