Mt Fuji Weather: Today’s Forecast, 7-Day Outlook & When You Can See It

If you are trying to work out whether it is worth heading to Kawaguchiko tomorrow, the useful question is not just “will it rain near Mt Fuji” — it is “will I actually be able to see the mountain, and how should I dress.” Those are two different things, and a clear forecast does not always mean a clear Fuji. I live in Fujiyoshida, on the north side of the mountain, and I check Fuji by eye most mornings. This page pairs the local forecast with what the mountain actually looks like, so you can plan the day instead of guessing.

Mt Fuji weather at a glance

Mt Fuji has three very different weathers stacked on top of each other: mild base towns, a cold and windy 5th Station, and a summit that stays near or below freezing even in summer. Here is the quick version before the detail.

Summit and base temperature figures are JMA 1991–2020 normals, using the Kawaguchiko station as the nearest official reference for the lake-town side; nearby Fujiyoshida is similar but not identical. Summit wind and fog figures are JMA reference values, based mostly on 1991–2004 data. The 5th Station range is an estimate from the official lapse rate of about 0.6 °C per 100 m, not a 30-year normal.

Mt Fuji weather today: local forecast and my morning view

The most useful comparison I can give you is what the mountain looked like from Fujiyoshida today, set next to the forecast — not a webcam still, but a person on the north side looking south toward Fuji. The card below shows my latest in-person check — usually first thing in the morning, sometimes updated later in the day — and days I miss are marked rather than hidden; the weather forecast sits separately so you can compare the two.

Not visible Latest check · 17:35 JST · August 16, 2026

Today, August 16, 2026: Mt. Fuji was hidden by cloud in Nobu's latest on-site check from Fujiyoshida at 17:35 JST.

• WindNorth · morning reading, per JMA Kawaguchiko AMeDAS
• Best viewpoint nowFujiyoshida

Updated each morning from Fujiyoshida by Nobu, a long-time resident. See how this compares to algorithmic forecasts ↓

Today's checks

13:07 ✕ 15:12 ✕ 17:35 ✕

Fuji's visibility changes through the day — these are every check we posted today, in order. Click any thumbnail for the full photo.

Cloud is covering Mt. Fuji in the latest check — but visibility can change within hours. Check back later in the day, or get an email the next time Fuji clears.

For the deeper logic behind the call — cloud types, haze, time of day and viewpoint-by-viewpoint judgement — read my full Mt Fuji visibility guide, which is where I keep the observation archive and the forecast-vs-reality record.

Mt Fuji weather tomorrow and the 7-day forecast

For planning, the most useful forecast is not tomorrow’s temperature but the best viewing window this week — the difference between morning clarity and afternoon cloud build-up. The snapshot below reads the JMA data for the Fuji Five Lakes area over the next few days; for the full 7-day weather forecast I use JMA and tenki.jp, both linked under trusted sources. Give extra weight to the morning windows, and still check whether the afternoon is set to improve or deteriorate.

A few habits that help when you read any Fuji forecast:

• Weight the mornings. On the base side, a fine morning often clouds over by early afternoon in the warmer months, so a “sunny” day can still hide the summit by 2 p.m.
• Watch the day after rain. The morning after a rain system clears, or after wind has scoured the cloud away, Fuji can suddenly open up — some of my best mornings follow bad evenings.
• A city forecast is not a summit forecast. The lake-town snapshot above does not describe conditions on the mountain itself. Summit wind, temperature and lightning need a mountain-specific source (listed further down).

Will Mt Fuji be visible? What the weather actually means for views

Sunny weather does not guarantee a view of Mt Fuji: local cloud bands, haze and a cloud cap around the summit can hide the mountain even when the sky over town looks bright. The short version is below; the full “how to judge it” logic lives on the visibility guide so this page stays about the weather.

• Clear sky over town ≠ clear Fuji. The mountain makes its own weather. A band of cloud can sit on the middle slopes or cap the summit while it is genuinely sunny where you are standing.
• Humidity and haze are the summer enemy. In the warm, damp months the air holds more water vapour, so even on a rain-free day Fuji can fade into a white haze — clear to the eye locally, but not “photo clear.”
• Mornings win more often than afternoons. The ground heats through the day and builds convective cloud, so the early window is usually your best odds on the base side.

For the complete decision method — cloud types, the role of wind direction, time of day and which viewpoints hold up on a marginal day — see how to tell if Mt Fuji will be visible today. If you are visiting in one specific month, I also keep a worked example in how often Fuji is actually visible in August.

Mt Fuji weather by season: the best months for a clear view

If a clear view matters more than warm weather, the cold, dry months from late autumn to early spring give you the best odds, and the humid months from June to August give you the worst — especially after late morning. Here is how each season actually behaves.

Winter (December–February): coldest, but usually clearest

Winter is the paradox that surprises most visitors: the harder it is to be outside, the easier it is to see Fuji. The Japan Meteorological Agency explains it simply — winter air is colder with weaker convection, so it holds less water vapour and dust and the sky is more transparent. Expect cold mornings at the base, often below freezing (Kawaguchiko’s winter normals run roughly −0.4 to 2.3 °C, with lows down near −5 °C and occasional snow), but the sharpest outlines of the year. It is also prime Diamond Fuji season from certain viewpoints, when the sun lines up with the summit on specific dates.

Spring (March–May): changeable, and often hazy

Spring warms up quickly but brings unsettled systems and spring haze, which can leave the mountain looking washed-out and pale in photos even when it is technically visible. Mornings still beat afternoons. Cherry-blossom-and-Fuji shots can be excellent when conditions line up, but they depend on a clear, low-haze morning — keep the plan flexible.

Summer (June–August): the hardest season to see it

This is the counter-intuitive one, and it catches out a lot of summer visitors. Kawaguchiko’s summer humidity sits around 80–81%, and the summit records roughly 20 foggy days a month from June to September, so the mountain is often wrapped in its own cloud by mid-morning. Ironically, this is also climbing season — you can be standing on Fuji while day-trippers below never see it. If you are travelling in summer, read how often Fuji is visible in August The full summer numbers — 80 photographed mornings, month by month — are in my Mt Fuji summer visibility data report. before you set expectations.

Autumn (September–November): recovering, and improving fast

September is still wet on the base side (Kawaguchiko’s September precipitation normal is 264.7 mm), but as the air dries into late October and November the odds climb back toward winter levels. Late autumn mornings are a genuinely good, and much less cold, window.

Visibility counts above are from Fuji City’s official 2025 morning record, observed from the south side. I observe from the north side in Fujiyoshida, so my day-to-day calls can differ; the broad seasonal pattern is a useful reference, but local cloud can make the two sides disagree. Fuji City also found the mountain fully visible on 37.3% of mornings at 8 a.m., versus 26.3% at noon and 24.9% at 4 p.m. — good evidence that mornings matter.

My own north-side log adds a same-day Fujiyoshida check from a different angle. It is still a young record, starting in late May 2026, so I treat it as a practical daily log rather than a long-term climate statistic — gaps and all:

Weather at the summit vs Fujiyoshida, Kawaguchiko and Tokyo — and what to wear

Weather at Mt Fuji’s summit can be far colder, windier and more dangerous than the weather in the base towns or Tokyo, so pack for the specific place you are actually going. Dress in layers, especially outside high summer.

The numbers make the gap concrete. At the summit, the JMA 1991–2020 normal mean temperature is about 5.3 °C in July and 6.4 °C in August, with pre-dawn readings near 0 °C; in winter the monthly mean drops to roughly −15 to −18 °C. Meanwhile Kawaguchiko in summer averages a mild 18–23 °C. That is a two-season difference over a single day trip if you go up to the 5th Station or higher.

Wind makes it worse than the thermometer suggests. The official climbing site’s rule of thumb is that apparent temperature drops about 1 °C for every 1 m/s of wind, and the summit’s summer wind averages around 8–10 m/s — so a “6 °C” morning can feel close to freezing in the open.

What to wear, by zone

• Base — Kawaguchiko / Fujiyoshida: In summer, a T-shirt is fine by day, but carry a light layer for cool mornings and evenings. From late autumn to early spring, dress for genuine cold: a warm coat, gloves and a hat, and expect sub-freezing mornings.
• 5th Station sightseeing: Cool to cold year-round when it is open — think long sleeves, a fleece and a windproof or rain shell, even on a summer afternoon. Fog and wind can make it feel far colder than the car park in town.
• Anyone going higher: This crosses into climbing kit — moisture-wicking base layers, insulation, proper waterproofs, gloves and a warm hat. A folding umbrella is not a rain plan on Fuji.

Climbing weather on Mt Fuji: summit wind, lightning and when not to go

A good view from town is not proof of safe climbing weather — summit wind, cold, lightning risk and official route conditions have to be checked separately. Treat this section as a safety heads-up, not a go/no-go decision.

For 2026, the Yoshida and Subashiri trails are scheduled for July 1 to September 10, while the Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails and the summit crater loop are scheduled for roughly July 10 to September 10 — always subject to weather and snow. Full details and the permit rules are in my Mt Fuji climbing permit and reservation guide.

Two hazards deserve special respect:

• Lightning. The official climbing authorities note that thunderstorms form readily on Fuji in summer, and that there is no lightning “warning” level — even a thunderstorm advisory is a reason to hold off. On an exposed ridge there is nowhere safe to shelter.
• Cold and wind together. With dawn temperatures near 0 °C and steady wind, hypothermia is a real risk in shorts-and-hoodie clothing, even in August.

What to do if Mt Fuji is hidden or the weather turns bad

When Fuji is hidden, the best move is usually to keep the day flexible rather than drive between viewpoints hoping it clears. Stay close, pick indoor-friendly options, and leave a chance to step outside if the cloud lifts.

On a hidden-Fuji day around Kawaguchiko and Fujiyoshida, I would stay in the area rather than rush between distant lookouts. An onsen, a local museum, a lakeside café or a short indoor stop keeps the day worthwhile while still leaving the door open if the summit appears later in the afternoon.

If rain looks settled around Fuji for the whole day, Hakone is often a better bad-weather plan — not because Fuji is more visible there, but because the trip can revolve around onsen, museums and ryokan time instead of a single mountain view.

Trusted Mt Fuji weather sources (and why I still look out the window)

No single site tells the whole story, so cross-check a base-town forecast with a mountain-specific one — and remember that none of them can see the cloud sitting on the middle slopes the way a person on the ground can. Here are the sources I actually use.

• JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency), English — the official base-area forecast for today, tomorrow and the week.
• tenki.jp Mt Fuji mountain page — temperature and wind by elevation, plus rain and lightning radar.
• Mountain-Forecast — a summit- and altitude-specific forecast written for climbers.
• Windy — good for comparing wind and cloud models; a supporting check, not an official forecast.

What these forecast sources do not reliably do is translate the weather into a north-side, human “can I see Fuji right now?” check. That is the gap I try to fill: the forecast tells you the weather, and my morning observation tells you what the mountain looked like from Fujiyoshida when I checked. Use both.

Mt Fuji weather FAQ