Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest peak, saw its climbing season begin on 1 July. Its famous figure, immortalized in numerous ukiyoe (Japanese woodblock prints and paintings), is a source of fascination for people the world over.

For Japanese people--especially those living in Tokyo--it is hard to conceive that this legendary and mysterious mountain really exists so close by.


Below I will suggest five options for enjoying beautiful Mt. Fuji.

1. Admiring from Afar
On a clear evening you can gaze upon Mt. Fuji from the viewing area at the top of a skyscraper in Roppongi, Shinjuku or from the top of Tokyo tower, or even while out for a meal. You may be surprised that Mt. Fuji can be seen from Tokyo, but in actual fact there are quite a number of places from which Mt. Fuji can be seen. Another option could be to enjoy a beautiful daytime view, taking in both Mt. Fuji and the sea, from places along the coast like Enoshima, Kamakura, Fujisawa, and Shonan, as depicted in the famous ukiyoe paintings.

2. Viewing Mt. Fuji from the Fuji Five Lakes Area
In the area surrounding Mt. Fuji are five lakes that were formed by the mountain's volcanic activity. Seeing Mt. Fuji doubled, side-by-side with its inverted reflection in Lake Kawaguchi is a particularly beautiful sight. There are numerous guest rooms and open-air baths around Lake Kawaguchi that offer views of nearby Mt. Fuji. JAPANiCAN highly recommends staying in the Mt. Fuji area; why not bring your special someone for a romantic, unforgettable experience?

Mt. Fuji can also be seen reflected in lakes not in the Fuji Five Lakes area: Lake Ashi in Hakone, is one example.

3. Going to Mt. Fuji's 5th Station
There is a road called the Fuji Subaru Line that allows access up to Mt. Fuji's 5th station to private vehicles, highway buses from Tokyo, and local buses from the train stations at the base of Mt. Fuji (e.g. Fuji Yoshida Station, Kawaguchi-ko Station). For a great-value trip in total comfort, you should try Sunrise Tours' one-day trip to Mt. Fuji, which takes you up to the 5th station by bus and then returns you to Tokyo by bullet train!

It can be chilly even at the 5th station, especially in early spring and autumn, so make sure that you take an extra layer of clothing with you in case. When standing at the 5th station, a sea of green forest dotted with blue lakes spreads out below you from the foot of the mountain, and an endless blue sky extends above you. It is truly a sight to behold.
A look down at the ground you stand on reminds you that you are indeed standing on a dormant volcano, with the exposed volcanic rocks hinting at the brute power contained beneath.

The 5th station can only be visited between spring and autumn, as the Fuji Subaru Line is usually closed from the second half of November until the first half of March.

4. Climbing to the Peak of Mt. Fuji and Watching the Sun Rise from a Sea of Clouds
"A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once; a fool twice." This is the saying that the Japanese have regarding what is said to be the world's most-climbed mountain. Most climbers aim to see sunrise from the summit of the mountain. If you would like to do so, you should aim to leave the 5th station at around midday and then spend the night at one of the huts located after the 8th station. Make sure you leave the hut by around 01:00 or 02:00 to make it to the summit for around 04:00, as during July sunrise is at around 04:30 and by the end of August is at around 05:00.

For the most part, the track up the mountain is either rocky or gravelly, but after the 7th station it becomes a rocky path which must be climbed while holding onto a chain. People wear gloves and slowly clamber up the steep path towards the summit. To be able to see the sunrise from the summit after all this hardship is truly an exceptional experience and one that will remain with you always.

Official climbing season ends on 26 August.

5. Talking about your Memories of Mt. Fuji to your Friends
After experiencing Mt. Fuji, people can't help but talk to their friends about it. Its not unusual to hear people say things like, "It was great being able to see Mt. Fuji the other day!" or "When I went to the Fuji Five Lakes area with my family, the sight of Mt. Fuji reflected in the calm, mirror-like lake was really something!" or "Seeing all the holiday-makers at the 5th station, I felt as if I was the one who had gone abroad!" or "The sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji was amazing!" Hearing about it is great, but you should really try and climb Mt. Fuji yourself once.

Despite being the world's most-climbed mountain, surprisingly few Tokyoites have actually climbed Mt. Fuji themselves, even though the climb is easy enough for any adult in good health to do, no matter their age.

Would you pass up the chance to see the view from Japan's highest point given the chance?

Come to Japan and create your very own unforgettable Mt. Fuji experience!

Getting to Mt. Fuji
From Shinjuku Station take the JR Super Azusa train on the Chuo Line. Change at Otsuki Station to the Fujisan Tokkyu (Mt. Fuji Express) train on the Fuji Kyuko Line and then alight at the last stop, Kawaguchi-ko Station. If you would like to see the Lake Kawaguchi area, then you should walk from here. If you would like to head up Mt. Fuji, 14 buses a day run from outside Kawaguchi-ko Station to the 5th station from 07:20 until 21:15. Buses only run between 12 July and 31 August, take around 55 minutes to reach their destination, and cost JPY 1,500 for a one-way ticket or JPY 2,000 for a return (to be bought in advance). (Note that in the evening buses run at a rate of one approximately every two hours.)

Recommended itinerary
(From Tokyo to Mt. Fuji)
Leave Shinjuku Station for Otsuki Station by Limited Express Super Azusa #1 at 07:00.
Arrive at Otsuki station at 07:55.
Change train and leave Otsuki station for Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) Station by Fuji-kyu "Fujisan" Limited Express at 08:12.
Arrive at Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) Station at 08:55.
Take the public bus from the Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) bus stop at 09:40.
Arrive at Mt. Fuji 5th station bus stop at 10:35.

(Return to Tokyo)
Take the public bus from the Mt. Fuji 5th station bus stop that leaves at 13:15.
Arrive at Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) bus stop at 14:05.
Leave Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) Station for Otsuki Station by Fuji-kyu "Fujisan" Limited Express at 15:13.
Arrive at Otsuki Station at 15:55.
Leave Otsuki Station for Shinjuku by Limited Express Kaiji #1 at 16:01.
Arrive at Shinjuku Station at 17:07.