Mt Fuji and Hakone day tour from Tokyo: is it worth it?

Last updated on 18 November 2021

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Did you know you can take a Mt Fuji and Hakone Day Tour from Tokyo?

Yes, you really can do Mt Fuji and Hakone in a single day trip from Tokyo, no car, no working out three different train lines yourself. We wanted to get out of the city for a day and see a bit of the countryside, so we booked a day tour that covered both, and it turned into one of our favourite days in Japan. We did it on our first full day there, and it gave us a proper taste of Japanese scenery and culture before we’d even settled into Tokyo.

How the day works: bus, Mt Fuji, then Hakone

We jumped on a tour bus from the hotel next to ours, which took us to a central bus depot. Not realising this was going to happen, it was a little jarring but we decided to just go with the flow and see what happened.

From that central bus depot, we got on our actual tour bus and set off for Mt Fuji. The bus took us up to the visitors centre, and we spent a few hours wandering around, checking out the gift stores, going on a short walk into the mountain, and taking a lot of photos.

Mt Fuji: the 5th Station stop

We drove straight to Mt Fuji, and we were incredibly lucky because it was a fine day, and it was very clear. Our tour guide was really excited for us because sometimes she did tours where you couldn’t see the mountain at all. That would have been disappointing, considering we wouldn’t have just been able to go back on another day. But it was stunning.

We went as high up the mountain as buses could go, to the 5th Station, which sits about 2,300 metres above sea level. Because we had such a structured day, we only had about a half-hour there, but we went a little way into the mountain track, which was beautifully dressed in autumnal shades. I love autumn.

From there we headed to the place we were going for lunch, which was about half an hour away from the mountain. We had a Japanese lunch at a restaurant and were able to have a break by this stunning lake.

It was a little like a New Zealand lake, surrounded by mountains, and with a scattering of lake-related activities.

Hakone: Lake Ashi and the ropeway

After lunch, we jumped back on the bus and headed to Hakone, a town tucked right into the centre of a mountain range.

If you imagine a doughnut of mountains, Hakone is the hole. We got on a boat and took a trip across the lake to a small area with a gondola. Up we went, and it was sunset, so we got this incredible sight of the sun setting over the mountains and saw the ocean from where we were. Our tour guide pointed it out, and I asked her if we jumped in if we could swim to New Zealand. I don’t think we could make it.

Bonus: Bullet Train

Down the gondola again, and the bus took us to the station, where we got to take the famous Shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo. It was insane! We managed to grab a video of the bullet train at the station flying by, and the video is literally seconds in length; the train was just a blur as it zoomed by.

Is it worth it? What to know before you book

If you’re wondering whether to actually book this, then please know it a full day, about 11 hours, so go in expecting a long one rather than a relaxed sightseeing trip.

Mt Fuji doesn’t show up for everyone – it really does depend on the weather. We got lucky with clear skies, but the mountain’s only fully visible on roughly a third of days each year, and your odds are much better if you’re travelling between December and February than in summer.

One thing worth checking before you book: on weekdays the bus takes you back into Tokyo, but on weekends and public holidays, most tours finish at Odawara Station instead, and you’ll need a bullet train ticket to get back, if your ticket doesn’t include the bullet train already. Worth knowing so you’re not caught out on the day.

Was it worth it for us? Absolutely! The day out of the city, the lake, and that bullet train ride home made it one of our favourite days in Japan.

From the station in Tokyo, we jumped on another line and went back to the hotel. It was an incredible first day in Japan, and spending our time on the Mt Fuji and Hakone Day Tour was definitely worth it. If we hadn’t joined the tour, we wouldn’t have gone, and that would have been a real shame.