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Destination guide

Mt Fuji & Hakone

Two easy escapes from Tokyo with the same star. Hakone is hot springs, art and a volcanic valley with Fuji on the horizon; the Fuji Five Lakes put you right at the mountain's foot.

Facts checked October 2026

Best for
Onsen, views, a ryokan night
Days to allow
1–2 nights
Clearest Fuji views
November–February, early morning
From Tokyo (Shinjuku)
80–110 min by train or bus

Seeing Mt Fuji

Japan's highest mountain (3,776 m) is famously shy. It hides in cloud for much of the summer and is most reliably visible on cold, dry mornings from November to February. Whatever the season, the hours after sunrise give the best chance. If seeing the mountain is the point of your trip, keep a flexible day in your plan and go when the forecast is clear.

Hakone

A hot-spring resort in the mountains, with enough to fill a long day and an excuse to spend the night in a ryokan.

  • The Hakone loopMountain railway, cable car and ropeway over the steaming sulphur vents of Owakudani (try the black eggs boiled in the springs), then a pirate-ship cruise across Lake Ashi with Fuji behind.
  • Hakone ShrineA red torii standing at the edge of Lake Ashi, reached through a forest of old cedars. Expect a queue for the photo.
  • Hakone Open-Air MuseumSculpture by Henry Moore, Rodin and others across mountain lawns, plus a Picasso pavilion and a hot-spring footbath.
  • OnsenFrom big public bathhouses to private open-air baths in your own room.

Getting there: the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto takes about 80–90 minutes. The Hakone Freepass (¥7,100 for two days, ¥7,500 for three, from Shinjuku) covers the return train on ordinary services and every leg of the loop; the Romancecar is a small supplement. Japan Rail Pass holders can take the Shinkansen to Odawara and join there.

Kawaguchiko and the Fuji Five Lakes

Lake Kawaguchi, at the northern foot of Fuji, has the most famous views of the mountain.

  • Chureito PagodaThe five-storey pagoda framing Fuji — about 400 steps up from Shimoyoshida station. Go at sunrise. The area's cherry-blossom festival has been cancelled because of overcrowding, though the park stays open.
  • Lake Kawaguchi's north shoreCalm water and reflections of the mountain, especially early morning.
  • Oishi ParkLakeside flower gardens with a classic Fuji view.
  • Arakura and Oshino HakkaiSpring-fed ponds in a small village, and the old thatched-roof farmhouses of Iyashi no Sato.

Getting there: highway buses from Busta Shinjuku take about 1 h 45 min (¥2,200, or ¥2,000 booked online); the Fuji Excursion train takes about two hours. The town has asked visitors to be considerate after crowds blocked traffic for photos at a local convenience store — please use crossings and don't stop in the road.

Climbing Mt Fuji

The official climbing season runs from early July to 10 September; outside it, the mountain is closed to casual climbers and dangerous. Since 2025 every trail charges a ¥4,000 fee per climber:

  • Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi side, the most popular): booked online in advance, capped at 4,000 climbers a day, gate closed 2pm–3am unless you have a mountain-hut reservation, with an equipment check at the 5th station.
  • Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri trails (Shizuoka side): pre-register online, watch a safety video and pass a short quiz; no daily cap.

Most climbers start in the afternoon, sleep in a hut and reach the summit for sunrise. Bring proper boots, layers and a head torch — it's freezing at the top even in August.

Where to stay

  • Hakone: a ryokan with an onsen and dinner included is the experience. Gora and Miyanoshita are convenient on the loop; Hakone-Yumoto is cheaper.
  • Kawaguchiko: lakeside hotels with Fuji-view rooms (worth paying for), plus guesthouses near the station.

Sources