Private Mount Fuji & Hakone Tour with Bullet-Train Return

Chureito Pagoda

The Chureito Pagoda is the red five-storey pagoda on the slopes of Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida, built in 1963 as a peace memorial. From the observation deck behind it, the pagoda, the town below and Mount Fuji form the view that has become a symbol of Japan. The climb takes a staircase of nearly 400 steps, or a gentler sloping path beside it, and the decks are free to visit.

Plan about an hour here. The best time to visit the Chureito Pagoda is early to mid April for cherry blossoms and November for autumn leaves, though both seasons are crowded; your private schedule lets you arrive at a quieter moment. Fuji is often hidden by cloud, especially in summer, and views can never be guaranteed.

Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine

At the foot of the mountain in Fujiyoshida, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine has for centuries been the spiritual starting point for pilgrims climbing Mount Fuji on the Yoshida Trail. An avenue of giant cedars and stone lanterns leads to a towering wooden torii, rebuilt about every 60 years, and to beautifully carved halls, some of them hundreds of years old.

The shrine is part of the Fujisan World Heritage Site and is free to enter, a calm, shaded contrast to the busy lakeside viewpoints. About 30 to 45 minutes is enough to walk the approach and see the main buildings. Your guide explains the mountain's role in Japanese faith and the traditions of the summer climbing season, roughly July to early September.

Oshino Hakkai and the Fuji lakes

Oshino Hakkai is a village of eight spring-fed ponds between Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka, where snowmelt from Mount Fuji emerges cold and crystal clear after filtering through volcanic rock for many years. Thatched-roof houses, a water wheel and stalls of grilled rice cakes make it a pleasant lunch stop. Lake Kawaguchi, the most visited of the Fuji Five Lakes, offers reflections of the mountain from its north shore, while Lake Yamanaka, the largest and highest, is known for swans and open views.

You choose which of these to include among your three Fuji stops. If you would like to see the Fuji 5th Station at about 2,300 metres instead, it can replace other stops on request, depending on the season and road conditions. Halal food is limited in this area, so tell us your needs and your guide will suggest options.

Hakone: ropeway, Owakudani and Lake Ashi

From the Fuji lakes the drive to Hakone takes around an hour and a half. The Hakone Ropeway carries you over the valley of Owakudani, formed by an eruption about 3,000 years ago and still steaming with sulphur vents; the local speciality is eggs boiled black in the hot springs. Below lies Lake Ashi, a caldera lake crossed by sightseeing ships styled like old galleons, with the red torii of Hakone Shrine standing in the water.

The ropeway and lake-ship tickets are paid on the day, and your guide can buy them for you. The ropeway runs from about 9:00 until late afternoon and can close for wind or volcanic gas, in which case your guide reroutes by road. Many travellers ask how to get from Mount Fuji to Hakone in one day: with a private vehicle it is simple.

Odawara and the bullet train to Tokyo

The day ends at Odawara Station, the gateway to Hakone, where your guide sees you to the station and hands over your bullet-train ticket. The ride to Tokyo Station takes about 35 minutes, far quicker than driving back in evening traffic, and it is a highlight in itself for first-time visitors to Japan. From the platform you may glimpse Odawara Castle, rebuilt after the war on its original hill.

Your guide does not ride the train with you, and the journey from Tokyo Station to your hotel is at your own cost, usually a short taxi or metro ride. If you are staying in Yokohama or outside central Tokyo, tell us when booking and we will advise the best connection.