Mount Fuji is the first thing that pops in my head when I think about Japan.

No surprise there since it is perhaps the most recognizable and well-known symbol of the country.

When I was planning my first trip to Japan, catching a glimpse of Mount Fuji was definitely the #1 travel goal on my bucketlist.

I knew “Fuji-san” often shies away behind a thick cover of clouds, so I made sure to spend multiple nights at places known to offer the best views of Japan’s highest mountain. Lucky for me, I was able to enjoy a sublime sunset view of Mount Fuji… with a fantastic snow cover to top it off! The clear view at sunset appeared only during my first day, and then during sunrise on all succeeding days. It really pays off to check the weather reports and plan your trip ahead.

There are also a lot of worthwhile things to do in the area apart from the Fuji view. The area is filled with many interesting waterfalls, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, lakes, onsen (Japanese hot spring) & natural views. In fact, Mount Fuji along with its surrounding region is inscribed in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites as a sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.

Traveling to Mount Fuji for the first time? Scroll down to get started on planning your trip. I’ve included a sample itinerary, places to visit/things to do, list of expenses/budget breakdown and extra travel tips.

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Mount Fuji Itinerary

What to do in Mount Fuji in 4 days? Here’s a 4 days & 3 nights (4D3N) itinerary for your do-it-yourself (DIY) trip.

Feel free to tweak the activities & timings below based on your traveling style, schedule & attractions that interest you the most.

Day 1: Lake Kawaguchi

Time Activity

Train/bus to Kawaguchi Station/Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchi-ko)

Arrive at Kawaguchi Station. Claim tours, passes & tickets booked online.

Kawaguchi hotel check-in

Cheapest ratesBest reviews

Oishi Park & Lake Kawaguchi

Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

Lake Kawaguchi Pleasure Cruiser (En Soleille)

Fuji-Q Highland theme park

Day 2: Beyond Kawaguchi

Time Activity

Sunrise at Chureito Pagoda
0908 AM

Bus departure to Shiraito-no-Taki from Mt. Fuji/Fujisan or Kawaguchi Station — via Mt. Fuji Station-Shinfuji line (Fujikyu bus).
1020 AM

Shiraito Waterfall
1240 PM

Bus departure from Shiraito-no-Taki

Fuketsu – Wind Cave and/or Hyoketsu – Ice Cave

Kawaguchi to Hakone bus

Gotemba Premium Outlets — Optional. If you’re planning to shop at Gotemba Premium Outlets, consider spending the night in Gotemba and transferring the next day nearer to Gora Station or Lake Ashi.

Hakone hotel check-in

Cheapest ratesBest reviews

Day 3: Hakone & Lake Ashi

Time Activity

Hakone Ropeway

Owakudani Geothermal Valley

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise & Lake Ashinoko

Hakone Open-Air Museum

Day 4: Mishima Skywalk

Time Activity

Mishima Skywalk

Hakone Shrine

Bus/cable car/train to Tokyo or onward destination in Japan

Mount Fuji Budget

Your travel expenses will largely depend on your traveling style and how much you plan to spend on activities, accommodations & food. To help you set your own budget, here are budget estimates if you follow the 4 days and 3 nights (4D3N) itinerary posted above. Make sure to review all discounts & online booking prices.

Activities/attraction costs breakdown
JPY 7,776 Mt. Fuji Pass — 2 days unlimited rides within Kawaguchi, Fuji Five Lakes & Mount Fuji area on selected bus/train lines. PLUS free access to selected attractions.Book discount here
JPY 5,140 Hakone Free Pass — 2 days unlimited rides within Hakone area on selected bus/train lines, free access to selected attractions & train to Shinjuku.Book here
Budget Trip – Backpacker expenses
JPY 10,500 Accommodations — JPY 3,500 average price per night in a budget hostel dorm/bed x 3 nights.
JPY 10,000 Food — JPY 2,500 per day inexpensive meals budget x 4 days.
JPY 20,500 Sub-total — Approximately PHP 9,793 / USD 185 / SGD 254. Or, a daily budget of JPY 5,125 / PHP 2,448 / USD 46 / SGD 63.
JPY 12,916 Activities — Transport/multi-attraction passes: Mt. Fuji Pass & Hakone Free Pass.
JPY 33,416 Total — Approximately PHP 15,964 / USD 301 / SGD 414. Or, a daily budget of JPY 8,354 / PHP 3,991 / USD 75 / SGD 103.
Other expenses
JPY 1,067 Japan local 4G/4G SIM card — 1GB data for 6 days & up. Japan airport pick-up.Book discount here
JPY 500 Japan pocket WIFI hotspot — Per day device rental.Book online
Japan travel insurance

Mount Fuji Itineraries & Travel Blogs

More travel tips coming once the detailed Mount Fuji travel guide is out. In the meantime, feel free to check out my Pinterest board and list of helpful Mount Fuji travel blogs below for inspiration.

https://www.pinterest.ph/detourista/mount-fuji-travel-guide-blog/
https://www.pinterest.ph/detourista/japan-travel-guide-blog/
https://www.pinterest.com/detourista/best-of-detourista/

Follow updates on Pinterest @detourista.

1 Day Itinerary

What to do in Mount Fuji area in 1 day (24 hours or less). Day trip from Tokyo.

Visit A Day Trip to the Mt. Fuji Area: Lake Kawaguchiko – Truly Tokyo
Visit From Tokyo to Mount Fuji: What to Do If You’re Not Into Climbing or Hiking (Map Included) – JayNDee
Visit Day Trip to Mount Fuji from Tokyo – The Top 8 Viewing Spots – Social Travel Experiment
Visit A Day Trip to Mount Fuji from Tokyo – Chapter Travel

2 Days Itinerary

What to do in Mount Fuji area in 2 days (48 hours or less).

Visit Fuji and Hakone two days trip sample itinerary – JP Rail Blog

3 Days Itinerary

What to do in Mount Fuji area in 3 days.

Visit Camping In Japan: A 3 Day Itinerary From Tokyo To Mt. Fuji – Heart My Backpack
https://www.pinterest.com/detourista/best-of-detourista/

Don’t Stop Here

Did you find this travel guide helpful? Share your Mount Fuji experience & tag #detourista. Follow trip updates on: Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest.

Check out these pages for more travel inspiration beyond Mount Fuji: