Mount Fuji

The Yoshida Trail from the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station is the most popular climbing route on Mount Fuji — the widest, best-serviced trail, with the most mountain huts, the most reliable weather information, and the easiest access from Tokyo. The 5th Station sits at 2,305 metres; the summit crater rim is at 3,776 metres — a vertical gain of approximately 1,470 metres over 6–7 kilometres. Most climbers begin in the late afternoon, rest at a mountain hut around the 8th Station, and summit in time for the Goraiko (sunrise) — one of the great experiences available in Japan. The descent takes 3–4 hours on the separate Yoshida descent trail. The climbing season runs from early July to mid-September; outside this window the trail is officially closed and conditions are dangerous. Altitude sickness is common above 3,000 metres — ascend slowly, hydrate well, and descend immediately if symptoms worsen.

Kawaguchiko is the most accessible and most photographed of the Fuji Five Lakes — a large lake on the northern flank of the mountain that offers the classic postcard view of Fuji reflected in still water. The northern shore of the lake, particularly the area around Chureito Pagoda (a 398-step climb above Fujiyoshida town), is the most iconic viewpoint in Japan during cherry blossom season in late March to early April: the five-storey pagoda, the pink blossoms, and the snow-capped summit compose a view that appears on every Japan travel guide ever published. The lake is also beautiful in autumn (mid-November) when the maples turn red and gold. Kawaguchiko town has good restaurants, souvenir shops, and accommodation ranging from budget guesthouses to lakeside ryokan.

The Chureito Pagoda — a five-storey vermilion pagoda on the hillside above Fujiyoshida town — is the most photographed viewpoint in Japan. The 398 steps from Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine to the pagoda take approximately 20 minutes to climb. The view from the pagoda platform frames Mount Fuji perfectly, with the pagoda in the foreground and the mountain filling the sky behind. Arrive before sunrise for the best light and the fewest crowds — the pagoda faces east and the morning light on the mountain is extraordinary. During cherry blossom season (late March to early April) the steps are lined with blooming trees and the view is transcendent.

Even for those not climbing to the summit, the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station at 2,305 metres is worth visiting — it sits above the treeline on the northern flank of the mountain, with sweeping views over the Fuji Five Lakes and the Kanto Plain stretching to Tokyo on clear days. The 5th Station has a visitor centre, restaurants, souvenir shops, and short walking trails that give a taste of the alpine environment without the commitment of a full summit climb. Access is by bus from Kawaguchiko Station (approximately 55 minutes) or from Shinjuku in Tokyo (approximately 2.5 hours by direct highway bus). Private vehicles are restricted during the climbing season — use the bus.

Oshino Hakkai is a small village between Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako lakes where eight crystal-clear ponds are fed by snowmelt from Mount Fuji that has filtered through the volcanic rock for approximately 80 years. The ponds are extraordinarily clear — visibility to the bottom is several metres — and the water temperature remains a constant 11–12°C year-round. The village retains traditional thatched farmhouses (gassho-zukuri) and is one of the most photogenic spots in the Fuji Five Lakes region. The ponds are considered sacred and the water is used in local sake brewing. A short walk connects all eight ponds.

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba is a reconstructed traditional village on the western shore of Lake Saiko — a collection of thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses that were destroyed by a typhoon in 1966 and rebuilt as a living museum and craft centre. The village sits directly beneath the western face of Mount Fuji, with unobstructed views of the summit across the lake. Several of the farmhouses are open as workshops where visitors can try traditional crafts — weaving, pottery, paper-making, and the production of Fujiyama-themed crafts. The village is particularly beautiful in autumn when the surrounding maples turn red.

Hakone, on the eastern flank of Mount Fuji in Kanagawa Prefecture, is the most popular onsen resort area near Tokyo — a mountain town of hot spring ryokan, open-air art museums, and cable cars with views of the volcanic Owakudani valley and, on clear days, Mount Fuji across Lake Ashi. The Hakone Open Air Museum is one of the best sculpture parks in Japan. The Hakone Ropeway over the Owakudani volcanic valley is dramatic and memorable. A night at a Hakone ryokan — soaking in a private onsen with Fuji visible through the steam — is one of the great Japan experiences. Hakone is easily reached from Tokyo by the Romancecar limited express from Shinjuku (approximately 85 minutes).

Yamanakako is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and sits at the highest elevation — 980 metres — giving it some of the clearest and most dramatic views of Mount Fuji's southern and eastern faces. The lake is popular for cycling: a flat 14 km circuit of the lake takes approximately 1.5 hours and passes multiple viewpoints, including the famous Panorama-dai viewpoint on the northern shore where the mountain fills the entire sky. Bicycles can be rented from several shops near Yamanakako-Hananomiyako-Koen bus stop. The lake is also known for its diamond Fuji phenomenon — twice a year (around late April and mid-August) the setting sun aligns perfectly with the summit.