Day Trips to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi from Tokyo

Mount Fuji, at 3776 meters high, is the highest peak in Japan and has been considered a sacred place since ancient times. It is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in Asia and a popular destination for mountaineering, especially during the Japanese summer, but it is, above all, a site that you can not miss among the activities to see and do on your trip to Tokyo

At the foot of Mount Fuji is also located Lake Ashi, a crater lake famous for its spectacular spas and for the open view it has towards the volcanic cone from its almost 800 meters high. It is possible to visit both attractions together on an organized tour from Tokyo.

The best option

Mt Fuji, Hakone and Lake Ashi Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo

A day trip to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi with entrance fees and bullet train transfers included.

You will discover Japan's most revered mountain and the still active volcano hidden at the top and learn about the crater lake that opens up at the foot of Mt.

From $136 at Hellotickets

The best way to visit Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi on a tour from Tokyo is with a full-day organized tour with round-trip bullet train transfers. This option will allow you to make the most of your visit to these two natural sites without having to worry about the organization and itinerary. Transportation, entrance fees and expert local guide are included in these excursions. And if you want, you can add lunch when you make your reservation.

Excursions to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi include a boat tour of the crater lake and cable car tickets to the top of Mount Komagatake, from where you have spectacular views of Ashi, Fuji and the volcanic valley of Owakudani. In any case, these organized tours are the best option to escape from the neon lights and bustle of Tokyo and take refuge in nature.

Recommended if... You want to see the highest point of Japan and one of the most important sacred sites in Japanese culture on an organized tour from Tokyo.

Organized tours from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi can be booked online by purchasing the tour in advance.

August is the month when most tourists come from the Japanese capital to climb Fuji, so if you are planning to visit Tokyo during the summer, I recommend that you purchase the tour in advance to avoid delays.

You can also book the tour while you are in Tokyo although in that case it will depend on last minute availability. Keep in mind that the organized tours involve admission to the attractions, round-trip bullet train tickets from Tokyo and the boat ride on Lake Ashi, so booking the tour at the last minute may result in some of the services being sold out.

At the time of booking the tour, if possible, take into account the weather in the city, since to enjoy the views it is necessary that the sky is clear. Seeing Mount Fuji crowned by clouds can be a very beautiful experience, but on cloudy days it will be difficult to enjoy the panoramic view of the lake and the volcanic valley of Owakudani.

Details of interest

• Price... Organized tours start at approximately 115 euros.
• Duration of the tour... Organized tours departing from Tokyo have a duration of approximately 12 hours.
• Departure location... Tours generally start from a fixed point in central Tokyo or include hotel pick-up, depending on the service provider.

The approximate duration of these tours is 12 hours. This includes round-trip travel by bullet train from Tokyo, a visit to Mount Fuji, a boat ride on Lake Ashi and a visit to the top of Mount Komagatake by cable car to access the viewpoint overlooking the volcanic valley of Owakudani.

When it is not possible to board the Lake Ashi cruise or the Komagatake cable car, the tour can be replaced with a visit to the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, the Hakone Aquarium or a cruise on Lake Kawaguchi. That is why it is interesting to check which is the best time to visit Tokyo.

In winter season, when the road surface is frozen and that makes it impossible for the transport to reach the fifth and last station of Mount Fuji, the ascent is made to the maximum possible peak. In that case the Mount Fuji tour may take up less time in the itinerary.

On these tours you will discover the beauty and secrets of the revered Mount Fuji, the highest point in Japan and the symbol of the country since ancient times. There you will have access to mountaineering routes and also to the view from the fifth station of the volcanic cone, which offers a panoramic view of Lake Ashi.

Lake Ashi, at the foot of the omnipresent Mount Fuji, is a crater lake at an altitude of almost 800 meters that stands out for its spas, crystal clear water and its volcanic formation.

In the lake you will be able to take a boat ride and observe from the water the entrance to the Hakone Shrine, with its characteristic cedar wood torii.

The last step of these excursions is a visit by cable car to the top of Mount Komagatake to discover from there a panoramic view of Lake Ashi, Mount Fuji and the geographical feature formed by the volcanic valley of Owakudani.

At all the attractions you will have the opportunity to take pictures of the best landscapes of Japan. If you are an amateur, I recommend you also book a photo tour of Tokyo.

The way back to Tokyo will allow you to enjoy the comfort and speed of the bullet train.

Availability on tours depends on the time of year you travel, during the winter and autumn in Tokyo is usually not sold out, but in spring and summer, especially during the month of August, the number of visitors to Mt. Fuji rises considerably.

• Book your trip to Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi in advance: if you plan to travel during the high season, I recommend that you book well in advance.
• Check the weather before you go: if your stay in the city is going to be short, I advise you to take into account, as far as possible, the weather on the day of your visit.
• Take the right clothes: keep in mind that if your visit is in winter, even when the weather is favorable and clear, temperatures on Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi drop significantly, so having a coat and appropriate footwear can be the difference between living an unforgettable experience for better or for worse.
• Bring something to eat: when booking the tour you can select the lunch option for a little extra, but if you prefer, you can bring your own food.

In any case, the organized tours have the collaboration of an expert local guide who will help you on your trip, so take their advice into account because it will be useful!

It depends on the service provider, but an organized excursion from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi that also includes, as usual, the crater lake boat ride, tickets for the Mount Komagatake cable car and round-trip bullet train transfers, has a starting price of approximately 115 euros.

Please note that these excursions usually include entrance fees to the attractions. If you are traveling to Tokyo with children, children under the age of five can join the tour free of charge.

Please also note that in the event of adverse weather conditions the itinerary may be altered, but as these changes are the responsibility of the service provider , there should be no charge.

Excursions to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi usually include the permanent guided assistance of an expert local guide.

If you are visiting Tokyo during the spring or summer, it is enough to bring comfortable clothes to hike some of the trails of Mt. Fuji, but if your visit is in autumn or winter, you should be aware that temperatures drop considerably, reaching freezing temperatures at night. To cope with such cases, you should ideally bring warm clothing.

Also keep in mind that snowfalls are common in Japan during the winter , so including waterproof clothing among your warm clothes will improve your experience and make your trip easier.

Here is a list of items that I recommend you include in your luggage so that you can feel comfortable during your visit to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi during the winter:

• Thermal socks
• Waterproof and tactile gloves
• Woolen hat
• Woolen scarves
• Winter coats
• Wool sweaters
• Fleece pants
• Wool hat
• Thermal fleece
• Thermal socks
• Waterproof and comfortable boots
• Sunglasses

Mount Fuji is not only one of Japan's most traditional natural attractions, it also occupies a central place in the country's culture.

It is a site considered sacred since ancient times and a Japanese symbol, as well as being home to unparalleled beauty, spectacular scenery and exciting activities such as mountain hiking.

An organized tour will provide you with a comfortable and complete experience on Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, which at the foot of the mountain is a crater lake that can be navigated by boat.

Tokyo is a multicultural, bright and bustling city, but also an ideal starting point for an excursion to Mount Fuji, because it is a nearby destination and because the options from the Japanese capital are very complete.

Mount Fuji is one of the essential visits during your stay in Tokyo, because it will not only allow you to know a different profile to that offered by the capital but also will provide an approach to Japanese culture. My advice is to go for the adventure, even if it's very cold out there!

Due to the complexity of the organization and the variety of activities involved in the visit, an organized tour is the best option to visit Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi.

In addition, these tours include other activities such as the Mount Komagatake cable car and bullet train transfers from Tokyo, but there are also other options if you plan to visit Mount Fuji and its surroundings on your own.

Traveling by car from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi

If you plan to rent a car, the most direct option to get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji is to take the Tomei Expressway which will drop you at the foot of the Mount. This trip will take you a little more than two hours and you will travel on roads in very good condition.

Just be especially careful on the final part of the journey because the road becomes winding and if you are traveling in winter be aware that the road can freeze.

To drive from Mount Fuji to Lake Ashi you should take Prefectural Route 152 which will take you to your destination in just under an hour and a half. To return from the lake to Tokyo take the Odawara Highway and then combine with the Tomei Expressway.

• Price... Renting a medium-sized car starts at 55 euros per day.
• Duration of the trip... From Tokyo to Mount Fuji the trip takes two hours. From Mount Fuji to Lake Ashi one and a half hours. From Lake Ashi to Tokyo the trip takes two hours.

Traveling by train from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi

You can use the high-speed Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line service from Tokyo Station to Mishima and there board the Suyama line to climb Mount Fuji to Fujinomiya.

The journey with transfers takes just over three hours and costs a base cost of 42 euros per leg. The Shinkansen, Japan's high-speed trains, are not cheap, but if you are traveling around Tokyo by public transport you may want to buy the JR Pass to have access to all the urban trains in the Japanese capital.

• Price... The high-speed train has an approximate initial cost per leg of 42 euros.
• Duration of the excursion... From Tokyo to Mount Fuji the train ride takes a little over three hours.

With an organized tour you can forget about the organizational details, which can be stressful. In addition, although Japan is very well connected by rail, you will have to combine several lines to get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, which can be tiring.

Note also that the most cumbersome part is not traveling from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, but making the intermediate trips to Lake Ashi and Mount Komagatake and buying all the excursions on your own.

Traveling on your own might even be a more expensive option, as the high-speed train is not economical and tickets are purchased by the leg.

Traveling by car may be a more affordable alternative, just be aware of safety precautions in case there is ice on the road or it starts to snow and weather conditions alter the itinerary.