Mount Fuji 9 Iconic Photo Spots Day Tour from Tokyo

Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine and the Chureito Pagoda

Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine in Fujiyoshida was founded in 705 and is dedicated to the goddess of Mount Fuji. Behind it a long stone stairway of almost 400 steps climbs the wooded hill of Arakurayama Sengen Park to the Chureito Pagoda, a vermilion five-storey pagoda built in 1963 as a memorial for peace. From the viewing deck above it you see the view that appears on countless posters: the pagoda in front, the town below and Mount Fuji rising perfectly behind.

This is the first stop of the day and the one many visitors remember most. The best time to visit the Chureito Pagoda is early April for the cherry blossoms or November for the red maples, but on any clear day the scene is unforgettable. Take your time on the steps; there are benches and a gentler slope path for those who prefer it.

Fujiyoshida's retro street and the Kawaguchiko photo spots

Next you stop on Honcho Street in Fujiyoshida, a long, straight shopping street lined with old shopfronts, vintage lamp posts and signboards from the Showa era, which leads the eye directly to the cone of Mount Fuji at its end. A corner clock shop has made this view one of the most shared images of Japan. It is a living street with traffic and residents, so photos are taken from the pavement, never from the road.

A short drive away in Kawaguchiko is another famous scene: Mount Fuji appearing to sit on the roof of a small convenience store beside the main road. Your guide shows you the best and safest place to stand. It is also a handy break for snacks, ice cream and a hot or cold drink before you continue to the lakeshore.

Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and the easiest to reach from Tokyo, which makes it the centre of the area's hotels, museums and lakeside walks. On calm days the surface becomes a mirror, creating the famous upside-down Fuji reflection, and the views at sunrise and in the late afternoon are especially beautiful.

On this tour you have time to walk along the shore, take photos across the water and enjoy the quiet atmosphere away from the city. Is Lake Kawaguchi worth visiting? If you want the classic postcard view of Mount Fuji over water with almost no effort, it is the perfect place. Winter usually brings the clearest skies and the most snow on the summit, while spring and autumn add blossoms and coloured leaves to the frame.

Oishi Park and its flower path

Oishi Park lies on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi and is known for its flower path of about 350 metres that changes with the seasons. Depending on the month you see tulips and pink moss phlox in spring, purple lavender in early summer, and fluffy kochia bushes that turn bright red in autumn, all with the lake and Mount Fuji as the backdrop.

Because the park faces Mount Fuji directly across the water, it is one of the best spots for wide photos that combine flowers, lake and mountain. There is a small visitor centre with local snacks, crafts and soft-serve ice cream, and benches along the shore. Entry to the park is free, and the stop gives you time to wander at your own pace.

Oshino Hakkai spring ponds

Oshino Hakkai is a small village between Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka where eight ponds are fed by spring water from melted snow on Mount Fuji, filtered for many years through layers of volcanic rock. The water is so clear that you can see every pebble and water plant on the bottom. The ponds are part of the Mount Fuji World Heritage site.

Old thatched-roof farmhouses, a water wheel and small wooden bridges give the village a timeless feel, and stalls sell grilled rice cakes, soba noodles and other local food. This is the lunch stop of the tour, so you have time to eat and explore. How to get to Oshino Hakkai without a car is not easy, which is one of the advantages of joining this tour.

Lake Yamanaka and Hirano Beach

Lake Yamanaka is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and the highest, lying close to the eastern foot of the mountain. Its quieter shores feel far from the crowds, and the closeness of Mount Fuji makes the peak look especially large here. Hirano Beach, a pebble shore on the north-eastern side, is often called the mirror of Mount Fuji for its reflections on calm days.

Swans often glide along the water near the shore, adding a gentle, almost dreamlike touch to photographs. This is the last stop before the drive back to Tokyo, a peaceful place to take your final pictures of the day and simply enjoy the view. In autumn and winter the light can be beautiful as the sun lowers over the lake.