If your Japan travel bucket list has Mt. Fuji day trip from Tokyo listed in it, look no further. This list will point you to the best Mt. Fuji tours out there, all departing from the very convenient location of Shinjuku.
How to Pick the Best Mt. Fuji Tour for You
As a travel marketer, one of my missions is pairing up travelers with the tour that suits their needs. I consider it my role to equip you with relevant information so that you can make the right choice.
So let me start by breaking down the two major routes for you: a trip to Mt. Fuji is often paired with either Hakone or Lake Kawaguchi. Both locations have major sightseeing spots which make up the variations of Mt. Fuji tours.
Hakone
Hakone is a popular weekend getaway from Tokyo and boasts a variety of spectacular natural landscapes. Hakone is where you can find the Hakone Shrine, one of the most Instagrammed spots in Japan. Truthfully though, most tour operators have missed this point as a coveted spot and don’t take travelers to the area but allow enough time for them to go there on their own.
Hakone is also where you can find Owakudani, an active volcano crater sprouting sulfuric gases. Going to Owakudani requires riding the Hakone Ropeway, which affords guests an aerial view. Even among natural landscapes, Owakudani is strikingly peculiar. It’s out-of-this-world atmosphere is one of the reasons why it’s a popular attraction.
Locally, Hakone is also loved as a hot spring town. Some ryokan inns have a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji which you can enjoy while taking a dip in a private tub. Hot spring experiences are usually not included in day tours, however.
Lake Kawaguchi
While Mt. Fuji is visible from Hakone, I personally find the view from Lake Kawaguchi to be better. The mountain’s presence is imposing, to the point that it feels like you can’t escape it wherever you go. In particular, I found the view near the maple corridor awe-inspiring. In fact, of the many times I’ve been to see Fuji, this was by far my favorite.
Speaking of the maple corridor, the area surrounding Lake Kawaguchi is ideal for seasonal photos. Aside from momiji in autumn, you can also capture kochia when you go to Oishi Park around October. Oishi Park also has pampas grass in the winter and lavender in July, making it one of the best places to capture the beauty of Mt. Fuji through the seasons.
Should You Go to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station?
So far, I’ve talked about seeing great views of Mt. Fuji but what about actually going to the mountain? Many of the Mt. Fuji tours that you can book online go as far up as the 5th station—that’s halfway up and also the highest point you can reach by either private or public transportation. It’s also the entry point to climbing Mt. Fuji
Now, here’s the thing. Not all Mt. Fuji tours go to the 5th Station. In a sense, they’re misnomers because they don’t really take you to Mt. Fuji, but only to see it. Going to the 5th Station limits the contents of an itinersry, which is why some tours do away with it.
Now back to the question: should you book a tour with the 5th station in it? My two cents is that if heights are your thing and you want to take a photo with a sign that says how high up you are, then you’d probably get a kick out of it. Otherwise, I personally think it’s skippable. There’s a shrine and a bunch of shops with souvenirs, but other than that, it’s not that exciting. You can see the peak of Mt. Fuji on a fine day, but because you’re already halfway there, the mountain doesn’t look as grand as when you view it from ground level.
Now that we’ve covered the bases, let’s go to the tours themselves. Here are the top 10 Mt. Fuji tours from Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour
Itinerary
- Mt. Fuji 5th Station
- Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani
- Lake Ashi Cruise
The golden route for Fuji Hakone tours. This tour takes you to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station first, then proceeds the Hakone Ropeway for an aerial view of Owakudani. You will stop at Owakudani to try the famous black eggs, which are said to extend your lifespan for up to 7 years. The tour finishes with the highly popular Lake Ashi cruise, from which you can see Mt. Fuji as well as the Hakone Shrine gates. An optional bullet train return is available for guests at a slightly higher fee. The route back to Tokyo tends to be congested, so I recommend booking the Shinkansen plan for people who want to get back faster.
Tours Pros:
Covers all the Fuji-Hakone basics. The tour goes to Subashiri side of the 5th Station, which tends to be less crowded. The cruise is also in the afternoon, which means that sunlight will be gentle enough for lovely cruise photos.
Tour Cons:
As the sightseeing spots are highly popular, the tour tends to be crowded. Lake Ashi on weekends is pretty popular among foreign tourists, while Japanese tourists tend to flock in Owakudani.
Tour Price: Starts at JPY 14,000 per adult
Lunch: Hoto Noodles + Buffet, Optional
Length: 9-12 hours, includes bullet train return options
Other Tips
- For a variation of this tour with shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlets, see this.
- For a variation of this tour without the 5th station, but with Gotemba and a morning Lake Ashi cruise, see this.
Mt. Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi Tours
Mt. Fuji Tour with Lake Kawaguchi Cruise
Itinerary
- 5th Station
- Lake Kawaguchi Cruise
- Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (Kachi Kachi Ropeway)
If you ask me, this tour is the Kawaguchiko version of the Fuji Hakone golden route, the difference being that you cruise Lake Kawaguchi and that the ropeway ride is fairly short. As I have mentioned earlier, I prefer Lake Kawaguchi to Lake Ashi when it comes to views of Mt. Fuji, so in no way does this tour fall short.
As for the ropeway, the ride takes travelers to the peak of Mt. Tenjo, which has an observation deck for Mt. Fuji. There’s a rabbit shrine at the peak, and there’s a teahouse that sells tanuki dango.
Tour Price: Starts at JPY 6,000 per adult
Lunch: Optional, western cuisine or buffet
Length: 10-11.5 hours
Other Tips:
- For a variation of this tour with Oshino Hakkai, please see this.
Mt. Fuji Tour with Oshino Hakkai & Oshino Ninja Village
Itinerary
- Lake Kawaguchiko
- Oshino Ninja Village
- Oshino Hakkai
- 5th Station
- Fuji Airways
This one’s for the whole family. Kids will love Oshino Ninja Village with their ninja shows and attractions. You will also get to see a historical village at Oshino Hakkai, made even lovelier with Mt. Fuji in the backdrop. Oshino Hakkai also has lush cherry blossom trees and is a must-see during sakura season.
The 5th station comprises the latter half of the tour, which may mean less congestion. This tour is also the only one with a 4D ride, where you get to see Mt. Fuji chan
Tour Price: Starts at JPY 14,000 per adult
Lunch: Optional. Japanese cuisine with mini buffet, vegetarian options available
Length: 10-11 hours
Mt. Fuji Tour Oishi Park, Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine & Oshino Hakkai
Itinerary
- Lake Kawaguchi Oishi Park
- Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
- Oshino Hakkai
- Gotemba Premium Outlets
Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine’s pagoda with Mt. Fuji in the background is one of the most photographed scenes in Japan. This coupled with Instagram-perfect spots like Oishi Park and Oshino Hakkai make this tour one to recommend. There’s the added bonus of getting to shop at Gotemba Premium Outlets too.
Tour Price: Starts at JPY 6,600 per adult
Lunch: Not included
Length: 10.5 hours
Mt. Fuji Tours from Shinjuku with Forest & Cave Adventures
For the more adventurous traveler, there’s a lot to explore on the Yamanashi side of Mt. Fuji.
Mt. Fuji Tour with Aokigahara & Narusawa Ice Cave
Itinerary
- 5th Station
- Aokigahara
- Narusawa Ice Cave
Yes, it’s the infamous Aokigahara Forest, where people reportedly go to end their life on their own terms. The rumors are true, and the forest has been the subject of documentaries long before an attention-seeking YouTuber made a disrespectful video. While Aokigahara has been portrayed as dark and sinister by some, at the end of the day, it is simply what it is—a forest, and a lovely one at that. It is also home to beautiful lava caves, which make a thrilling trip for nature explorers. If you’re into spelunking, this tour is definitely for you.
A word of caution: this tour requires a moderate degree of physical fitness and spelunking skills. For casual cave exploration, see the next tour.
Tour Price: JPY 19,000 per adult
Lunch: Not included
Length: 11.5-13 hours
Mt. Fuji Tour with Aokigahara Caves & Sake Tasting
Itinerary
- Fugaku Wind Cave
- Narusawa Ice Cave
- Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
- Sake Brewery
This tour caters to nature lovers and is a little more rounded than the one mentioned above. You start with two of Aokigahara’s most popular caves, each with its own charm. Lunch is a steaming hot pot of hoto noodles, Yamanashi’s specialty. This is followed by a ropeway ride to the summit of Mt. Tenjo, where you can take in a lovely view of Mt. Fuji as well as enjoy small attractions like a love bell and a rabbit shrine. You can pick up sweet mochi on sticks (tanuki dango) at a teahouse too. The last stop is a sake brewery where you can taste test different types of sake. If you prefer non-alcoholic beverages, you can try grape juice and other fruit juices, too.
Tour Price: Starts at JPY 11,000 per adult
Lunch: Hoto noodles
Length: 10.5 Hours
Best Mt. Fuji Tours from Shinjuku with Seasonal Views
Mt. Fuji becomes even lovelier with seasonal blooms. Here’s a guide on what to book.
Cherry Blossoms
The earliest cherry blossoms can be seen in February, which means you can enjoy it with some fun in the snow, too. This tour takes you to do just that.
During the peak of cherry blossom season in March and/or April, the best places to see Mt. Fuji framed by cherry blossoms are Arakura Sengen Shrine and Oshino Hakkai.
- Mt. Fuji Tour with Oshino Hakkai & Oshino Ninja Village
- Mt. Fuji Tour with Oishi Park, Arakura Sengen Shrine & Oshino Hakkai
Shibazakura
The Shibazakura Festival is held around mid-April to mid-May, during which you can enjoy the sight pink and purple moss phlox carpeting the fields. There’s a mini Mt. Fuji on site and there’s a lot of Mt. Fuji-inspired food. You will also find the raindrop cake sold here, which originated in Yamanashi.
Fall Foliage
Similarly, fall foliage surrounding Mt. Fuji is celebrated with the Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival, which I personally find enchanting. I wrote about my experience in detail in this post.
