Mt. Fuji is a symbolic mountain in Japan. It has long been the subject for Japanese works of art because of its beautiful, almost equilateral shape, a form that is found almost nowhere else on earth. Mt. Fuji is also Japan's largest volcano, which last erupted about 300 years ago, causing damage to the surrounding area from volcanic ash, etc. Volcanic activity has settled down in modern times, and many people enjoy attempting to reach the peak of the mountain in summer.
As Japan's largest mountain, standing 3,776m tall, Mt. Fuji can be seen from astonishingly far away. It can, of course, be seen from Tokyo, as well as the Enoshima beach resort, and the famous hot spring area of Hakone. It is fascinating to see how the view changes in each location. Mt. Fuji appears and disappears depending on the weather, but there is a relatively large number of clear days in winter in the Tokyo area, so there are many viewing opportunities!
- *Views of Mt. Fuji are dependent on weather conditions.
Hakone is an area famous for hot springs. "Hakone-Yumoto" is 85 minutes from Shinjuku, Tokyo by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar". "Hakone-Yumoto" has convenient access to Mt. Fuji viewing spots by Hakone Tozan Train, cable car, or ropeway. There are numerous Mt. Fuji viewing spots in the Hakone area, but we will just introduce the top five locations. Do not forget to prepare for the cold, as the winter in Hakone is extremely chilly.
Getting to Hakone
The Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" is convenient when traveling from Shinjuku, Tokyo. There is also a discounted Hakone Freepass available.
If you have not properly
prepared for the cold
The Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" leaves from Shinjuku Station where you will also find the "Odakyu Department Store" for any last-minute shopping requirements.
Around the peak of Mt. Hakone is the peaceful Lake Ashi, which is full of water. Clear water flows into this beautiful lake from the surrounding mountains. The hotel, ryokan, restaurants and souvenir shops bustle with activity on the lake shore.
Mt. Fuji can be seen on the far side of the lake and through the mountains when on board the "Hakone Sightseeing Cruise", and from the area around "Moto-Hakone-ko", the departure and arrival point for the cruise. When the conditions are right, the lake reflects Mt. Fuji for a view of the so-called "upside down Mt. Fuji".
The sightseeing cruise operates at 40-50 minute intervals, so please plan to arrive on time.
Access
85 minutes by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station
35 minutes by Hakone Tozan Bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station, getting off at "Moto-Hakone-ko" Bus Stop
Contact
TEL : +81-0460-83-6235
URL : www.hakone-kankosen.co.jp/foreign/en/index.html
"Owakudani" offers scenery that is considered unique even among Hakone's sightseeing areas. Here, the mountain surface remains exposed by volcanic activity, with steam and hot water gushing out all over the mountain.
The view between Owakudani and Mt. Fuji is uninhibited, and the spacious scene spreads out to an open sight of Mt. Fuji in its entirety.
"Black eggs" boiled in the hot spring water from Owakudani can be purchased from local shops. When boiled, the "black eggs" turn a unique color due to the components of the hot spring water. It is said that your life span increases by seven years when you eat "black eggs". Please try it when you are sightseeing in this area.
Access
85 minutes by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station
Continue on the "Hakone Tozan Train", and "Hakone Tozan Cablecar", getting off at Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Station
Contact
TEL : Weekdays +81-0465-32-2205 (9:00-17:00), Weekends & holidays +81-0460-84-2566 (9:00-17:00)
URL : www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/
Ride the Hakone Tozan Train and Hakone Cablecar to "Sounzan" from Hakone-Yumoto. The "Hakone Ropeway" links "Togendai" by the banks of Lake Ashi with "Sounzan" in a journey lasting about 30 minutes. Mt. Fuji can be seen while riding the ropeway. When you reach the top of the mountain after getting on board at Sounzan, you will at once see Mt. Fuji above, and steam gushing out of Owakudani below. After connecting to "Owakudani" by ropeway, you can view Mt. Fuji on your right, and Lake Ashi on your left. When riding the ropeway, Mt. Fuji will suddenly disappear behind the mountains, so please prepare your camera to take pictures before boarding.
Access
85 minutes by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station
Continue on the "Hakone Tozan Train", and "Hakone Tozan Cablecar", getting off at Hakone Ropeway Sounzan Station
Contact
TEL : Weekdays +81-0465-32-2205 (9:00-17:00), Weekends & holidays +81-0460-84-2566 (9:00-17:00)
URL : www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/
Odakyu Hotel De Yama is a hotel that stands on the banks of Lake Ashi close to the peak areas of Hakone. The hotel's garden, covering 36.7 acres (148,800 square meters), offers views of Mt. Fuji that change from season to season. If the winter conditions are right, you can take a walk to see Mt. Fuji from the snow-covered garden. The view of Mt. Fuji can be enjoyed all year round from the garden, with azaleas and rhododendrons blooming in spring, roses in summer, and the changing colors in fall. But it's not just about Mt. Fuji. How about staying at the hotel and enjoying the hot springs at a leisurely pace?
Access
85 minutes by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station
35 minutes by Hakone Tozan Bus (H route) from Hakone-Yumoto Station, getting off at "Moto-Hakone-ko" Bus Stop. 5 minutes from "Moto-Hakone-ko" by free shuttle bus, or 15 minutes on foot.
Contact
TEL : Weekdays +81-0460-83-6321
URL : www.odakyu-hotel.co.jp/yama-hotel/english/
"Onshi-Hakone Park" and the adjoining "Hakone Checkpoint Museum" on the south shore of Lake Ashi offer superb views of Mt. Fuji. Onshi-Hakone park is a beautifully and scrupulously maintained park, which can be enjoyed for its appearance in any season. You can experience Japanese culture alongside Mt. Fuji by enjoying a cup of Japanese tea in the garden at "Ryokushian", which commands a view of the mountain. An Edo-period checking station has been reconstructed at the neighboring "Hakone Checkpoint", allowing you to connect with Japanese history.
Access
85 minutes by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station
40 minutes by Hakone Tozan Bus (H route) from Hakone-Yumoto Station, getting off at "Onshi-koen mae" Bus Stop or "Hakone Checkpoint" Bus Stop.
Contact
Onshi-Hakone koen
TEL : +81-0460-83-7484
URL : www.kanagawa-park.or.jp/onsisite/english.html
Hakone Checkpoint
TEL : +81-0460-83-6635
URL : www.hakonesekisyo.jp/english/index.html
The "Enoshima" beach-resort area, 60 minutes from Tokyo by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar", commands a view of Mt. Fuji on clear days. We recommend the views from the coast and Enoshima's "Seacandle"! There are many attractions other than Mt. Fuji among the sightseeing spots in the Enoshima area.
Access to Enoshima
Convenient access from Tokyo Shinjuku by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar".
Take the retro Enoshima Electric Railway for about 20 minutes from Fujisawa Station, where the Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" arrives and departs. The coast opens up in front of your eyes if you walk a little way from Shichirigahama Station. The view from this coast is exceptional, with Enoshima in front of you, and Mt. Fuji in the distance. The evening view is even more magnificent than the scenery during the day.
Why not combine your trip with a visit to one of the stylish cafes and restaurants in the area?
Access
About 60 minutes by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku Station to Fujisawa Station
About 20 minutes by Enoshima Electric Railway to Shichirigahama Station from Fujisawa Station
Enoshima "Seacandle" offers the highest views in the Enoshima area. The panoramic scene stands at a height of 101.5m above sea level.
Mt. Fuji can be seen to the right when standing with your back to the land. In the winter season, a pure white Mt. Fuji can be seen from a distance covered in a blanket of snow.
The "Enoshima Escar" offers a comfortable trip by escalator to the "Seacandle" on top of the island. Souvenir shops and restaurants are located en route, so why not spend some time on the island while heading towards the "Seacandle"?
Access
About 60 minutes by Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku Station to Katase-Enoshima Station
Approx. 20-minute walk from Katase-Enoshima Station
We would like to introduce a view of Mt. Fuji from the Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" as it travels towards Hakone. As well as observation deck seats, Mt. Fuji can be seen from standard seats on the right as the train travels towards Hakone in the area located about one hour from Shinjuku. Do not forget to check your watch! Remember to request a seat on the right when making your reservation.
- *In some cases, it may not be possible to reserve a seat on the right hand side.
Mt. Fuji can be seen from Tokyo, but the view is inhibited by buildings in most locations. Only a few tall buildings in Shinjuku face Mt. Fuji, so a key point is to find skyscrapers with viewing floors and multi-story restaurants.
Even Japanese people feel lucky if they can see Mt. Fuji from Tokyo.
Photograph: Provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Among the skyscrapers in Shinjuku, Tokyo Metropolitan Government offers an uninhibited view all the way to Mt. Fuji, which can be seen on clear days from the observation room 202m above ground. The observation room is in fact free to enter, so anyone can use it with ease. There are lots of other things to be seen in the Tokyo area apart from Mt. Fuji, so please make sure you pay a visit.
Access
Approx. 10 minute-walk from Shinjuku Station
Contact
TEL : +81-03-5320-7890
URL : http://www.yokoso.metro.tokyo.jp/tenbou/index.html(Japanese Only)
Mt. Fuji can be observed through the spacious window of the "TRIBEKS" restaurant at a height of 100m in the Hotel Century Southern Tower on the south side of Shinjuku Station. We recommend breakfast as the ideal time to view Mt. Fuji.
The restaurant does not accept reservation at the breakfast time so please simply walk into enjoy your breakfast with their views. You should also be able to see Mt. Fuji from very limited guestrooms of west side.
Access
2-minute walk from the Southern Terrace Exit of Shinjuku Station Approx. 3-minute walk from the South Exit
Contact
TEL : TRIBEKS +81-03-5354-2177Hotel +81-03-5354-0111
URL : en.southerntower.co.jp
