Travelers walking behind barriers beside a closed Fujiyoshida street lined with tall burning festival torches

Yoshida Fire Festival Traffic Restrictions 2026: August 26-27 Road Closures, Parking, and Trains

Travel News Watch

Information checked: August 21, 2026, 8:30 AM JST.

Fujiyoshida’s official 2026 maps set different vehicle-restriction periods for the Yoshida Fire Festival on Wednesday, August 26 and the Susuki Festival on Thursday, August 27. The closures affect National Route 137 and streets between Mt. Fuji Station, the torch area, the temporary shrine, and Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine.

Short answerOn August 26, closures begin at 4:30 PM on core sections and expand at 6:30 PM, with some restrictions lasting until midnight. On August 27, closures generally run between 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM, with a temporary stop near Mt. Fuji Station from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Use the train if possible and check the color-coded official maps before driving.

Key Facts For Travelers

Affected areaCentral Fujiyoshida from Mt. Fuji Station toward the festival route and Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine.
August 26Core closures 4:30 PM-11:30 PM or midnight; additional sections 6:30 PM-midnight.
August 27Main restrictions 2:00 PM-6:30 PM; Mt. Fuji Station vicinity temporarily stopped 3:30 PM-4:30 PM.
Best arrivalMt. Fuji Station is about a five-minute walk from the main torch area.

August 26: Fire Festival Closures and Parking

The official map shows the first vehicle closures starting at 4:30 PM. The main torch streets then receive wider restrictions from 6:30 PM, with several sections remaining closed until midnight. Large vehicles also face access restrictions from 6:30 PM to midnight, although route buses are allowed through one marked section.

The map lists Yoshida Elementary School and Yoshida Nishi Elementary School as temporary lots for about 200 cars each from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Fujiyoshida City Hall is listed for about 200 cars from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The large-bus area at Suwa-no-Mori Nature Park has only 20 spaces, operates 1:00 PM-11:00 PM, and has a final entry time of 9:00 PM. Availability is not guaranteed.

The large torches are scheduled to burn from around 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Even after the flames finish, road reopening is phased because removal and cleanup continue.

August 27: Susuki Festival Restrictions

On August 27, the official map marks vehicle closures beginning at 2:00 PM around the temporary shrine and procession route. Some sections reopen at 4:30 PM, while the route toward Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine remains restricted until 6:30 PM.

A separate temporary vehicle stop is marked near Mt. Fuji Station from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Drivers crossing central Fujiyoshida should use the orange detour route and avoid relying on a normal station pickup during that hour.

Why the Train Is Easier

Fujikyu Railway will add 26 trains in total on August 26, split evenly between down and up directions. The operator advises visitors to charge an IC card before arrival because station charging machines and ticket counters can develop long queues.

A car may still be useful for a wider Fuji Five Lakes trip, but the temporary lots require a long walk and can fill. Do not use private property, roadside space, or business parking unless it is expressly open to festival visitors.

Traveler Actions

  • Save both official traffic maps before leaving because August 26 and 27 use different closure times.
  • Use Mt. Fuji Station and arrive before the evening peak if attending the torch lighting.
  • Charge Suica, PASMO, or another accepted IC card before reaching the Fujikyu Line.
  • If driving, choose a designated temporary lot and allow substantial walking time.
  • Do not schedule a vehicle pickup near Mt. Fuji Station from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM on August 27.

Official Sources

Update History

  • August 21, 2026: Created from the 2026 official traffic maps released by Fujiyoshida and the official Fujikyu Railway festival service notice.