Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san)

Visit Mt. Fuji on a day trip from Tokyo (via bullet train) and combine with stops at hot springs, shopping villages, or Lake Ashi cruises. Even if you don't want to climb to the peak, you can head to the Fuji Visitor Center, home to a small museum; grab a bite to eat; or enjoy views of Mount Fuji from the observation deck. Mt. Fuji 5th Station also offers additional unobstructed views along with shrines and souvenir shops.

• Mt. Fuji tours from Tokyo can last upwards of 12 hours, so prepare for a long day.

• Many tours include pickup and drop-off at Tokyo hotels.

• Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground.

• Temperatures can be much cooler on the mountain than at the base, so remember to dress in layers.

• Combine your visit to Mt. Fuji with other popular activities, such as onsen soaking, outlet shopping, wine tasting, or a boat cruise.

• Mt. Fuji is notorious for its quickly changing weather conditions, so plan your trip for when visibility will be good.

Located 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Tokyo, Mt. Fuji borders the Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan. The mountain can be reached by bullet train from Tokyo and then explored via tour bus. Another easy option is to take the Keio Express bus from Shinjuku in Tokyo directly to the start of the Kawaguchiko 5th Station climb. The bus takes two hours each way.

Climbing season at Mt. Fuji falls in July and August when the weather is mildest and snow is limited. The mountain is at its most crowded during this time. If you're not climbing, clearer spring skies give the best views of Mt. Fuji's snow-capped peak.

Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko), provides some of the best unobstructed views of the mountain. Another popular viewing spot is Hakone, a resort town famous for its onsen, ryokan, and ropeway, where you'll find the best views. A walk on the beaches of Kamakura yields spectacular views of the mountain in the distance, and on a clear day, it's even possible to spot the peak from the top of Tokyo Sky Tree.

Yes, you can visit independently without being on a Mt. Fuji tour. Many travelers like to take a sightseeing tour of the Fuji area or do a supported climb of the mountain, especially if they don’t know Japanese, but it is not a requirement.

How long you spend at Mt. Fuji depends on which part you visit and your itinerary. To climb it, you’ll need around seven hours. To visit the Fuji-go-ko area beneath the mountain and hike, visit the temples and shrines, and explore the theme park, plan for one or two days.

The best time to enjoy clear views of Mt. Fuji is in winter, November–February, when the weather is generally clear and dry. In the warmer, wetter months of April-September, the mountain is usually behind clouds. The official climbing season runs from July to September.

A variety of tours operate at and around Mt. Fuji, often from nearby Tokyo. Many day tours combine mountain viewpoints with the lakes of the Fuji-go-ko region, outlet shopping malls, and theme parks, like Fuji-Q Highland.

No, you don’t need a guide to climb or to sightsee at Mt. Fuji. Climbing Mt. Fuji doesn’t require any technical mountaineering skills, so most travelers won’t need or want a guide. Many travelers who don’t speak or read Japanese like to take a tour to help navigate the area.

You do not have to purchase Mt. Fuji tickets to visit. If you want to climb the mountain, a ¥1,000 donation is requested but not mandatory.