Climbing Mount Fuji for sunrise: which headlamp for the hut and the night climb?

A climber's headlamp lighting a steep rocky path with a rope on metal posts on Mount Fuji before dawn, with a few small headlamps higher up.

Climbing Mount Fuji for sunrise? You leave the hut at 02:00, in the dark.

In one operator's example you climb the Yoshida trail to a shared hut at the 8th station, sleep there, then climb about 3 hours up steep rock and gravel in a line of climbers to watch sunrise near the top. A headlamp and a spare battery are on the official equipment list.

Short answer

The Nitecore HA27 UHE headlamp on its middle setting, a second charged battery (HLB1500), and a second light with its own battery, which can be one you already own.

See the kit ↓

The climb at a glance

The Yoshida trail with a hut night, as one guided tour (Kuri-board) and the official Mount Fuji climbing site describe it.

The 2026 climbing season ran from 1 July to 10 September and has ended. Dates for 2027 have not been announced as of 5 October 2026, and Hakuunso opened its 2026 hut bookings on 1 May. Check the official Mount Fuji climbing site for dates, the entry fee and gate hours before you plan.

Satellite map of the Yoshida trail from the 5th Station to the summit gate The walk up on day 1 from the Subaru Line 5th Station to the hut is a solid white line. The climb from the hut to the summit gate in the dark is a solid yellow line. The separate way down, in daylight, is a white dashed line. Six numbered points mark the 5th Station, the 7th Station, Hakuunso, the Original 8th Station, the 9th Station and the summit gate.
Day 1 to the hut, daylight then dusk Hut to the top, by headlamp The separate way down, in daylight

Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery, 25 July 2026. Route from © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). For explanation only, not for navigation.

  • 6.3 km5th Station to the summit gate, along the mapped line. The official figure for the trail is 6.8 km.
  • about 1,450 mof height gained, the official figure
  • 1 nightin a shared hut at about 3,200 m
  • 02:00leave the hut for the top
Elevation profile, 5th Station to the summit gate Height rises from about 2,314 metres at the Subaru Line 5th Station to about 3,200 metres at the hut and about 3,709 metres at the summit gate, over 6.32 kilometres. The part to the hut is walked in daylight and dusk, the part from the hut to the top by headlamp. 2,500 3,000 3,500 m 0 2 4 6.32 Distance, km
  • 1Subaru Line 5th Station
  • 27th Station
  • 3Hakuunso, about 3,200 m
  • 4Original 8th Station
  • 59th Station
  • 6Summit gate by Kusushi shrine

Heights from SRTM 30 m data, so read them as about. Yellow: walked by headlamp. The last hour or two before the hut can also be in the dark.

Rules that affect your night

  • The entry fee is JPY 4,000 per person, paid online. Official notice
  • The gate is closed from 14:00 to 03:00 unless you are staying in a hut. Official notice
  • Huts must be booked in advance. Official hut directory
  • No climbing through the night without a hut stay. The authority calls it bullet climbing and says it is extremely dangerous. Official model plan

Your two days, hour by hour

Clock times are one operator's example (Kuri-board, Yoshida 2 day tour). The operator may adjust them on the day.

14:00Headlamp off
Subaru Line 5th StationChange, eat and get used to the height. Keep the headlamp at the top of your bag, locked.
Dusk on the trailHeadlamp on
The last stretch to the hutSunset on 10 September is about 18:11 and the operator's arrival at the hut is 20:00, so the last stretch can be by headlamp. The path is steep rock from about the 7th Station.
A climber on rocky steps below a mountain hut at dusk, headlamp just switched on.
20:00Red or lowest light
At the hutA shared sleeping hall with two-tier beds and roll curtains. Goraikokan, another Yoshida hut, lists lights out at 21:00, and Hakuunso does not publish a time. For red light, hold MODE for one second from off. For the lowest white (8 lumens), double press Power.
A climber sorting a daypack on a bunk in a shared hut, lit only by a dim red headlamp, with a sleeping shape behind.
Before you leaveRed or lowest light
Packing beside sleeping peopleUnlocking the headlamp turns on white light, so unlock it outside the sleeping hall. Swap in the fresh battery here.
A person lacing a boot at a hut doorway, lit only by a dim headlamp, with the night outside.
02:00Headlamp on
Leave the hutUse the middle brightness setting in neutral white: hold Power for one second, then one short press.
Three climbers leaving a hut terrace up a rocky path in the dark, headlamps aimed at the ground.
Above the Original 8th StationHeadlamp on, aimed down
The line slowsThe Subashiri trail joins here and the queue slows. The official site says the area above the 8th station is most crowded from 03:00 to 05:00. From the 9th Station the path is narrow, steep and rocky. In a queue, aim the light down at the feet of the person ahead, and keep your hands off the guide ropes (an official rule).
A stopped line of climbers on a narrow rocky path at night, headlamps aimed down at the feet ahead.
05:00Low light, then off
Near the summitThe operator's estimate. Sunrise is about 05:13 on 10 September.
Climbers sitting on rock near the summit at first sun over a sea of cloud, one with a headlamp pushed up on the beanie.
10:00Headlamp off
After sunrise, down the separate descent routeZigzag gravel in daylight, and dusty. The operator's estimate for the 5th Station is about 10:00.

How much runtime does your headlamp need?

About 6 hours 45 minutes of walking light and 1 hour 35 minutes of low light, across both days.

These are our planning figures. They allow 2 hours of light at dusk on day 1, about 3 hours from the hut to the top and 1.5 hours spare for a delay or weather. The rest is for the hut and waiting.

our 8h20 allowance
What you need
Low light Walking Spare for delay or weather
HA27 UHE headlamp
HA27 UHE, one battery, middle setting
HLB1500 spare battery
With the spare battery swapped in

One battery gives about 7 hours on the middle setting, measured at 26°C. The light gets dimmer as the battery drains. That is too close to 6h45 to rely on one battery, so carry the spare and swap it in at the hut before the 02:00 start. Plan as if you cannot charge at the hut.

How far ahead you need to see

A headlamp-lit view up a rocky Mount Fuji path at night, with the guide rope on the far left, a trekking pole tip and boot at the bottom edge, and the path fading into the dark about 15 to 20 m ahead. 0.5 to 3 m: your feet on loose rock 3 to 10 m: the next turn of the roped path 10 to 20 m: the marker after that

Illustration, not a measured beam pattern.

What those distances look like

  • 5 m: about one car length
  • 10 m: about a 3 storey block
  • 20 m: about a 7 storey HDB block

In the hut, 0.3 to 1 m is enough for your bag beside sleepers, on red or the lowest white.

The 94 m range on the middle setting is where the beam fades to moonlight level. You see rock clearly for a fraction of that, and in a queue the near part of the beam is what matters.

If the battery runs down, or the lamp fails

Battery runs down

Swap in the charged spare battery (HLB1500).

Lamp fails, drops or gets lost

A second light with its own battery, such as the NU30 or a headlamp you already own. A spare battery cannot fix a lamp that is broken or gone.

Gloved hands opening the battery case of a headlamp and holding a spare battery pack by the light of a companion's headlamp.

Practical checklist

  • Charge both batteries before you fly.
  • Lock the headlamp in your bag: hold both buttons for 2 seconds until it flashes 3 times.
  • Keep the spare battery where you can reach it with gloves on.
  • Practise the battery swap at home, in the dark.
  • Check the strap fits over a warm hat.
  • Learn the red and lowest white settings before you get to the hut.
  • The battery case also takes 3 AAA batteries in an emergency, for about 3 hours on the middle setting.

The kit we'd pack

HA27 UHE headlamp
Main headlamp
HA27 UHE headlamp
S$79
  • Middle setting: 280 lumens, about 7 hours on the included battery
  • Red light, and an 8 lumen white, for the hut
  • 100 g with battery
  • Rain resistant (IPX6)
  • Charges by USB-C in about 1h30
View product →
HLB1500 battery pack
Spare battery
HLB1500 spare battery
S$19
  • The same battery that comes with the headlamp
  • Another 7 hours on the middle setting
  • Charges by USB-C on the battery itself
View product →
Headlamp and spare battery S$98
NU30 backup headlamp
Backup light
A second light with its own battery

A headlamp you already own, or the NU30: 200 lumens for about 8 hours on its middle setting, red light, 90 g. From S$79. View product →

Already own a headlamp? Check it against this list.

  • Runs about 6h45 on a setting you can walk by, or takes a spare battery.
  • Has red light, or a white setting under 10 lumens, for the hut.
  • The strap holds over a warm hat.
  • You can work the buttons with gloves in the dark.
  • You have a second light.

Other headlamps that also work

HA29 UHE headlamp
Longer on one battery
HA29 UHE headlamp + spare HLB2500 battery
  • 300 lumens for about 8h45 per battery on the middle setting. 112 g.
  • Waterproof to IPX8 with its HLB2500 battery. The spare is the HLB2500, S$39.
S$158
View headlamp → View battery →
UT27 MCT headlamp
Lightest
UT27 MCT headlamp + spare HLB1500 battery
  • 74 g, 280 lumens, about 6h30 per battery, so you will swap.
  • No white below 100 lumens, so use its red light in the hut.
S$128
View headlamp → View battery →
NU45 headlamp
No battery to swap
NU45 headlamp
  • 300 lumens for about 17 hours on the middle setting, on a built-in battery.
  • 126 g, red light and a lowest white of 8 lumens for the hut.
S$139
View headlamp →

Runtimes measured at 26°C on the setting and battery listed.

What the mountain looks like

One photo is from the night climb in 2010 and one is from daylight in 2023.

Climbers at night beside the Edoya hut on the Yoshida trail of Mount Fuji, with a line of headlamps on the slope above.
Climbers at the Edoya hut, 8th station, Yoshida trail, at night, August 2010. A line of headlamps climbs the slope above. Photo: Hajime Nakano, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized. Licence.
Mountain huts and a rope-lined path with climbers on the upper Yoshida trail of Mount Fuji, in daylight.
Huts and the roped path on the upper Yoshida trail, in daylight, July 2023. Photo: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and recompressed from the original. Licence.

Read firsthand accounts

These are personal accounts, not endorsements of any product. None of these climbers is known to have used Nitecore gear.

Questions

Is a headlamp required on Mount Fuji?

Yes. A headlamp and a spare battery are both on the official essential equipment list, and the official site says to check the headlamp works before you go. The Kuri-board tour lists a headlamp as required personal equipment, and rental gear is not in the tour price.

Do I need a red light for the hut?

No rule requires it. The official ranger article says a headlamp with red light is better in a hut because it reduces glare and shows consideration for others. How to switch on the HA27 UHE red light is in the hut row of the hour by hour section.

Can I charge at the hut?

Tomoekan says its outlets are free to guests, and Kamaiwakan says every room has outlets. Hakuunso publishes no charging. Plan as if you cannot.

Will one battery last both days?

No, not with a margin. One battery gives about 7 hours on the middle setting, and these two days need about 6 hours 45 minutes of walking light and 1 hour 35 minutes of low light. Carry the spare battery (HLB1500) and swap it in at the hut.

Can I skip the hut and climb through the night?

No. The gate is closed from 14:00 to 03:00 unless you are staying in a hut, and the authority calls climbing through the night without a hut stay extremely dangerous. The rules are listed in the climb at a glance section.

How cold is it at the top?

Near 0°C before sunrise, according to the official climbing site, which also says the longer you wait for sunrise the higher the risk of hypothermia. The Japan Meteorological Agency's average daily minimum at the summit is 2.8°C in July, 3.8°C in August and 0.6°C in September (1991 to 2020). Pack a warm layer for the wait.

Is the trail open now?

No. The 2026 season ended on 10 September and the official site says the trail is closed from the 5th Station to the summit. Dates for 2027 have not been announced as of 5 October 2026. Hakuunso opened its 2026 hut bookings on 1 May.

I am also climbing Kinabalu, which headlamp?

See our Kinabalu headlamp guide. The HA29 UHE with its spare battery is our pick for that climb.

Questions about your own gear? Contact the team.

Sources and credits

  1. Official Mount Fuji climbing site, homepage (season ended). fujisan-climb.jp
  2. Official 2026 Yoshida trail restrictions notice. fujisan-climb.jp
  3. Official 2026 facility schedule and hiking fee payment. fujisan-climb.jp
  4. Official things to know before climbing, equipment checklist. fujisan-climb.jp
  5. Official Yoshida trail model plan. fujisan-climb.jp
  6. Official mountain hut directory. fujisan-climb.jp
  7. Official ranger article, 21 July 2023. fujisan-climb.jp
  8. Official comparison of routes, distances and terrain. fujisan-climb.jp
  9. Kuri-board, 2026 Mt. Fuji Yoshida Trail Tour. kuri-board.jp
  10. Hakuunso, home. fujisan-hakuun.com
  11. Hakuunso, facilities. fujisan-hakuun.com
  12. Hakuunso, FAQ and sunrise times. fujisan-hakuun.com
  13. Fujisan Hotel, stop bullet climbing notice. fujisanhotel.com
  14. Hakuunso, English page. fujisan-hakuun.com
  15. Official site, avoid the crowds page, and the Japan Meteorological Agency 1991 to 2020 normals for the Fujisan station. fujisan-climb.jp jma.go.jp
  16. Hakuunso, news (hut booking opened 1 May for 2026). fujisan-hakuun.com
  17. Tomoekan and Kamaiwakan hut pages (outlets), and Sunshine Tour's Goraikokan hut page (lights out). tomoekan.com kamaiwakan.jpn.org sunshinetour.co.jp
  18. Nitecore, HA27 UHE manual. nitecore.com
  19. Nitecore, UT27 MCT manual. nitecore.com
  20. Nitecore, HA29 UHE manual. nitecore.com
  21. Nitecore, NU45 manual. nitecore.com
  22. Nitecore, NU30 manual. nitecore.com
  23. Nitecore, HLB1500 product page. nitecore.com
  24. Nitecore, HLB2500 product page. nitecore.com
  25. Nitecore Singapore, catalogue and price snapshot, 5 October 2026. nitecore.sg
  26. Nitecore Singapore, Kinabalu headlamp guide, for readers doing both trips. nitecore.sg
  27. Iida-san, note.com, 24 August 2026. note.com
  28. Following the Shogun, Mt Fuji climb. followingtheshogun.com
  29. Reehan Miah, Fuji. reehanmiah.com
  30. AsSeenByJane, tips for hiking up Mount Fuji, 2019. asseenbyjane.wordpress.com
  31. Wikimedia Commons, Climbers and mountain huts on Yoshida Route, Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0. commons.wikimedia.org
  32. Wikimedia Commons, Edoya hut at night, Yoshida trail, Hajime Nakano, CC BY 2.0. commons.wikimedia.org
  33. Route data, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. openstreetmap.org
  34. Sentinel-2 imagery, Copernicus Sentinel data legal notice. sentinels.copernicus.eu
  35. SRTM 30 m elevation service, used to sample heights along the mapped line. api.opentopodata.org

This is a buying guide for headlamps, not climbing or safety advice. On the mountain, follow your guide, the hut staff and the official Mount Fuji climbing rules on route, timing and safety.

Scene illustrations on this page were created for this guide and do not show a specific climb.

Last reviewed 5 October 2026.