One popular destination to stay close to Mount Fuji and have better visibility is to visit the Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes) region. While there are various day trips available from Tokyo, if you have the time, staying there for a night or two offers an amazing experience. One of the reasons I was very keen to visit was to celebrate my birthday in this spectacular place, it was already incredible enough to be in Japan for the occasion but to make it even more special, nothing like escaping to the calm of the mountains.
Where to stay near Mount Fuji?
This article contains affiliate links. While we only recommend products and services that we believe in, we may get a commission from any purchases you make.
In Fujigoko, there are five beautiful lake towns – Kawaguchiko, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko. The main one is Kawaguchiko with more shops, restaurants and a train station. In our case, we found a great budget-friendly ryokan in Yamanakako. It turned out to be a great choice because this town is less crowded and the views are just as mesmerising. Nothing beats waking up and having a delicious breakfast with a backdrop of the lake and Mount Fuji behind. It’s just magical.
Things to see at Mount Fuji
Don’t just stay by the lakes, there are various viewpoints to explore where you can get postcard views of Mount Fuji. Here are a few must-visit spots:
Chureito Pagoda
Although there were no cherry blossoms in June, we were still mesmerised by the view of Mount Fuji behind the Chureito pagoda. The pagoda is situated on a mountainside offering the perfect view over Fujiyoshida and of course Mount Fuji.
Climbing Mount Fuji
Climbing Mount Fuji is possible between July and early September with limited spaces on the most popular trails. If this is something that interests you it is worth prioritising your planning, as you may need to book it in advance. Check all the information in advance on the official Mount Fuji climbing website.
Fuji-Q Highland
This theme park called Fuji-Q is famous because of its backdrop views of Mount Fuji but also for some world-recording-breaking rollercoasters and anime-themed rides.
How to get to Mount Fuji?
The easiest and cheapest way to get there independently is to book a bus journey on Kosokubus. This is a direct bus connecting central Tokyo to Kawaguchiko or Yamanakako, running nearly every hour and taking about 2 hours to get there. The fare is approximately £13/15€ one way. Some buses only cover fewer stops like Kawaguchiko but others also cover Yamanakako, so be sure to check which is closest to your hotel. Otherwise, you can get off in Kawaguchiko and catch a local bus or taxi from there. For this bus, you can select the bus stop at the Tokyo metro station, which is actually on by the entrance of the Tekko Building. Get there some 15 min before departure with your ticket ready, even on your phone to show the driver.
The other option is to take a train from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko using the express service on the Chuo line which takes just less than two hours. This journey costs around £20/24€ one way.
How to get around?
You can get around by bus and if you’re visiting multiple places. It is very convenient that just like in the major cities, the local buses accept the Suica card. All you need to do is make sure you add a Suica card to your e-wallet on your phone and top-up for seamless payments. Be mindful of last bus times though, as the service finishes early at around 7-8 pm. Many people also opt to rent a car, which is definitely useful if you want to explore beyond the main towns with more flexibility. The other alternative is to use taxi services, which are a bit expensive in this area.
Where to eat?
The two places that I cannot recommend enough are The Park Café and Shaw’s Sushi Bar and Dining. The Park Café offers the most splendid breakfast view on their terrace of Lake Yamanaka and Mount Fuji, paired with their delicious fluffy pancakes. I recommend coming at least 20 minutes before opening time to queue up for a terrace seat. For dinner, we tried Shaw’s Sushi Bar and Dining, a family-owned restaurant that has some delicious sushi bowls.
Spending time at Mount Fuji was easily the best decision on this trip. We stayed for two nights and enjoyed a full day exploring, surrounded by beautiful lake views and the majestic Mount Fuji. Maybe it was because we visited in June and mid-week but it was very calm and not with the waves of tourists that I expected. I highly recommend staying here for a bit for a few slow-paced days in Japan. This is 100% one of the places that I want to go back to when I visit Japan again one day.