Mt. Fuji, a perfectly shaped volcano which is also Japan’s tallest peak at 3,776 meters, is one of Japan’s most iconic sights and considered a must-see when in Japan.
Unfortunately, clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mt. Fuji, and if you don’t go at the right time, you may not see it at all. I therefore considered myself lucky that I saw Mt. Fuji on my very first trip to Japan, and on my first try. Others have not been as fortunate.
Before we booked our tour, I did my research. I checked the weather calendar and chose the day that was predicted to be sunny. It fortunately happened to be on a Sunday, so my Tokyo-based friends Nantoy and Monica could join us.
Flisha found a one day Mt. Fuji and Hakone tour with lunch through Japanican.com which she booked for us. We went for the pick up in Keio Plaza Hotel in Shibuya because it’s not as confusing as the Shinjuku station. But it was still not easy to get to Shibuya, though, so please make sure to leave your hotel with ample time to spare because some of us almost missed being on this tour after getting lost in the train station.
From their website: This guided 1-day tour takes you to majestic Mt. Fuji and Hakone. It includes a trip up to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station at an elevation of 2,300 meters, a cruise on pristine Lake Ashi, and a ride on the Komagatake Ropeway which boasts great views of the surrounding Hakone National Park. This tour is accompanied by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter. Audio guides in Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Thai, French, and Indonesian are available on the tour bus.
On the way to Mt. Fuji’s 5th station, we got a very clear view of Mt. Fuji outside our bus window. Already I felt so lucky!
At one point our tour guide told us that we were about to pass a stretch of road that plays the Mt Fuji Song. I didn’t catch it on video but luckily, someone on YouTube did because of course they would have. You can hear it yourself below.
Description on the video: On Mount Fuji, near Kawiguchiko, just down the road from Sylvan’s and the Fujizakura brewery, there is a stretch of magical road where the ribs in the road vibrate the tires causing them to play the Mount Fuji song. Strange but true!
We lucked out again when we didn’t encounter any traffic at all on the way up to Mt Fuji’s 5th station.
Once we reached, the tour guide gave us slips of paper that we could exchange for lucky bells inside the shop. It’s a trap, of course! They just want to entice you to go inside and maybe want to buy some souvenirs. All they give you in exchange is a miserable little bell and it is not worth it. No need to go in unless you really do want to buy souvenirs or you’re hungry and want to eat Mt Fuji shaped bread, which actually tastes surprisingly good.
After a quick bite, we found ourselves outside, where the real treat was. Hello, Mt Fuji!
On days with bad weather, you can’t even get to 5th Station, and I know some people who had to settle for only the 4th station. Thank you ever so much, Mt Fuji, for giving me this opportunity!
You can also see other mountain ranges in the distance from here.
After that, we drove off past the huge queue of buses and cars trying to get into the station and out to a location where we could have our free lunch. Lunch came in this cute set:
The food tasted good (because nothing in Japan tastes bad) but the portions were small, so it might not be substantial for people with big appetites.
After lunch we rode off to the pier where we took a cruise of the beautiful Lake Ashi.
No, we didn’t ride that duck boat, okay? Our boat was more standard looking but I don’t think I have a picture of it and this pic is prettier anyway.
As we were about to reach Hakone National Park, we got super excited when we spotted a tree full of sakura or cherry blossoms!
Later, we would overhear a mother sternly telling her excited kid: “Those are not cherry blossoms, it’s just a tree with beautiful flowers.”
I resisted the urge to step in and say, “Umm you are wrong, person I have never met before, cherry blossoms come in many different forms aside from the pink flowers that you are accustomed to!”
Of course the only reason I know this is because I have actually seen many different cherry blossoms before, not in Japan, but in Singapore, in the Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome.
I was excited to take pictures with said blossoms but first we had to take a Komagatake Ropeway ride. Over a hundred people at a time got into a giant gondola for a 7-minute ride that brought us to an upper station where we could get a good aerial view of the Hakone National Park and Mt Fuji.
Unfortunately, Mt Fuji was barely visible even though I was flat against the plate glass window on the right side. But when we reached the top, we did manage to get some pictures with Mt Fuji.
I even managed to take a selfie with Mt Fuji in the background! Selfies should be no big deal, you say? Not when it’s a panorama selfie. 😁
I didn’t copy this idea from anybody, it just suddenly popped into my head the moment Nantoy told me to get into position.
Other views from up there:
We rode the same ropeway ride down where Flisha and I excitedly ran towards the cherry blossoms and Nantoy excitedly ran towards the ice cream vendor. Can’t blame him, really, Japanese ice cream is divine! But so is sakura, so that would have to come first. You see, it wasn’t even Sakura season anymore, so we weren’t even expecting to see any, let alone a whole tree full of them. We lucked out again. Thanks, Mt Fuji!!!!!! We love you!!!! 😂
Then we headed back to Tokyo where we met up with Flisha’s sister Tricia and had dinner at the most un-Japanese place you could think of: Shake Shack! What? We don’t have Shake Shack in Singapore, okay? Besides, all my other 29 or so meals were Japanese!
So to summarize – yes I definitely recommend this tour, but please make sure to do your research and pick a day with good weather to go!
Japan Posts:
🇯🇵 Full Japan itinerary with costing
🇯🇵 Tokyo Tour
🇯🇵 Mt Fuji & Hakone Tour
🇯🇵 Great Wisteria Festival @ Ashikaga Flower Park
🇯🇵 Kyoto 2 Days Tour
🇯🇵 One Day in Osaka
I learned from a tour guide that a Sakura is in full bloom when you won’t find a spot of green on the tree. After full bloom, leaves start growing and replacing the flowers! I am missing Japan spring right now, although I would probably visit lesser touristy places next time! There was just too much people in Tokyo, it ruined the beauty of the Sakura hahaha.
So our tree was not in full bloom, then! It must be even more beautiful in full bloom.
Yep, too many people tend to ruin a tourist spot hence I decided not to go during sakura season, but maybe next time, who knows?