Day Trips to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi from Tokyo

Mount Fuji, at 3776 metres high, is Japan's highest peak and has been considered a sacred site since ancient times. Today it is one of Asia' s most visited tourist attractions and a popular destination for mountaineering, especially during the Japanese summer, but it is primarily a must-see and must-do on your trip to Tokyo

At the foot of Mount Fuji is also Lake Ashi, a crater lake famous for its spectacular spas and for the open view of the volcanic cone from its almost 800-metre height. It is possible to visit both attractions together on an organised 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 to attractions and bullet train transfers included.

You will discover Japan's most revered mountain and the still active volcano that hides at the top and get to know the crater lake that opens up at the foot of Mt.

From £85 at Hellotickets

The best way to visit Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi on a tour from Tokyo is with a full-day organised tour with round-trip bullet train transfers. This option allows you to get the most out of your visit to these two natural sites without having to worry about the organisation and itinerary. Transport, entrance fees and an expert local guide are included in these tours. And if you want, you can add lunch to your booking.

Excursions to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi include a boat trip on 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 organised tours are the best way to escape the neon lights and hustle and bustle of Tokyo and take refuge in nature.

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

Organised 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 this will depend on last minute availability. Please note that organised tours involve admission to attractions, bullet train tickets to and 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.

When booking the tour, be aware of the weather in the city if possible, as clear skies are necessary to enjoy the views. Seeing Mount Fuji crowned by clouds can be a beautiful experience, but on cloudy days it will be difficult to enjoy the view of the lake and the volcanic valley of Owakudani.

Interesting details

• Price... Organised tours start at approximately 115 euros.
• Duration of tour.... Organised tours departing from Tokyo last approximately 12 hours.
• Departure point... 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 the round trip by bullet train from Tokyo, the visit to Mount Fuji, the boat trip on Lake Ashi and the visit to the top of Mount Komagatake by cable car to access the viewpoint into 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. It is therefore interesting to check which is the best time to visit Tokyo.

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

On these tours you will discover the beauty and secrets of the revered Mount Fuji, Japan's highest point and the symbol of the country since ancient times. There you can access the mountaineering trails and also the open 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 metres, which is notable for its spas, crystal-clear water and volcanic formation.

At the lake you can take a boat ride and look out over the water to see the entrance to Hakone Shrine, with its characteristic cedar wood torii.

The last step of these excursions is a cable car ride to the top of Mount Komagatake for 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 Japan's best scenery. If you are an amateur, I also recommend a photo tour of Tokyo.

On the way back to Tokyo you can 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 August, the number of visitors to Mount Fuji rises considerably.

• Book your trip to Mount 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 will be short, I advise you to take into account, as far as possible, the weather on the day of your visit.
• Wearthe right clothes: bear in mind that if you visit in winter, even when the weather is favourable and clear, the temperatures at Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi drop significantly, so having warm clothes and the right shoes can make the difference between having an unforgettable experience for better or for worse.
• Bring something to eat: when you book your tour, you can select the lunch option for a little extra, but if you prefer, you can bring your own food.

In any case, all organised tours are accompanied by an expert local guide to help you on your trip, so take heed of his advice and you'll find it useful!

It depends on the service provider, but an organised tour from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, including, 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 tours usually include entrance fees to the attractions. If you are travelling 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 round-the-clock guided assistance from a knowledgeable local guide.

If you are visiting Tokyo during spring or summer, comfortable clothes will be enough to walk some of the trails on Mount Fuji, but if you are visiting in autumn or winter you should be aware that temperatures drop considerably, reaching below freezing at night. To cope with these conditions, it's best to pack warm clothing.

Also keep in mind that snowfall is common in Japan during the winter, so including waterproof clothing in your warm clothes will enhance your experience and make your trip easier.

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

• Warm socks
• Waterproof and tactile gloves
• Woollen hats
• Woollen scarves
• Winter coats
• Wool jumpers
• Fleece trousers
• Woollen hats
• 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 organised tour will give you a comfortable and complete experience of 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, brightly lit and bustling city, but it is also an ideal starting point for a trip to Mount Fuji because it is a nearby destination and because the options from the Japanese capital are so comprehensive.

Mount Fuji is one of the essential visits during your stay in Tokyo, because not only will you get to see a different side of the capital, but you will also get an insight into Japanese culture. My advice is to go for the adventure, even if it's freezing out there!

Due to the complexity of the organisation and the variety of activities involved, an organised tour is the best option for visiting 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 the surrounding area on your own.

Travel 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 Mount Fuji. This trip takes just over two hours and the roads are in very good condition.

Just be especially careful on the final part of the journey as the road becomes winding and if you are travelling in winter, be aware that the road can get icy.

To drive from Mount Fuji to Lake Ashi, 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... A mid-size car rental starts at 55 euros per day.
• Trip duration.... 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.

Train journey from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi

You can use the high-speed Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line from Tokyo Station to Mishima and then take the Suyama line up Mount Fuji to Fujinomiya.

The journey with transfers takes just over three hours and costs a basic fare of 42 euros each way. The Shinkansen, Japan's high-speed trains, are not cheap, but if you are travelling around Tokyo by public transport you may want to buy a JR Pass to get access to all the city trains in the Japanese capital.

• Price... The high-speed train has an initial cost of approximately 42 euros per leg.
• Journeytime... From Tokyo to Mount Fuji the train journey takes just over three hours.

With an organised tour you can forget about the details of organisation, which can be stressful. Also, 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 of the journey is not travelling from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, but making the intermediate trips to Lake Ashi and Mount Komagatake and buying all the excursions on your own.

Travelling on your own might even be a more expensive option, as the high-speed train is not cheap and tickets are bought in sections.

Travelling 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.