Mt Fuji Road Access: Subaru Line, Driving Routes & 5th Station Parking

Three Roads to Mt Fuji's 5th Stations

Three toll roads lead from the base of Mt Fuji to mid-mountain 5th Stations at roughly 2,200-2,400 m elevation. Each road serves a different trailhead and approaches the mountain from a different direction. Choosing the right mt fuji road depends on which trail you plan to climb, which side of the mountain you want to visit, and whether private vehicle restrictions are in effect.

This guide covers all three routes — the Fuji Subaru Line, Mt Fuji Skyline, and Fuji Azami Line — along with my-car restrictions, parking, shuttle buses, and driving from Tokyo. For an overview of all access options, see our complete Mt Fuji guide. For trail-specific details, see our climbing Mt Fuji trail guide. For comparing visit strategies for Mt Fuji including driving vs train vs bus, we have a dedicated comparison guide.

Road	Side	5th Station	Toll	Elevation
Fuji Subaru Line	Yamanashi (north)	Yoshida	Yes	2,305 m
Mt Fuji Skyline	Shizuoka (south)	Fujinomiya	Free	2,380 m
Fuji Azami Line	Shizuoka (east)	Subashiri	Yes	2,000 m

Fuji Subaru Line: Yamanashi Side (Yoshida Trail)

The Fuji Subaru Line (富士スバルライン) is the most popular road to Mt Fuji, connecting the Kawaguchiko area to the Yoshida 5th Station at 2,305 m. This is the main access route for the Yoshida Trail, used by the majority of climbers.

Toll Fees and Opening Hours

The Fuji Subaru Line is a toll road. According to the Official Mt. Fuji Climbing Site, the road is not open 24 hours during the mountain-opening period — check the official site for current hours and toll pricing, as rates can change annually.

Important: the road is not open around the clock even when private vehicles are allowed. Gate opening and closing times vary by season, so confirm before making a late-afternoon trip.

Parking at Yoshida 5th Station

Outside of my-car restriction periods, the Yoshida 5th Station has a parking area. During restriction periods (July-September), the 5th Station lot is closed to private vehicles. You must instead park at the Fujisan Parking (富士山駐車場) lot at the base of the Subaru Line and take a shuttle bus up.

Mt Fuji Skyline: Shizuoka Side (Fujinomiya Trail)

The Mt Fuji Skyline (富士山スカイライン) approaches from the Shizuoka side and leads to the Fujinomiya 5th Station at 2,380 m — the highest drivable point on the mountain. Unlike the Subaru Line, the Skyline road itself is now toll-free.

According to the Official Mt. Fuji Climbing Site, private vehicle restrictions on the Mt Fuji Skyline run from July 10 at 9:00 AM to September 10 at 6:00 PM (2025 dates; check for 2026 updates). During restrictions, park at Mizugatsuka Parking (水ヶ塚駐車場) and take the shuttle bus.

The road closes entirely for winter, typically from late November through late April. In heavy rain, the road may close temporarily and shuttle buses will not operate — always check weather conditions before heading up.

Fuji Azami Line: Subashiri Trail Access

The Fuji Azami Line leads to the Subashiri 5th Station at approximately 2,000 m on the eastern side of Mt Fuji. This is a less crowded alternative to the Yoshida and Fujinomiya routes.

According to the Official Mt. Fuji Climbing Site, my-car restrictions on the Azami Line run from July 10 at 9:00 AM to September 10 at 6:00 PM (2025 dates). During restrictions, park at Subashiri Versatile Square and take shuttle buses.

Outside restriction periods, parking at the 5th Station costs ¥1,500 (~$10) on weekdays and ¥2,000 (~$13) on weekends and holidays.

My-Car Restrictions: When Private Vehicles Are Banned

My-car restrictions (マイカー規制) are annual private vehicle bans enforced during the July-September climbing season on all three Mt Fuji toll roads. The restrictions exist to reduce traffic congestion, protect the mountain environment, and ensure emergency vehicle access.

During restrictions, you cannot drive a private car to any of the 5th Stations. Instead, you must park at designated lower lots and take shuttle buses.

2025 Restriction Dates by Route

The following dates are from the 2025 season. Dates for 2026 will be published on the official climbing site closer to the season.

Road	Restriction Start	Restriction End
Fuji Subaru Line	July 4, 6:00 PM	September 10, 6:00 PM
Mt Fuji Skyline	July 10, 9:00 AM	September 10, 6:00 PM
Fuji Azami Line	July 10, 9:00 AM	September 10, 6:00 PM

Note: these dates may shift slightly year to year. Always confirm on the Official Mt. Fuji Climbing Site before your trip.

Where to Park During Restrictions

Road	Parking Lot	Shuttle To
Fuji Subaru Line	Fujisan Parking (富士山駐車場)	Yoshida 5th Station
Mt Fuji Skyline	Mizugatsuka Parking (水ヶ塚駐車場)	Fujinomiya 5th Station
Fuji Azami Line	Subashiri Versatile Square	Subashiri 5th Station

Shuttle Buses During Climbing Season

Shuttle buses operate from each designated parking lot to the corresponding 5th Station throughout the restriction period. According to the Official Mt. Fuji Climbing Site, shuttle bus fares are approximately ¥1,320 (~$9) one-way or ¥2,400 (~$16) round trip for the Mt Fuji Skyline and Fuji Azami Line routes.

Key points about shuttle buses:

• Buses run frequently during peak hours but may have reduced service early morning and late evening
• The Mt Fuji Skyline shuttle does not operate when the road is closed due to heavy rain
• No advance reservation is needed — pay at the bus stop
• Keep your return ticket; you will need it for the ride back down
• During peak weekends (late July and August), expect wait times of 30-60 minutes for buses

Driving from Tokyo: Routes, Tolls, and Tips

Via Chuo Expressway (Kawaguchiko IC)

The most common driving route from Tokyo to the Yamanashi side of Mt Fuji follows the Chuo Expressway (中央自動車道) westbound from central Tokyo to Kawaguchiko IC. The drive takes approximately 1.5-2 hours without traffic, though weekend and holiday congestion can stretch this to 3 hours or more.

From Kawaguchiko IC, follow signs to the Fuji Subaru Line toll gate. Expressway tolls from central Tokyo run approximately ¥3,000 (~$20) each way. For a complete breakdown of all Tokyo-to-Fuji transport options, see our Mt Fuji day trip from Tokyo guide. If you prefer rail, see JR rail routes to Mt Fuji.

Via Tomei Expressway (Gotemba IC)

For the Shizuoka-side roads (Mt Fuji Skyline and Fuji Azami Line), take the Tomei Expressway from Tokyo to Gotemba IC. The drive is approximately 1.5 hours without traffic. From Gotemba IC, it is about 40 minutes to the base of the Mt Fuji Skyline or Fuji Azami Line.

This route is also useful if you are combining a Mt Fuji visit with Hakone or Gotemba Premium Outlets.

Driving tips:

• Rent a car with ETC (electronic toll collection) to speed through expressway gates
• Weekend morning traffic from Tokyo can be severe — depart before 7:00 AM or after 10:00 AM
• Winter tires or chains may be required on mountain roads from November through April
• Japanese road signs include romaji, but a GPS navigation system (standard in rental cars) is essential
• Fuel up before the mountain roads — gas stations near the 5th Stations are scarce

Frequently Asked Questions