MOUNT FUJI TOURS

Mount Fuji Tours & Guide - Mount Fuji tours (including Mt Fuji Tours from Tokyo), self guided tours, best viewing locations and times.

Mt Fuji (Fuji-san) is Japan's highest mountain at 3776 meters (12,388 feet) and is the most significant mountain in Japan. The almost perfectly symmetrical cone of Mt Fuji is a famous icon of Japan which is a frequent subject of Japanese art. Among them, Katsushika Hokusai's ‘36 Views of Mt Fuji’ and ‘One Hundred Views of Mt Fuji’ are the most famous ones. Mt Fuji has appeared in Japanese literature throughout the ages. The summit has been thought to be a sacred place since ancient times.

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Mt Fuji is visible from Tokyo on a clear day, the mountain is located to the west of Tokyo on the main island Honshu. Mt Fuji is covered by snow for half of the year. Mt Fuji is an active volcano and last erupted in 1707.

Viewing and Photographing Mount Fuji

It's not hard to see Mt Fuji, however seeing the ideal scene of Mt Fuji with a complete view of the cone with the classic snow cap can be a little difficult. Getting to photograph it is even more difficult. To get a great view of Mt Fuji you need to go to the right location, in the right season, on the right day and at the right time with the right weather. You need to be a little patient, and have the time to wait, to get the ideal view. The high altitude of Mt Fuji means the weather changes very quickly with cloud moving across the peak obscuring the view from time to time.

The organised sightseeing tours of Mount Fuji offer a convenient to way to see Mt Fuji with some spectacular views on the drive into the city of Fujiyoshida, however the tour bus doesn't normally stop in a location where you can see and take pictures of the whole cone. This resulted in less than ideal pictures of Mt Fuji (see above) with large parts of the cone obscured by trees.

Best viewing spots of Mt Fuji

Many of the best photographs taken of Mt Fuji are from the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park near one of the five lakes that surround Mount Fuji.

Mt Fuji from Ubuyagasaki - Kawaguchiko
Considered to be one of the top viewing locations

Mt Fuji from Nagaike Shinsui Park - Lake Yamanaka
 

Mt Fuji from Panorama Dai (East of Lake Yamanaka)
Access: Fujiyoshida-(taxi 30min)

Koyotenbodai Rest House
(South of Lake Nishi)
Access: Lake Kawaguchi-(Fujikyu Yamanashi Bus, 20min)-Koyodai Entrance-(30min Walk)

Misaka-touge
(North of Lake Kawaguchi)
Access: Lake Kawaguchi-(Fujikyu Yamanashi Bus, 30min)-Tengajaya

Best Times to View Mount Fuji

We recommend doing this trip on a week day as the roads out of Tokyo and the best viewing locations can be packed on the weekends. The season is also important if you wish to see Mount Fuji with snow on the peak. Mt Fuji has snow on the peak for more than half the year, so the months to avoid are June, July and August. Depending on the seasons temperatures and snow fall, late May and the first half of November.

Mount Fuji Organised Tours

If you want to see both Mt Fuji and Hakone in one day it is easier to take one of the organised tours from Tokyo to see Mt Fuji. Of course trying to see Hakone and Mt Fuji is going to be a compromise as there is not enough time in one day to see both properly.  Most organised tours include the near by Hakone and some include a return trip on the Shinkansen (bullet train).

Mt Fuji and Hakone Day Tour from Tokyo: Return by Bullet Train
Mt Fuji, Hakone and Onsen 2-Day Tour from Tokyo: Return by Bullet Train
Mt Fuji Day Trip including Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise from Tokyo
2 Day Mt Fuji and Kyoto by Bullet Train from Tokyo
3 Day Mt Fuji, Nara and Kyoto by Bullet Train from Tokyo

Mount Fuji Self Guided Tour

Below is a suggested self guided tour. The times do not include the time you would spend at each attraction. You should also allow extra time at some attraction for queues, particularly the Tenjo-yama Park Mt Kachi Kachi Ropeway. It is not practical visit all of the suggest attractions in one day, so simply drop the attractions that you are less interested in.

Mount Fuji Access

There are several different transport options from Tokyo to view Mt Fuji.

By train:
Shinjuku Station take the JR Chuo Line (45min)
Change trains at Takao Station to the JR Chuo Honsen Line (45min)
Change at Otsuki Station take the Fuji Express (54min)
Arrive Lake Kawaguchi Station for viewing.

Optional - take Fujikyu Yamanashi Bus (50min) to Mt Fuji 5th Station
2390 Yen one way (JR Pass covers first two legs and Fuji Express is an extra 1,110 yen), 1500 yen for optional bus.

By bus:
Shinjuku Station take the Fujikyu Bus (145min) to Mt Fuji 5th Station
2600 yen

or

Shinjuku Station take the Fujikyu Bus (105min) to Lake Kawaguchi
It goes to Lake Motosu and Lake Yamanaka as well.
1700 yen

If you want to climb Mt Fuji, go to the 5th station.
If you want to view Mt Fuji, go to Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka or nearby area.
If you want to travel around the lakes, round-trip tickets are available from Fujikyu Bus & Fujikyu Yamanashi Bus.
Lake Kawaguchi has many attractions while Lake Yamanaka has a quiet environment.