Seeing Mount Fuji: where to go, when and how from Tokyo

Mount Fuji is best seen from the Five Lakes region, north of the volcano, from November to February and in the early morning. Lake Kawaguchi, the most accessible of the five, is about 1 h 45 min by bus from Tokyo. But the volcano hides far more often than people think: two or three nights on the spot are better than a day return. The climb, for its part, is only open in summer: in 2026, from July to September 10, for an entrance fee of ¥4,000.

Where to see Mount Fuji: the best viewpoints

Viewpoint	Access from Tokyo	What you see	Best period
Lake Kawaguchi, north shore	Bus from Shinjuku, about 1 h 45 min, or train, about 2 h	The volcano above the lake, and its reflection in calm weather	Winter for sharpness, lavender in late June and early July, maples in early November
Chūreitō Pagoda	Train to Shimoyoshida Station, then a quarter of an hour on foot	The red pagoda, the city of Fujiyoshida below, the cone behind	Cherry blossom in mid-April, maples in November
Lake Motosu	Bus from Kawaguchiko Station, awkward access	The view on the back of the 2004 1,000-yen note, which the 2024 one did not keep	Early morning, in clear weather
Hakone, Lake Ashi	Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, about 80 minutes	Fuji in line with the lake, from the boat or the south-east shore	Winter months
Enoshima	Train to Katase-Enoshima, then a few minutes on foot	Fuji to the north-west, above Sagami Bay	Clear winter days
Tōkaidō Shinkansen	On board, between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka	The volcano through the window, on the right-hand side coming from Tokyo	Winter, in clear weather

The Five Lakes and the Chūreitō Pagoda: Fuji up close

The five lakes are called Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Sai, Shōji and Motosu. Four places concentrate the views:

• Lake Kawaguchi. On its north shore, Ōishi Park terraces its gardens facing the volcano; the Mount Tenjō ropeway climbs to 1,075 meters (3,530 ft) for the overall view.
• The Chūreitō Pagoda, in Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida: 398 steps up to the most reproduced composition in Japan. Arrive early.
• Oshino Hakkai. Eight pools of Fuji meltwater, in a hamlet of thatched roofs, with the volcano as a backdrop.
• Lake Motosu, the deepest of the five: its north-west shore gives the view on the 2004 thousand-yen note. The note issued since July 2024 carries Hokusai’s Great Wave instead.

Watch out: Do not go to the Chūreitō Pagoda by car. The city of Fujiyoshida reports narrow one-way streets and very limited parking, with very heavy traffic on weekends, during the cherry blossom and the maples. Shimoyoshida Station, on the Fujikyū line, is a ten-minute walk from the shrine, at the foot of the steps.

Hakone, Enoshima and the shinkansen: Fuji from afar

In Hakone, the boats on Lake Ashi link Tōgendai to Moto-Hakone in about forty minutes, and Fuji appears in line with the lake, to the north-west, when the sky allows. Odakyū’s Hakone Freepass covers eight modes of transport, boat included: ¥7,100 for two days, ¥7,500 for three from Shinjuku, at the time of writing, in October 2026. It is only worth it if you do the full loop.

On Enoshima, an island linked to the coast near Kamakura, Fuji stands out to the north-west in clear weather, from the Sea Candle tower.

On the shinkansen, between Tokyo and Kyoto, sit on the right-hand side coming from Tokyo, on the left-hand side coming from the Kansai. JR Central specifies the seat: E in standard class, D in Green. The clearest view is between Mishima and Shizuoka stations, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

When to see Mount Fuji: the season and the time of day

• From November to February: it is uncovered very frequently. Winter is the best season to see it sharp, up close as well as from afar.
• From early June to mid-July: the rainy season covers it in cloud, this is the period to avoid.
• In summer: haze can mask it for whole days.
• From late August to October: typhoon season.
• The time of day: the early morning, before the air thickens. Late afternoon is the second window.

To plan the rest of the trip, see when to go to Japan.

How to get to Mount Fuji from Tokyo

Almost everything leaves from Shinjuku. The prices below were noted in October 2026: check them again on the operators’ websites before you leave.

• By express bus: from the Shinjuku bus terminal to Kawaguchiko Station, about 1 h 45 min, ¥2,200 one way per adult.
• By direct train: the Fuji Excursion (Fuji Kaiyū in Japanese) links Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko without a change, four return services a day, in 1 h 54 min at the fastest, for ¥4,200 one way. It has no non-reserved carriage: the express ticket is bought in advance, and goes on sale one month before departure.
• By train with a change: JR Chūō line to Ōtsuki, about an hour, then the Fujikyū line to Kawaguchiko, 2 h 05 min in total. The JR Pass is not accepted on the Fujikyū line: see JR Pass or regional passes.
• For Hakone: the Romancecar from Shinjuku, or the shinkansen to Odawara then the Hakone Tozan train.
• On the spot: buses leave from Kawaguchiko Station for each of the five lakes; Lake Yamanaka is better reached via Fujisan Station.
• By car: allow an hour and a half by road between the Five Lakes and Hakone. The rules are in renting a car in Japan.

How long to allow, and where to stay

A day return from Tokyo is possible, but it is a bet on the weather. The Japan National Tourism Organization recommends three days for the Five Lakes, and three nights on the spot are the best insurance of seeing the volcano at least once. That is the choice made by our Nagoya, Fuji and Hakone itinerary: three nights at the foot of Fuji, then three in Hakone.

Three areas share the nights:

• Lake Kawaguchi, around Kawaguchiko Station: terminus of the bus and the train from Tokyo, and departure point of the buses to the other lakes.
• Fujiyoshida, around Fujisan Station: on the Fujikyū line, like the pagoda’s station, and close to the Fuji-Q Highland park.
• Hakone-Yumoto: terminus of the Romancecar and gateway to Hakone, which has seven hot-spring resorts.

Tip: Accommodation on the Fuji plateau fills up months in advance in the cherry blossom and maple seasons. The list of what goes first is in what to book in advance in Japan.

Climbing Mount Fuji: season, entrance fee and booking

Fuji rises to 3,776 meters (12,390 ft) and is climbed by four trails: Yoshida, on the Yamanashi side, then Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya, on the Shizuoka side. The rules below come from the official website, fujisan-climb.jp, consulted in October 2026: the 2026 season is over, the 2027 dates have not been published.

• Season: in 2026, from July 1 to September 10 for Yoshida and Subashiri, from July 10 to September 10 for Gotemba and Fujinomiya.
• Entrance fee: ¥4,000 per person and per climb, on all four trails.
• Yoshida trail: the gate closes from 14:00 to 3:00, and as soon as 4,000 climbers have passed in the day, except for those sleeping in a mountain hut. Payment in advance, online, is recommended; it remains possible on the day.
• Shizuoka trails: prior registration on the prefecture’s app, with an online training course. Entering between 14:00 and 3:00 requires a night in a mountain hut.
• On the trail: about 6 h 10 min up and 3 h 35 min down by Yoshida, from the 5th Station, at 2,305 meters. Tents are forbidden, you sleep in a mountain hut. Even in summer, it can be close to 0 °C (32 °F) at the summit before sunrise.

Watch out: Out of season, all the trails to the summit are closed, as are the huts, the toilets and the first-aid posts. The official website formally advises against going up.

So, where and when should you see Mount Fuji?

• You have one day: the bus from Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi, on a winter day forecast to be clear, setting off early.
• You have two or three nights: the Five Lakes, with the Chūreitō Pagoda in the early morning, then Hakone.
• You are going from Tokyo to Kyoto: seat E, right-hand side.
• You want to climb to the summit: only in season, from July to September 10 in 2026, entrance fee paid in advance.

Our itineraries, for their part, do not do the climb: they circle the volcano, from the Five Lakes to Hakone, then on towards Kamakura. You will find them all on the Japan page.