Top 6 Places to Enjoy the Best View of Mt. Fuji

On clear days, visitors could see the spectacular views of Mt. Fuji with the snow cap in the surroundings and even Tokyo downtown. It is beautiful with cherry blossoms in April and fall foliage in November, while winter months give the highest visibility for viewing. Also, it is clearer in the early morning than other times of a day. Here are top places to get the best views of Mt. Fuji.

1. Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi, aka Kawaguchiko, is the most famous and most visited spot at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji. You can get stunning pictures of Mt. Fuji in any corner of Lake Kawaguchi, when strolling at the lakesides, enjoying cruise on the excursion ship, or riding on the cable car of Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. The ropeway goes up to Tenjozan Park by the side of Lake Kawaguchi, where the observatory on hillside allows you to have a wonderful panorama of the lake as well as unexpected views of Mt. Fuji.

With the bus terminal and train station, Lake Kawaguchi is the easiest to reach as well. There are also shuttle buses to Mt. Fuji 5th Station every hour.

Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi Cruise

2. Arakurayama Sengen Park

Arakurayama Sengen Park is completely a landmark around Mt. Fuji. In particular, when cherry blossoms are blooming in April, many tourists as well as shutterbugs flock there to bring the Mt. Fuji, cherry blossoms and Chureito Pagoda into the same picture. After climbing the long steps from the shrine, you can reach the Chureito Pagoda on high, where not only Mt. Fuji but also Fujiyoshida city come into your sight.

Mt. Fuji View from Arakurayama Sengen Park

3. Lake Ashi, Hakone

Lake Ashi, in the southeast of Mt. Fuji, is also popular for viewing of Mt. Fuji. You can take Hakone Sightseeing Cruise to go around the vast lake, to see Mt. Fuji in a distance, the shrine by water, and the reflection of Mt. Fuji on the lake. It is quite interesting that the cruise looks like a pirate ship. Moreover, Hakone Komagatake Ropeway would be an exciting experience to see Mt. Fuji as well, which takes you from Lake Ashi onto Mt. Komagatake by side. The stunning landscapes of Hakone including Lake Ashi can also be caught on the caber car.

Lake Ashi on a clear day

4. Lake Yamanaka

As one of the Fuji Five Lakes, Lake Yamanaka is welcomed only after Lake Kawaguchi. It is the closest lake to Mt. Fuji, and famous for the large stretch of flowers field in Hana-no-miyako Park. Just imagine that, under the divine Mt. Fuji, there is the field of tulips, sunflowers, cosmos, etc. in different seasons by the lake. Cycling and cruise shaped like a giant swan are the hot events to go around the lake, while you can also enjoy the scenery of Mt. Fuji.

Tokyo Tower

5. Oshino Hakkai

This is also a must-see around Mt. Fuji, like a tranquil ancient village lying under the mountain. Hakkai means eight ponds, where the spring water is so clear that the bottom could be seen. You may stroll around Oshino Hakkai via bridges and footpaths, to enjoy the wonderful mountain scenes of Mt. Fuji as well as idyllic scenery of ponds, cottages with thatched roofs and slow-rotating waterwheels. It seems that you've stepped into another era.

6. Tokyo Skyscrapers

Surprisingly, you can see the unexceptionable views of Mt. Fuji in Tokyo, on a skyscraper when it’s sunny. Tokyo Skytree is one of the highest buildings in the world and the highest tower in Tokyo. Its Tembo Deck at the height of 350m (1,148ft) and the higher Tembo Galleria at 450m (1,476ft) allow you to look Mt. Fuji. How amazing!

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office Observatory on its 45th floor, the Top Deck on Tokyo Tower, and Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, etc. are also great to see Mt. Fuji without leaving Tokyo.