Need help booking a mountain hut on Mount Fuji (Yoshida Trail) – feeling a bit lost

Hi everyone!

My friend and I (both 26, from Norway) are traveling to Japan this summer and planning to hike Mount Fuji in early July 2025. We’re aiming to take the Yoshida Trail and want to reach the summit in time for sunrise, so we know staying overnight in a mountain hut is the way to go.

The problem is… we’re kind of confused about how to actually book one.

We’ve found a few websites (some in Japanese, some unclear or outdated), but we don’t know if there’s an official place to book, or if we should just go through a third-party service. It’s our first time doing something like this in Japan, so any help would really be appreciated.

Specifically, we’re wondering:

1. Where should we book?
   Is there a legit website or booking service that works well for international travelers?

2. Any huts you'd recommend?
   Something decent around the 8th station would be perfect. We’re not expecting luxury, just a safe place to rest before the final push to the summit.

3. Can we book online from outside Japan?
   Some pages ask for a Japanese phone number or address — is that a must? Or are there workarounds?

4. Anything else we should know?
   Meals, cash vs card, check-in times, or tips for first-timers?

We’re both in good shape and love hiking, just new to the process of reserving a hut on Fuji. Thanks in advance for any advice or links — we’d really appreciate it!