A Yamanashi bus company has launched a new midnight direct bus service from central Tokyo to the fifth station of Mount Fuji [1].

The service aims to reduce the risks associated with "bullet climbing"—the practice of ascending the mountain without overnight rest—and to manage the pressures of overtourism. By providing transportation that arrives in the early morning, officials hope to improve climber safety and convenience for both domestic and international tourists [1, 2].

This new route is part of three new initiatives introduced for the 2026 climbing season [1]. The first bus departed from a Tokyo terminal at 11:30 p.m. on July 3 [1]. The service caters to those wishing to begin their ascent early in the day, targeting the high volume of visitors who arrive during the mountain's opening period.

The routes serve the fifth station across multiple access points, including the Yoshida route in Yamanashi Prefecture and the Subashiri route in Shizuoka Prefecture [1, 2]. This year marks a significant milestone as it is the first time in 13 years that a simultaneous opening of the mountain has occurred [1].

"I have arrived at the fifth station of Mount Fuji," said announcer Naoto Komami. "It is crowded because it is the first weekend since the mountain opened. I feel there are particularly many people from overseas" [1].

"At 11:30 p.m. on the 3rd, a bus has departed from within the Tokyo metropolitan area for Mount Fuji," said Director Sayuri Hatanaka [1]. Director Keijiro Tezuka said that a bus company from Yamanashi Prefecture established the midnight direct service from the city center starting this year [1].

The initiative comes as local authorities seek a balance between welcoming global tourism and maintaining the ecological and physical safety of the trail. By shifting the arrival time of climbers, the region hopes to stagger the flow of people and discourage dangerous, sleep-deprived climbs.

“A Yamanashi bus company has launched a new midnight direct bus service from central Tokyo to the fifth station of Mount Fuji.”

The introduction of midnight transport reflects a strategic shift in Japanese tourism management. By institutionalizing a safe, scheduled arrival at the fifth station, authorities are attempting to replace the dangerous 'bullet climbing' culture with a structured itinerary. This is a direct response to the surge in international visitors who may be unfamiliar with the physiological risks of high-altitude climbing without adequate acclimatization.