Karen is a Scottish freelance travel and culture writer based in the US. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, National Geographic, BBC, and Condé Nast Traveler.
Karen is a Scottish freelance travel and culture writer based in the US. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, National Geographic, BBC, and Condé Nast Traveler.
Hi, I'm Karen!Karen is a Scottish freelance travel and culture writer based in the US. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, National Geographic, BBC, and Condé Nast Traveler.
Hi, I'm Karen!Karen is a Scottish freelance travel and culture writer based in the US. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, National Geographic, BBC, and Condé Nast Traveler.
Japan’s tallest—and most revered—mountain, the solitary, snow-capped Mt. Fuji is an icon, a timeless attraction, and the inspiration for countless works of art. Climbing sacred Fuji-san (as it’s known locally) is a centuries-old tradition, which is continued by the hundreds of thousands of people who summit it every year. Whether or not you choose to join them on the slopes, visiting Mt. Fuji is a must-do for visitors to Tokyo. But with so many sightseeing options available, it can be difficult to choose the one that best suits your travel style. Here are our tips to help you decide which Mt. Fuji tour is right for you.
First-time visitors looking for a quintessential Mt. Fuji experience should consider a full-day package from Tokyo that takes you to Mt Fuji’s 5th Station, located at 7,545 feet (2,300 meters)—roughly halfway—up the mountain and offers excellent views of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding lakes. Many packages also include a boat ride on Lake Ashi and a ride on an aerial tram to the top of Mt. Komagatake for even more views of Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone.
If you’re not content with simply admiring Fuji from afar, then opt for a hiking tour that takes you all the way to the top. In the company of a guide who has plenty of experience on the slopes of Mt. Fuji, you’ll climb to the summit to be rewarded with the spectacle of seeing the sunrise from a soaring vantage point.
With its serene mountain scenery and blissful onsens (hot springs), a visit to Hakone—in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park—can make for a relaxing day trip from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Hakone day tours take you to see the sights, such as Hakone Shrine and the crafts village of Hakone Yosegi Zaiku, and include time to sip tea in one of Hakone’s age-old teahouses, ride on the Hakone Ropeway cable car for views of Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji, and enjoy a soak in a local onsen.
Mt. Fuji is revered as a sacred site in both of Japan’s major religions, Buddhism and Shinto. Discover the deep spirituality and cultural significance of the mountain on a visit to Sengen Shrine, a sacred spot located at the foot of the mountain. For deeper insight, choose a tour that includes meeting some of the shrine’s priests. Tours typically also include a visit to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station for spectacular views.
If you’d rather spend more time outdoors than riding around in a vehicle, opt for a cycling tour around Mt. Fuji. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of the mountain from various angles as you pedal your way around Lake Kawaguchi, along cherry blossom tree-lined paths, and through the picturesque surrounding countryside. Cycling tours often include a visit to Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, the oldest of the 2,000 shrines in Japan that are dedicated to Mt. Fuji, and typically follow mostly flat bike paths.
If you’ve got kids in tow, a tour that combines a visit to Mt. Fuji with time at Fuji-Q Highland theme park is a must. Day trips typically begin with a visit to Mt. Fuji 5th Station to take in the views before heading to the theme park, which enjoys a scenic setting near the base of Mt. Fuji and boasts record-breaking roller coasters and bone-chilling haunted houses.
Meanwhile, multi-generational groups can ensure that everyone is happy by booking a combination tour that ticks all the boxes by including sightseeing at Mt. Fuji, a pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashi, and time to shop at Gotemba Outlet, which is one of Japan’s largest outlet malls and home to 200 stores. These full-day combination tours typically include lunch.
Engage all of your senses at Mt. Fuji by booking a food tour of Fujinomiya on the southwestern slopes of the mountain. You’ll learn all about the region’s culinary heritage and food traditions while enjoying regional specialties at local restaurants and shops, including sweet and savory dishes, as well as sake. Tours typically visit Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center and a local shrine for spectacular views of the mountain.
