Chureito Pagoda, Oshino Hakkai & Oishi Park Day Tour from Tokyo

Arakurayama Sengen Park and the Chureito Pagoda

Arakurayama Sengen Park sits on a wooded hillside above Fujiyoshida, at the foot of Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, founded in 705. From the shrine, a stairway of about 400 steps climbs to the Chureito Pagoda, a five-storey vermilion pagoda built in 1963 as a peace memorial. From the terrace behind it you get the view seen on countless posters: the pagoda in the foreground and the perfect cone of Mount Fuji behind, framed by cherry blossoms in April and red maples in autumn.

This Chureito Pagoda tour stop lasts about an hour, including the shrine and the climb, which is steady but manageable at your own pace; a gentler slope path is also available. The viewing deck can be busy in peak seasons, so the guide tells you where to wait for a clear shot. Morning, when the tour arrives, usually gives the best light on the mountain.

Fujiyoshida street with Mount Fuji view

Fujiyoshida has been the starting point for pilgrims climbing Mount Fuji for centuries, and its old shopping street runs straight towards the mountain. From the right spot, near a small clock shop, Fuji appears to rise directly at the end of the road above the low shopfronts and utility poles, one of the most photographed street scenes in Japan.

You spend about twenty minutes here. The street is a real neighbourhood with traffic, so your guide shows you where to stand safely on the pavement rather than in the road, and how to frame the shot. Nearby lanes offer retro signs and small cafés, and the guide can point out a local restaurant if you want an early lunch in Fujiyoshida.

Oshino Hakkai: the eight springs of Fuji

Oshino Hakkai is a group of eight spring-fed ponds in the village of Oshino, between Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka. The water is snowmelt from Mount Fuji that filters for decades through layers of volcanic rock before emerging so clear that you can see every water plant and fish at the bottom. The springs are a natural monument and part of the Mount Fuji World Heritage site, listed in 2013.

With about an hour and a half here, the longest stop of the day, you can walk between the ponds, see the old waterwheel and thatched-roof houses, and taste local snacks such as grilled rice cakes and buckwheat noodles made with spring water. It is also the natural place for lunch on this Oshino Hakkai tour, as several eateries line the village lanes; you can also bring your own food.

Lake Kawaguchi and Oishi Park

Lake Kawaguchi is the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes, and on the way to its north shore you stop for a quick photo of Mount Fuji rising above the streets near Kawaguchiko Station. Oishi Park stretches along the water with long flower beds, and on calm days the mountain is reflected in the lake. Lavender blooms here in early summer, and in October the round kochia bushes turn a vivid red.

You have about fifty minutes to stroll the lakeshore path, browse the local crafts and sweets in the park's shop, and take the classic flower-and-Fuji photo. From late October to November the tour visits the Momiji Corridor instead, a tunnel of maple trees along a stream that glows red and orange, and in cherry blossom season a lakeside blossom spot may replace the park.

Mount Fuji: views, weather and the best season

At 3,776 metres, Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, a near-perfect volcanic cone that last erupted in 1707 and has been a sacred mountain and an inspiration for artists for centuries. In 2013 it was listed as a World Heritage site for its cultural significance, and every stop on this Mount Fuji day trip from Tokyo is chosen for a different view of its slopes.

The mountain makes its own weather, so visibility is never guaranteed. The best time to visit Mount Fuji for clear views is from late autumn to early spring, especially on cold, dry mornings, while summer haze and clouds often hide the summit. Spring brings cherry blossoms, summer lavender and autumn maples, so each season gives the same stops a new look.