If Japan had a profile image, it could positively be Mt Fuji in its snow-covered glory. Right here’s the information to exploring one of the best of Japan’s most well-known mountain.
Mount Fuji wants no introduction. Whereas mountain climbing to the height of Mt Fuji is a bucket record expertise for a lot of, our latest week-long Japan journey introduced us by means of a few of the hidden gems surrounding the Fuji space. Right here’s the coolness highway journey information to exploring one of the best of Fuji and its surrounds on a highway journey from Tokyo.
Automobile rental: For those who’re getting into Japan from Tokyo, it’s finest to hire a automobile and drive down as public transport to many of those locations are both rare or non-existent. Don’t neglect to gather your pre-booked 4G SIM card from the airport as you’ll be needing it for navigation!
Mt Fuji Highway Journey Route and Price range Breakdown
Transport: S$146.16 (excl. flight)
Lodging: S$181.40
Actions: S$74.85
Meals: S$105 (~¥3,500/day)
Misc: S$56.65
TOTAL: S$564.06
(1SGD = 100JPY)
(detailed breakdown for one pax right here)
*Observe: Flights have been excluded from the finances as airfares fluctuate fairly a bit throughout the 12 months.
Day 1: Fuji-Q Highland
Picture credit score: FujiQ
Fuji-Q Highland is, a rollercoaster lover’s haven. It has not only one however 5 Guinness World Report titles underneath its belt.
After a 2.5-hour drive from Tokyo, we have been able to tackle Japan’s most thrilling amusement park.
Admission to the park is free, and rides price between ¥400–¥2000 per trip. For those who’re planning to spend the day right here, get the FujiQ One Day Move for limitless entry to all of the rides.
Listed here are those you shouldn’t miss:
Fujiyama — The King of Coasters with 5 Guinness World Data such because the tallest and quickest curler coaster
Takabisha — World’s second steepest coaster with a 121° drop (0.5° distinction from the primary place Shellraiser in America)
Eejanaika — Quickest 4D rollercoaster with 14 inversions, essentially the most on the earth!
My private favorite is Fujiyama due to its insane 70m drop, plus a number of twists and turns with Mt Fuji as a backdrop.
There are free lockers offered across the park so that you’ll need to drop them off earlier than the rides.
After an adrenaline-filled journey, we headed to the newly opened 55m-tall Fujiyama Tower, which affords a chook’s eye view of Mt Fuji and the occasional Fujiyama coaster zooming previous.
*Professional-tip: Pay a further ¥1,000 to slip down the Fujiyama Slider for a enjoyable method all the way down to the bottom flooring.
We then visited Naruto Village the place we posed with life-sized Naruto characters and even visited Naruto’s favorite Ichiraku Ramen Store!
Entrance charge: One Day Move from ~S$62 through Klook
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM
Tackle: 5 Chome-6-1 Shinnishihara, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0017, Japan
Learn additionally: The Greatest Curler Coasters in Japan Most Vacationers Miss — Fuji Q Highland Information
Arakura Fuji Sengen Jinja Shrine
The Chureito Pagoda is one in every of Fuji’s, if not Japan’s, most symbolic points of interest! After climbing a whopping 396 flights of stairs, we have been rewarded with a sweeping panorama view of Fujiyoshida metropolis towards Mt Fuji.
Entrance charge: Free (¥1,000 parking charge throughout the annual cherry blossom pageant)
Opening hours: 24hrs
Tackle: 3353-1 Arakura, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture 403-0011, Japan
*Professional-tip: Go to throughout Spring (early April) to catch a sea of cherry blossoms or in Autumn (October to November) for the orange maple leaves.
Dinner at Sanrokuren
Ending our day with dinner at Sanrokuren — a conventional charcoal grill-eating home serving a few of the freshest Kushiyaki (grilled skewers) — it was good for chilly wet days, and winter evenings!
Set in a 150-year-old gassho-zukuri-style home (constructed with wood beams and a steep thatched roof), the world is warmed by sizzling coal persistently shovelled into the charcoal pit by the workers.
We ordered the Singen set (¥3,800) which comes with a wealthy assortment of recent seafood and flavourful meats on skewers. Plus, a bowl of piping sizzling Hoto noodles — a Yamanashi area specialty consisting of thick and flat udon served in miso soup and seasonal greens.
My favorite skewer within the set was the rainbow trout freshly caught from a small pond exterior the restaurant due to its naturally candy and delicate meat.
Price: From ¥2,200 – ¥4,400/set
Opening hours: 11AM – 9PM (Final entry 7PM), closed on Thu
Tackle: 3370-1 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0301, Japan
*Professional-tip: Arrive a minimum of an hour earlier than the final entry as queues will be fairly lengthy!
Lodging — Fuji View Resort
Picture credit score: @bulaiern through Instagram
Fuji View Resort’s specialty is that a few of the rooms supply an ideal view of Mt Fuji overlooking the Lake Kawaguchi. Sadly for us, it was cloudy whereas we have been there however the conventional tatami-style room was cosy and entry to its outside onsen nonetheless made the keep an pleasurable one!
*Observe: Whereas most public onsens don’t enable tattooed people to enter, this one does.
Price: ~S$364/evening for the Japanese Model Mount Fuji View Room incl. breakfast)
Tackle: 511 Katsuyama, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0310, Japan
Day 2: Fuji 5 Lakes and Fujiyoshida
Visiting the Fuji 5 Lakes is a should for each Mt Fuji itinerary as they’ve essentially the most scenic views of the long-lasting mountain. For those who’re brief on time, listed here are three of them to take a look at!
Learn extra: 9 Greatest Mt Fuji Viewing Spots — Should-visits and Lesser Recognized Information to the Greatest Picture Spots
Lake Kawaguchi
Picture credit score: tokyocheapo.com
Lake Kawaguchi was the closest to our lodging (a few 13-minute drive away), however the primary spotlight right here is Oishi Park, which has flowers blooming in profusion each season!
Tackle: Kodachi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0302, Japan
Lake Motosu
Picture credit score: animetourism88.com
Enjoyable reality: Lake Motosu is definitely printed on the again of the ¥1,000 notice! So you possibly can actually camp right here whereas gazing at a ¥1,000 view 😉.
Being the clearest lake out of the 5, it’s additionally a preferred spot for water actions similar to windsurfing, canoeing, and even diving.
Tackle: 2926 Nakanokura, Minobu, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi 409-3104, Japan
Lake Yamanaka
Picture credit score: MYSTAYS.com
Lake Yamanaka is the closest to Mt Fuji out of the 5 lakes and can also be unofficially often known as “Swan Lake” — given the massive flock of swans there.
It’s inaccessible by public transport, which could clarify why there weren’t as many individuals within the space. So we just about had the entire place to ourselves!
Tackle: Yamanakako, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi, Japan
Honcho Road
Honcho avenue is a 20-minute drive away from Lake Kawaguchi and is without doubt one of the most picturesque spots to shoot Mt Fuji — that includes idyllic store rows and utility poles in a retro city setting.
Within the space, we popped by Cafe Gekkou for a espresso break. Furnished with 80s-inspired decor, the espresso was scrumptious and so have been the desserts!
Latte (¥550), and the wealthy and nutty Chestnut cake (¥580)
Honcho Road
Tackle: 3 Chome-12-295 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0004, Japan
Cafe Gekkou
Opening hours: 12PM – 6PM
Tackle: 318 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida Yamanashi Prefecture
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine was once the place to begin for followers of the Fujiko religion earlier than they started their ascent up Mt Fuji. Right this moment, it’s a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage website. The shrine entrance is bordered by moss-covered stone lanterns and has an unlimited 18m–tall torii gate.
The sacred timber surrounding the world are over 1,000 years previous and you will discover occasional monks making their rounds round the primary shrine giving the house a mysterious vibe.
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 5:30PM
Tackle: 5558 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0005, Japan
Hotokura Funari Kawaguchiko
Picture credit score: Yamanashi Tourism Organisation
For a meal with a view, Hotokura Funari Kawaguchiko is known for its wonderful Mt Fuji backdrop.
Plus, we’re additionally right here for one more spherical of scrumptious Hoto — we simply can’t get sufficient!
I beloved the Golden Hoto with Pork (¥1,320) with its springy noodles and flavourful seasonal greens. Additionally strive the naturally candy and milky Hokkaido butter croquette (¥385/piece) — crisp on the skin, fluffy on the within! 😋
Price: From ¥1,320/bowl
Opening hours: 11AM – 9PM
Tackle: 6931 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0301, Japan
*Professional-tip: Use the digital camera perform on Google Translate to decipher the complete Japanese menu.
Lodging — CITIO Resort Shizuoka
Resort CITIO Shizuoka is a 5-minute stroll from points of interest like Sunpu Fortress, in addition to eating places like Ichiran ramen! The lodge has clear cozy beds and a comparatively giant lavatory for a calming keep.
*Observe: There’s no lodge parking so we parked at a 24hr automobile park (¥1,500/evening) close to the lodge.
Price: Twin Room from ~S$102/evening
Tackle: 1-2 Tenmacho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka, 420-0858, Japan
Day 3: Shizuoka
Miho no Matsubara
Picture credit score: zekkeijapan.com
Set out early to catch the dawn at Miho no Matsubara — a seaside lined with pine timber alongside the shoreline, towards a surprising view of Mt Fuji.
Enjoyable reality: This view impressed a well-known Ukiyo-e grasp, Utagawa Hiroshige, a lot that he turned it right into a well-known print within the Edo interval — often known as the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
Tackle: Miho, Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka, 424-0901, Japan
Shiraito Falls
Picture credit score: GaijinPot Travels
Shiraito Falls is one in every of Japan’s most prized waterfalls — holding not solely a UNESCO World Heritage title, but in addition a spot within the One Hundred Waterfalls of Japan (in keeping with the Japanese authorities).
The 150m-wide mild cascade resembles threads of superb silk, therefore giving its title Shiraito or white threads.
The bottom of the waterfall is well accessible through a brief strolling path and one of the best time to go to is throughout Autumn — when Shiraito Falls is basked in orange foliage.
Tackle: 273-1 Kamiide, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka 418-0103, Japan
Obuchi Sasaba Tea Plantation
Shizuoka is without doubt one of the largest producers of inexperienced tea in Japan, so it’s no shock that there are lots of tea plantations right here.
We headed over to Obuchi Sasaba tea plantation en path to Mishima Sky Stroll and had the entire place to ourselves, together with a fairly distinctive view of Mt Fuji 🍵.
Entrance charge: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
Tackle: 1445 Obuchi, Fuji, Shizuoka 417-0801, Japan
Mishima Sky Stroll
Mishima Skywalk is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan. At 400m lengthy, it offers a chook’s eye view of Mt Fuji and Surunga Bay, good for our remaining cease on this Mt Fuji itinerary.
Picture credit score: Mishima Skywalk
It connects to an journey hub on the opposite finish the place you’ll discover thrilling actions similar to treetop impediment programs, and an extended zipline that runs beneath the bridge (¥2,000/roundtrip).
We had lunch contained in the Sky Backyard and ordered the Golden Tomato black pepper noodles (¥1,100/bowl) from Karumen. It tasted like a peppery and aromatic tomato soup ramen with seasonal greens — however with much more aptitude and spice.
Entrance charge: ¥1,100
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM
Tackle: 313 Sasahara Shinden, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-0012, Japan
*Observe: Entry to the park requires proof of vaccination.
Helpful suggestions in your Mount Fuji itinerary
Attending to see essentially the most famed mountain in all of Japan was such a trip. There have been days when Mt Fuji was utterly coated by dense clouds and rain, adopted by a transparent sky revealing a snow-capped Mt Fuji the very subsequent day.
To get essentially the most out of your highway journey, listed here are some suggestions that can assist you out!
1) The Greatest time to go to Mt. Fuji is saif to be between November and February (autumn and winter seasons) because the probabilities of clear skies are the best. Personally, I’d nonetheless need to go to throughout spring to catch the cherry blossoms there!
2) Use the 24-hour Mt Fuji stay stream and test the climate forecast for the day to see if it’s value trying to find one of the best Mt Fuji photograph spots
3) Be versatile along with your itinerary — if Mt Fuji isn’t seen, you possibly can go to different points of interest first such because the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, and return on a greater day.
4) Lease a automobile as most locations aren’t simply accessible through public transport. It’s additionally a really scenic drive from Tokyo, so you possibly can benefit from the seasonal colors of nature in your method!
5) Obtain Google Translate, as nearly every little thing is in Japanese right here.
Additionally, do try these associated itineraries!
— Japan Self-Driving Information for First-timers — 15 Issues You Must Know Earlier than Renting the Automobile
— Information to Climbing Mount Fuji — The whole lot You Want To Know About Climbing Japan’s Highest Mountain
— 7D6N Japan Itinerary Underneath S$1.5k — Highway Journey from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji and Past
What’s your favorite factor to do round Mt Fuji? Tell us within the feedback!
