Why 3 Million Tourists Visit Mt. Fuji Every Year!
Table of Contents
Features
Fuji is a sacred mountain in Japan, and has an altitude of 3,776m. The fifth station on the way up to the summit, which is located at an altitude of around 2,400m, is a popular tourist spot known as the starting point for climbing Mt. Fuji. It is popular not only with climbers, but also with tourists who want to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji, and many foreign tourists visit because it is easily accessible.
Reasons why it is popular with foreign tourists
Even if you don’t climb to the top of Mt. Fuji, you can still enjoy the scenery and atmosphere of this symbol of Japan. The fact that you don’t need to bring any climbing equipment is also a big draw. Also, because of the high altitude, the air is clear, and you can enjoy a walk while feeling the four seasons of Japan. In particular, the autumn foliage season and Mt. Fuji covered in snow in winter are spectacular.
Unique cultural experiences you can enjoy
There are a variety of activities that foreign tourists can participate in at Mt. Fuji. Here we will introduce some of the most popular experiences. If you are heading to Atami today on one of our recommended plans, we recommend limiting yourself to one or two of the following.
If you see a plan that interests you, click on the photo! It will take you to the information page!
Oshino Hakkai
Oshino Hakkai, which consists of eight ponds fed by the melt water from Mt. Fuji, is a spot where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery that is like being lost in a world of Japanese folk tales. The clear water and the view of Mt. Fuji are the attractions of this place. The area around the ponds is popular as a picturesque spot for photos, with traditional Japanese scenery including old thatched-roof houses, and you can walk around for free. However, admission to the historical facilities on the grounds (such as the Oshino Hakkai Museum) costs around 300 yen (2 dollars) .
Zazen meditation experience
Zazen meditation is a valuable opportunity to calm your mind in silence and reflect on yourself. At the Zen temples around Lake Kawaguchi, even beginners can easily participate. The session lasts about 90 minutes and costs around 2,000 to 3,500 yen (about 13 to 25 dollars) . You need to make a reservation by phone, so if you would like to apply, please contact us.
Cave exploration (ice caves that don’t melt even in summer)
There are many mysterious caves scattered around the base of Mt. Fuji that were formed by lava flows, and at places like Fugaku Fuketsu and Narusawa Hyoketsu, you can see icicles year-round, creating a mysterious landscape. The temperature inside the caves is cool year-round, ranging from 0 to 3℃, so you can enjoy a cool space even in summer. This is a valuable spot where you can experience the natural beauty of the volcanic activity of Mt. Fuji. The price is about 7,000 to 9,000 yen (about 46 to 60 dollars) . You must make a reservation online!
Lake Kawaguchi Canadian Canoe Experience
This activity allows you to enjoy the spectacular view of Mt. Fuji while leisurely paddling a Canadian canoe across the calm surface of Lake Kawaguchi. The lack of engine noise means you can relax and enjoy the sound of the water and the birdsong. Even beginners can operate the canoe with ease, making it a great activity for families and couples. The cost is around 6,000 to 8,000 yen (about 40 to 53 dollars) . The view of Mt. Fuji reflected on the water like a mirror is spectacular.
Ice fishing (winter only)
An event that is only available in winter, ice fishing at Lake Kawaguchi is an experience that allows you to fully enjoy the Japanese winter outdoors through ice fishing on a dome-shaped boat on the lake. You can fry or make tempura with the fish and eat it there, so you can enjoy the fun of fishing and the fun of eating at the same time. Fishing sets for beginners are also available, so you can participate without bringing anything with you. The price starts at 7,500 yen (about $50) per person, but we recommend the charter plan, which costs about 12,000 yen (about $20) for 3 people, so you can enjoy it with your family or group without worrying about other people! This is a popular plan, so be sure to make a reservation before you go!
Access
The most flexible way to get to Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchiko is by rental car, but if you’re not confident about driving, trains and buses are convenient!
The following are the ways to get there using the travel itineraries introduced on this site!
“Golden Route 1” Plan (When going from Asakusa to the 5th station of Mt. Fuji)
From Narita Airport to Sensoji Temple, you can get there smoothly by train. The following two routes are convenient.
1. How to travel mainly by highway bus (fastest and most comfortable)
Travel time: approx. 3 hours 25 minutes
Fare: approx. 4,340 yen (approx. 30 dollars)
Route
1. Asakusa Station (train or bus) → Shinjuku Station [approx. 30 minutes
2. Shinjuku Station (direct express bus to the 5th station on Mt. Fuji) → 5th station on Mt. Fuji [approx. 2 hours 55 minutes
Just take the direct bus from Shinjuku, which is easy with few transfers, but be careful as it is likely to be full during busy periods
2. By train and highway bus (reasonable & with transfers)
Time required: approx. 4 hours 30 minutes
Fare: approx. 4,140 yen (approx. 30 dollars)
Route
1. Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line) → Shibuya Station [approx. 33 minutes
2. Shibuya Station (highway bus) → Kawaguchiko Station [approx. 2 hours
3. Kawaguchiko Station (Fujikyu Bus) → Fifth Station of Mt. Fuji [approx. 50 min.
* It is recommended to make a reservation for the highway bus from Shibuya (especially on weekends and during the tourist season), and you can also enjoy sightseeing in Kawaguchiko
Reservations are essential for both routes!
Food
There are restaurants in the area around Mt. Fuji that serve traditional dishes, as well as restaurants where you can eat while enjoying the spectacular view of Mt. Fuji!
The following links are recommended stores
Many Japanese gourmets write reviews that are in tune with their surroundings, so many of them rate 3 stars, and the restaurant ratings tend to be low, but they are all very tasty restaurants!
All of these restaurants are rated very highly by TripAdviser and others!
Fifth Station of Mt.
• Miharashi Fuji（富士山みはらし）: A popular restaurant at the fifth station of Mt. Fuji, where the menu is served in a shape of Mt. Fuji
• Gogoen Rest House（五合園レストハウス）: From the observation deck, you can see the peak of Mt. Fuji right in front of you!
Foot of Mt.
• La Luce（ラルーチェ:）: An Italian restaurant with a lively atmosphere. The pizzas baked on hot lava plates are popular!
• Hoto Fudo Kawaguchiko Main Store（ほうとう不動 河口湖北本店）: Famous for the traditional Yamanashi ingredient “hoto”! The “brown sugar-simmered inari” is also popular, alongside the hoto!
If you’re worried about making a reservation at the restaurant, please contact us! We’ll make a reservation for you:)
Accommodation
It’s a bit of a hassle, but we recommend you travel to Atami for tomorrow and take a hot spring bath to refresh yourself! Atami is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts!
1. How to travel by highway bus (fastest and most comfortable)
Travel time: approx. 2 hours 10 minutes
Fare: approx. 2,830 yen (approx. 20 dollars)
Route
1. Kawaguchiko Station (highway bus) → Mishima Station South Exit [approx. 1 hour 40 minutes
2. Mishima Station (Tokaido Main Line, local train) → Atami Station [approx. 14 min.
Recommended Atami hot spring inns
There are many attractive hotels in Atami. There is a wide range of hotels, from high-end hotels that cost over 50,000 yen (over $300) per person per night to more reasonably priced hotels that cost less than 10,000 yen (less than $65) per person per night.
Since you’ve come all the way to Japan’s famous hot spring resorts, I hope you’ll be able to enjoy them to the full! Japan is a country with good hygiene and public safety, so even a relatively inexpensive middle-end hotel costing around 15,000 yen (around 100 dollars) will be more than enough to satisfy you. I’ll introduce some recommended hotels.
Please click on the image you want to see!
High-end hotels
Middle-end hotels
Reasonable hotels
Finally
I hope that you will make the most of your trip to Japan and enjoy doing things that you can only do in Japan, things that are quintessentially Japanese, and create wonderful memories.
The reason I decided to create this website was because I saw a foreigner who had come to Japan on holiday a few years ago and was confused by the language barrier, and I was frustrated that I couldn’t help him.
Contact us about anything to do with travel in Japan!
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Have a good day!
The conversion of yen to dollars in the text is calculated as 1 dollar = 150 yen.