Where to See Mount Fuji in Hakone
The mountainous landscape of Hakone is home to some amazing scenery, and what makes the landscape even more impressive is the opportunity to see Mount Fuji! Of course, it is always important to remember that you cannot guarantee seeing Fuji on your trip to Japan as the weather heavily dictates visibility. However if you are lucky enough to see Fuji, it will make your trip even more memorable! Winter actually tends to be one of the better seasons to spot Fuji. We have created this page to tell you where some of the best places to catch a glimpse of Fuji is around the Hakone area. On this page you will find the following information :
— Where to See Mount Fuji in Hakone
— 20 Best Things to Do Around Hakone
— Where to Stay When Visiting Hakone
— Book With Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
WHERE IS HAKONE?
Hakone is a popular ‘onsen’ (hot spring) area lying around 90km to the south-west of Tokyo. Known for its wide range of accommodation options – including lots of traditional guesthouses with their own hot springs – along with plenty of great restaurants, museums, galleries and other attractions, Hakone attracts lots of visitors given its close proximity to the capital. Part of the larger area of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, visitors to the area can often enjoy some of the best views of Mount Fuji to the west with the months of October and November being a particularly popular time of year given Hakone’s beautiful autumn colours. For information on how to get there, see our ‘How To Get To Hakone’ page.
WHERE TO SEE MOUNT FUJI IN HAKONE
Hakone is full of amazing and varied landscapes that offer fantastic views of Mount Fuji on clear and fair weather days. From its beautiful lake to pampas grass fields, the Hakone ropeway to volcanic valleys, and even from the comfort of galleries, you can spot Fuji in many places across the Hakone area. Read on to find out where you can hop around Hakone to Fuji spot!
1 / Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields / All Year Round
Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields are one of the spectacular pieces of scenery and viewing points for Mount Fuji. You can visit here all year round, but it is best visited during the Autumn season (late September – early December) due to the golden and silvery hues the pampas grass gives off, it is a stunning nature spot for hiking as well as seeing Fuji. On clear days, Mount Fuji can be seen rising above the golden hilly fields! To view Fuji, simply walk along the trails in the pampas field and head to the open areas where the grasses part. As you get higher up the trail, your view will improve.
2 / Hakone Ropeway and Stations / All Year Round
The Hakone Ropeway is a great way to see panoramic views of Fuji as you sit back, relax and take in the impressive sight all from the comfort of the cable car! You can join the start of the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan Station, and from there you can ride it all the way down to Togendai Station by Lake Ashinoko. There are two other stations in between, which includes Owakudani. We highly recommend getting off the cable car at each stop to check out the different viewpoints and to increase your chances of seeing Mount Fuji! Sounzan Station also has a great foot bath which is free to use. You can sit, relax with refreshments and take in the beautiful sights of the lush green mountains and Fuji!
3 / Owakudani / All Year Round
To truly appreciate the volcanic energy and power of Hakone area, it is a must to visit the volcanic valley of ’Owakudani’. This vast area was carved out from a huge pyroclastic flow that erupted from Mount Hakone over 3,000 years ago. The distinct smell and land’s yellow tinge from the sulphur makes you feel as if you’re visiting another planet, and is a great experience for anybody interested in physical Geography and Volcanoes. Marvel at the steaming vents and sulphur springs, visit the Geothermal museum or get a delicious curry at the restaurant. To top off this amazing experience, visitors can see Mount Fuji from the top of the valley on very clear days!
4 / Lake Ashinoko / All Year Round
Lake Ashinoko is one of the top attractions to enjoy in the Hakone area. The lake was a crater that formed from a large eruption from Mount Hakone over 3,000 years ago, and over time the lake we see today was formed. Visitors can easily reach the lake by taking the Hakone Ropeway down to Togendai Station. From there, visitors can either walk and drive around the lake area, or we highly recommend getting the famous Hakone pirate ship boat cruise across the lake! You can choose from one way or a round trip. The boat cruise is very relaxing, and the ship has an outer deck that you can stand on to see Lake Ashi and of course Mount Fuji in all its glory! It can get busy, so make sure you secure a spot to capture a glimpse of Fuji!
5 / Ashinoko Narukawa Art Gallery / All Year Round
Ashinoko Narukawa Art Gallery is one of Hakone’s famous museums where you can enjoy exhibits on contemporary art known as ’Nihonga’ or Japanese style painting. It displays a wide variety of both traditional and modern art created by Japanese artists, where visitors can enjoy two floors of art. The museum is also well known for its lounge area, cafe and garden offering amazing panoramic views of overlooking Lake Ashinoko, Hakone Shrine’s Torii gate and Mount Fuji on clear days. You can sit, relax and take great photos. The cafe serves a wide variety of snacks, sweets and drinks. We highly recommend the matcha and wagashi set, or the Fuji beer!
Want to experience the best views of Mount Fuji for yourself?
Why not join our ’1 Day Trip : Mount Fuji and Hakone’ tour where we visit both the Hakone area and Fuji area. For the Hakone portion of the tour, we will visit Lake Ashinoko, Hakone Shrine and do the pirate ship boat cruise. Available throughout the year, this is a perfect tour to venture out of Tokyo. All tours are led by locally-based guides and will take you around the must-see sights in the region, as well as some lesser known gems. Our tours are fun, interactive and family-friendly. For more information, or to book a tour, click on the banner.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour : Mount Fuji and Hakone | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Shinjuku Bus Terminal |
| Adult Rate | ¥28,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥24,000 |
20 BEST THINGS TO DO AROUND HAKONE
Readily accessible from Tokyo using the trains, Hakone offers visitors lots of reasons to visit. Most famously, Hakone is known of its numerous guesthouses including many ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses), many of which have their own hot springs and offer international visitors the chance to enjoy the total comfort and relaxation of Japanese service. A popular getaway destination for Tokyoites, Hakone is home to many excellent galleries, museums, onsen, restaurants and of course, known for its outstanding views of Mount Fuji. Check out our ‘20 Best Things to do in and Around Hakone’ page for inspiration and information for planning your Hakone trip!
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING HAKONE
When booking your accommodation in Hakone, it’s important to do your research and choose a hotel or guesthouse in an area that suits your needs. Most international visitors will travel to and from Hakone by train, making the area around Hakone-Yumoto Station a convenient and popular choice with a good range of accommodation options. Outside the central town, Gora is another popular accommodation area accessible by car or using the Hakone Tozan Railway. Nearby Sengokuhara has a good range of hotels and restaurants however is harder to reach using public transport while the hotels of Ashinoko are distant from the main accommodation and dining areas. Our ‘Best Places to Stay in Hakone’ page has lots of information to help you choose the right for you including accommodation listings.
HOW TO GET TO HAKONE
Hakone-Yumoto Station is the gateway to the Hakone area and readily accessible using trains services from Tokyo and beyond. For information on how to get there, see our ‘How to Get to Hakone’ page.
BOOK WITH US! NAGANO’S NO.1 TOUR & CHARTER OPERATOR
Japan offers many, many reasons to visit. Operating all year round, we are Nagano’s No.1-rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters. We can arrange transport including a private vehicle and driver, to transport you to, from and between any destination in our service areas in Japan. If you want to plan a trip to travel to Hakone from Tokyo or Nagano, simply contact us to enquire about our charter services.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Japan and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Nagano and Japan.
Got a question about visiting Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
