Where To Stay Around Mount Fuji?
One of the most popular destinations in the country, Mount Fuji attracts visitors from all over the world who come to climb the mountain or simply enjoy views of the great volcano from surrounding areas. Located 100km to the south-west of Tokyo, the mountain can be can be seen from great distances – including from Tokyo – while offering many areas to stay around its base. On this page you will find the following information:
— Where To Stay In & Around Mount Fuji?
— 30 Things To Do Around Mount Fuji
— Book With Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
Deciding on the best place to stay when visiting Fuji depends on whether you are intending to climb it, simply want to see it, the type of accommodation you want and how you will get there. For most international visitors, staying in and around one of the ‘Fuji Five Lakes’ or nearby Mt Fuji Station area is the best option.
You will find the largest range of accommodation in this area, great views of the mountain while putting you in close proximity of the trailheads, for visitors who intend to climb the mountain. Further afield, the onsen area of Hakone is another recommended area for visitors wanting some great views of Fuji while not necessarily intending to visit the mountain itself.
On this page you will find information regarding the most popular areas to stay, what to expect and links through to accommodation options along with things to do and how to get there. Let’s start with the obvious question, can I stay on Mount Fuji and what accommodation options will I find there?
ON THE MOUNTAIN
Understandably when planning a visit to Fuji, many travellers are curious about the possibility of staying on the mountain. While there are some option, accommodation is basically limited to mountain/climbing huts located along upper trails leading to the summit and a couple of guesthouses on the lower slopes on the western-side of the mountain.
Huts on the mountain are basic and book-out well in advance given the popularity of the climb. Most are located between the 7th and 8th stations on the Yoshida Trail and costs around JPY5000 per person for an overnight stay and JPY7000 for an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast. To be clear, this option is only for suitable for visitors intending to climb to the summit and huts can only be accessed on-foot. To do so, you can only carry your hiking pack and gear and don’t expect luxury. While prices are affordable, huts book-out well in advance, especially during the peak climbing season and around weekends and public holidays.
THE FUJI FIVE LAKES AREA
Known as ‘Fujigoko’ in Japanese, the ‘Fuji Five Lakes’ area is comprised of lakes Kawaguchiko, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko. Amoung those, Kawaguchiko and Yamanaka-ko are the most developed in terms of accommodation and offer a range of hotel and guesthouse options ranging for luxury to budget. The lakes are known for affording some of the best possible views of the mountains, which on clear and calm days is reflected on the waters surface. Let’s start with the most popular lake in terms of accommodation:
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi) / Kawaguchiko Station Area
Kawaguchiko is the most accessible of the lakes and as such, is the most developed in terms of accommodation, restaurants and other attractions. Known for its spectacular views of the mountain – considered best from the north side of the lake – accommodation is dotted around the Kawaguchiko with the largest build-up at the eastern end. Of all of the five lakes, Kawaguchiko is the most appealing area for most international visitors. Accommodation ranges from luxury to mid-range and budget, with many high-end hotels and guesthouses having in-house ‘onsen’ (natural hot springs) including outdoor baths from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the mountain. Most hotels and guesthouses offer in-house dining while there are other dining options around the eastern end of the lake, along with attractions such as the popular Itchiku Kubota Art Museum.
Located on the northern side of the mountain, the lake can be easily accessed via Kawaguchiko Station, from where you can reach nearby accommodation by taxi, local buses or on-foot (for the nearest hotels and guesthouses located on the southern and eastern shores of the lake). There is also a lot of accommodation located around the station, including on the southern-side of the station away from the lake. It is worth-noting that while the proximity of the lake to the mountain affords spectacular views on clear days, there are also many days when Fuji cannot be seen due to low-lying cloud. For accommodation listings in the area, see our ‘Kawaguchi Lake (Kawaguchiko) Onsen Area’ hotel page.
If you want to see Mount Fuji during your trip and experience some great destinations around Lake Kawaguchiko, then join our ‘Mount Fuji Day Trip : Adventure Around Lake Kawaguchiko’ tour!
1 Day Tour
| Mount Fuji Day Trip : Adventure around Lake Kawaguchiko | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 07:50 – 19:45 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Shinjuku Bus Terminal |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥15,500 |
Saiko (Sai Lake) Area
Sitting to the west of Kawaguchiko on the northern-side of the mountain, Saiko has a limited number of hotels and guesthouses but has multiple campgrounds on its southern, eastern and northern shores. Views of Fuji from Saiko are often obstructed by the surrounding hills with the best views of the mountain found at the western end of the lake. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Sai Lake (Saiko) Area’ hotel page.
Shojiko (Shoji Lake) Area
Moving further to the west and to the north-western side of the mountain, Shojiko is the smallest of the five lakes. It is largely undeveloped but offers fantastic views of Fuji from its northern shore, where you will find a number of guesthouses. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Shoji Lake (Shojiko) Area’ hotel page.
Motosuko (Motosu Lake) Area
Motosuko is the most western of the five lakes and mostly undeveloped. Accommodation options are limited to a couple of campgrounds and while the views from the lake can be spectacular, it doesn’t have much to offer that will appeal to most international visitors. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Motosu Lake (Motosuko) Area’ hotel page.
Yamanakako (Yamanaka Lake) Area
The largest of the five lakes, Yamanakako offers the second most accommodation options including hotels and ‘minshuku’ (basic traditional guesthouses). The lake is a popular destination for Japanese to enjoy fishing and water sports while enjoying great views of Mount Fuji, which are considered best from the northern side of the lake. The lake is located to the east of the mountain and to the south-east of Mt Fuji (Fujisan) Station – see below for details – from where buses run to the lake taking around 20-minutes. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Yamanaka Lake (Yamanakako) Area’ hotel page.
MT FUJI (FUJISAN) STATION AREA
Located between Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako, Mt Fuji (Fujisan) Station is another area with a good number of accommodation options. While not as convenient as the area around Kawaguchiko Station in terms of access to the mountain, Mt Fuji Station is only one stop away and is the nearest to station to the popular Fuji-Q Highland rollercoaster park. Accommodation is this area ranges from high-end hotels and guesthouses to budget hostels. There are a good number of restaurants located around the station making it appealing to visitors who want to avoid the high prices for accommodation around Kawaguchiko, dine-out and visit Fuji-Q Highland. For accommodation listings in the area, see our ‘Mt Fuji (Fujisan) Station Area’ hotel page.
GOTEMBA STATION AREA
Gotemba is a city lying to the south-east of Mount Fuji known for its views of the mountain and shopping, including the popular Gotemba Premium Outlets. Located on the Gotemba Line, the limited express ‘Mt Fuji’ service runs to the station from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. Staying in Gotemba is best-suited to visitors using their own car and wanting to shop in the outlets, with roads from the city providing access to the southern reaches of the mountain including Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti in winter. For accommodation listings in the area, see our ‘Gotemba Station Area’ hotel page.
SHIN-FUJI STATION AREA
Lying to the south-west of the mountain, Fuji City is somewhat confusingly located further away than areas including Gotemba and the lakes. It is however serviced by the Tokaido Shinkansen which stops at Shin-Fuji Station enroute between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. Staying in and around the station places you to the south-west of the mountain and within easy reach of the town of Fujinomiya and the famous tea plantations of Shizuoka. The farms not only produce fantastic tea, they are famous for their views of the mountain set behind manicured rows of tea plants. For accommodation listings in the area, see our ‘Shin-Fuji Station Area’ hotel page.
STAYING FURTHER AWAY FROM MOUNT FUJI
The size and symmetry of the Mount Fuji is truly impressive and given that grand stature, the mountain can be seen from great distances. Indeed some of the best views of Fuji can be enjoyed from more distant locations, especially when the weather isn’t ideal and the mountain can be seen above or through the clouds while areas near the base can have their views entirely obscured by cloud. The following locations are known for their views of the mountain and general convenience of transport running to Mount Fuji:
Hakone
Easily accessible from Tokyo and offering great views of Fuji, Hakone is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring areas. Hakone offers a huge range of accommodation including many fantastic hot spring guesthouses along with excellent restaurants, museums and galleries, ropeways and other attractions. Hakone is located relatively close to Fuji however it isn’t the most convenient area from which to visit the mountain due to lengthy transport times. It is instead best-suited to visitors wanting to enjoy some of the best views of Fuji while enjoying one of Japan’s most popular resort towns, rather than actually visit the mountain itself. For more information including where to stay in Hakone, and tips and suggestions of what to do while there, see our ’15 Things To Do Around Hakone & Where to Stay’ page.
If you want to experience the beauty of Hakone and Mount Fuji in one day, join our ’1 Day Tour : Mount Fuji and Hakone’ tour from Tokyo!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour : Mount Fuji and Hakone | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Shinjuku Bus Terminal |
| Adult Rate | ¥28,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥24,000 |
Tokyo
Mount Fuji sits around 100km to the south-west of Tokyo, putting it within easy reach of the capital by train, bus and car. Many visitors head to Fuji as a day-trip from Tokyo while on clear days, you can see the mountain from areas of the city with some striking views available from the city’s taller buildings. For travellers heading to Fuji by train from Tokyo, it will be most convenient to stay on the western-side of the city in areas around Shinjuku Station, from where services run to Otsuki Station and onto Kawaguchiko. The Fujikyu Railway Line stops at both Kawaguchiko Station and Mt Fuji (Fujisan) Station with some limited express services running all the way to Shinjuku. For suggestions of where to stay in Tokyo, see our ‘Where to Stay in Tokyo’ page.
There is so much to see and do in Tokyo, especially fantastic experiences to make your trip fun and engaging. Check out our ’Best Tours in Tokyo’ page which will give you information on the tours we offer in the Tokyo area and beyond. Why not also check out our Things to Do in Tokyo page which will also give you plenty of inspiration for your time spent in Tokyo. Here you will find some of the best activities and recommendations on how to spend your time in the Capital.
30 THINGS TO DO AROUND MOUNT FUJI
Whether you plan to climb the mountain or just want to see it in all its grandeur, there are plenty of reasons to visit Mount Fuji throughout the year. Our ’30 Things To Do Around Fuji’ page has lots of great tips and suggestions of what’s on offer on and near the mountain including other great destinations in Central Japan.
HOW TO GET TO MOUNT FUJI
Visitors heading to Fuji can make the journey using public transport, their own car or arrange a tour or charter. For information on how to reach the famous mountain, see our ‘How To Get to Mount Fuji’ page.
BOOK WITH US! NAGANO’S NO.1 TOUR & CHARTER OPERATOR
Central Japan offers many, many reasons to visit. Based in Nagano City and 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 Central Japan.
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 Central 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 Japan.
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