Pick the fuji five lakes tour that matches your day: the Chureito Pagoda stairs, the flower beds at Oishi Park, the spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai, or the high road to the 5th Station. Prices, ratings and free cancellation, side by side.
Updated 2026-08-16
Quick answer
Almost every fuji five lakes tour from Tokyo is a full day of about 10 hours, leaves central Tokyo between 08:00 and 08:30, and spends five to six hours around Lake Kawaguchi. Current listings run from $46 to $64 per person with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Key takeaways
A fuji five lakes tour is the simplest way to trade Tokyo's crowds for Mount Fuji's clearest views in a single day. The Fujigoko region, made up of Lakes Kawaguchi, Yamanaka, Sai, Shoji and Motosu, spreads around the mountain's northern base, linking postcard sights like the Chureito Pagoda, the spring-fed ponds of Oshino Hakkai and the panoramic 5th Station. Below you can compare each day trip side by side: what it covers, how long it runs, what it costs and how travellers rate it.
Best value Most popular day trip
A full-day loop hitting six classic Fuji Five Lakes viewpoints, from Arakurayama's Chureito Pagoda to the spring-fed ponds of Oshino Hakkai. Round-trip transport from Tokyo keeps the day easy while covering the region's best photo stops.
Real-time dates and prices for the best-value six-spot day trip, the most-reviewed way to see the Fuji Five Lakes in a single day.
Every tour below runs round-trip from Tokyo with a licensed guide and free cancellation. Pick by the sights that matter most to you: lake views, the Chureito Pagoda, Oshino Hakkai, Hakone, or the high-altitude 5th Station.
from $49 A full-day loop hitting six classic Fuji Five Lakes viewpoints, from Arakurayama's Chureito Pagoda to the spring-fed ponds of Oshino Hakkai. Round-trip transport from Tokyo keeps the day…
from $49 Frames Mount Fuji across Lake Kawaguchi from the flower beds of Oishi Park and the five-storey Chureito Pagoda. The route pairs the region's two most photographed vantage points…
from $46 A small-group day around the sacred Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, ancient lava-rock formations, and top Fuji viewpoints, with a wagyu steak lunch included. The compact group size means…
from $54 Combines the Fuji Five Lakes area with Hakone's volcanic valley of Owakudani, reached by aerial ropeway, and a cruise across Lake Ashi. It is the most-booked way to…
from $64 A relaxed run through the headline Fuji Five Lakes sights around Lake Kawaguchi, finishing with free time at the Gotemba Premium Outlets. The mix of scenery and shopping…
from $49 Climbs by road to Mount Fuji's 5th Station at 2,300 metres, then unwinds with a hot-spring onsen soak and a walk through Oshino Hakkai. It pairs high-altitude Fuji…
from $55 A photography-minded loop of five signature Fuji viewpoints, including Arakurayama Sengen Park and Oshino Hakkai. Timed stops give you the light and angles that make the mountain the…
from $50 Reaches Mount Fuji's 5th Station and rides the Kachi Kachi ropeway above Lake Kawaguchi for a panorama over the lake and peak. Oshino Hakkai's spring ponds round out…
from $49 A culture-and-scenery day built around the postcard view from Chureito Pagoda at Arakurayama Sengen Park, plus the spring village of Oshino Hakkai. Local context at each stop explains…
| Tour | Price | Rating | Book | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six-Spot Highlights | $49 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | Best value all-rounder |
| Kawaguchi & Oishi Park | $49 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | Lake & pagoda photos |
| Small-Group Shrine & Steak | $46 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | Small groups + lunch |
| Fuji & Hakone Combo | $54 | 4.6 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | Fuji + Hakone in one day |
| Highlights + Gotemba | $64 | 4.5 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | Sights + outlet shopping |
| 5th Station & Onsen | $49 | 4.4 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | 5th Station + hot spring |
| Photography Top Five | $55 | 4.6 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | Photographers |
| 5th Station & Ropeway | $50 | 4.6 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | High viewpoints |
| Chureito Culture | $49 | 4.9 ★ | Check | 10 hrs | Culture & scenery |
Most day tours from Tokyo centre on Lake Kawaguchi, which has the best transport links, the widest choice of viewpoints and the famous Oishi Park flower beds. The other four lakes trade convenience for quiet. Unless a tour says otherwise, assume Kawaguchi is your base and treat any Yamanaka, Sai, Shoji or Motosu stop as a bonus.
| Lake | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Kawaguchi | Most accessible; Oishi Park, ropeway, Chureito nearby | First-timers and photos |
| Yamanaka | Largest and highest lake, wide open Fuji views | Big skies and space |
| Sai (Saiko) | Edge of Aokigahara forest, fewer crowds | Quiet nature stops |
| Shoji | Smallest and calmest; 'Upside-down Fuji' reflection | Reflections and solitude |
| Motosu | The view printed on the 1,000-yen note | Classic postcard shot |
Fuji is famously shy in summer, when haze hides the peak for days at a time. The Japan Meteorological Agency record for the Kawaguchiko station tells the honest story: January logs the most sunshine of any month at 212.3 hours, December the least rain at 49.8 mm, while September is the wettest month by a distance at 264.7 mm. If a sharp view of the mountain is your priority, aim for late autumn through early spring and start early, because cloud tends to build over the cone from mid-morning.
There is more on this in our guide to the best time to visit Kawaguchiko.
| Season | Months | What you'll see | Fuji visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar–May | Cherry blossom at Chureito, usually mid-April | Good |
| Summer | Jun–Aug | Lavender at Oishi Park; open 5th Station | Hazy |
| Autumn | Sep–Nov | Red kochia at Oishi Park, maple corridor in November | Very good |
| Winter | Dec–Feb | Snow-capped peak, crisp air | Clearest air of the year (5th Station bus season ends 30 November) |
A typical tour leaves central Tokyo (often Shinjuku) around 08:00–09:00, reaches the lakes in about two hours, and links three to five sights before returning by early evening. Coach tours cover more ground; small-group vans move faster between stops and linger longer at each.
The Subaru Line 5th Station sits at about 2,300 metres and gives you an above-the-clouds view, but the access road closes for winter and in bad weather, and the public bus from Kawaguchiko Station runs only between 1 July and 30 November. If your tour lists the 5th Station and you travel outside that window, check that the stop is guaranteed, because many operators swap in a lake viewpoint when the road is shut. Doing it without a tour is covered in getting around the lakes without a car.
The lakes sit far higher and cooler than Tokyo, and the 5th Station can be cold even in summer.
See every Fuji Five Lakes day trip side by side, with sights, duration, price and traveller ratings, instead of opening a dozen tabs.
We list licensed operators with real, recent reviews. Ratings and prices come straight from the booking platform, so what you see is what you pay.
Fuji hides behind cloud on short notice. Almost every tour here can be cancelled free up to 24 hours ahead, so a grey forecast never costs you.
The Fuji Five Lakes, or Fujigoko, are five lakes, Kawaguchi, Yamanaka, Sai, Shoji and Motosu, that ring the northern base of Mount Fuji. Formed by old lava flows, they are among the best places to see and photograph the mountain, and most day tours from Tokyo focus on Lake Kawaguchi and its surrounding sights.
First-timers usually do best on a full-day tour built around Lake Kawaguchi that also covers the Chureito Pagoda and Oshino Hakkai. The best-value six-spot loop covers the headline sights with round-trip transport from Tokyo, while a relaxed highlights day with outlet shopping suits an unhurried pace. If you want the mountain itself up close, add a Mt. Fuji 5th Station tour instead, but only outside winter, when the road is open.
Most tours run about 10 hours door to door. Expect roughly two hours of driving each way, leaving five to six hours in the region to visit three to five sights.
Late autumn through early spring gives the clearest, driest air and the sharpest views of the peak. The Japan Meteorological Agency record for Kawaguchiko puts the most sunshine in January, at 212.3 hours, and the least rain in December, at 49.8 mm. Summer is often too hazy to see the mountain well. Whatever the season, mornings are more reliable than afternoons, when cloud tends to build around the summit.
Yes, though the angle and setting differ at each. Kawaguchi and Yamanaka offer the widest, most reliable views; Motosu frames the exact scene on the old 1,000-yen note; Shoji is known for its mirror-like 'Upside-down Fuji'; and Sai is quieter, with the peak partly screened by hills and forest. For the sharpest shots, a photography-focused day of five viewpoints times each stop to the light.
Some do. The Subaru Line 5th Station sits at 2,300 metres and is a common stop from spring to autumn, and you can pair it with an onsen hot-spring soak or the Kachi-Kachi ropeway over Lake Kawaguchi. In winter and during bad weather the access road closes, so tours that list it will often substitute a lake-level viewpoint. If the 5th Station is your main reason for booking, confirm the stop is guaranteed for your date.
Most tours meet at a set point near a major Tokyo station, such as Shinjuku, rather than collecting you from your hotel. The exact meeting place and time are shown on each tour's booking page, so check them before you book so you can plan your morning.
The direct limited express from Shinjuku reaches Kawaguchiko in about two hours for roughly ¥4,200 (about $26 at the August 2026 rate), the expressway bus from Busta Shinjuku costs ¥2,200 (about $14) and takes about an hour and three quarters, and the cheapest rail route changes at Otsuki for ¥2,580 (about $16) in total. Our full breakdown of routes, fares and timings from Tokyo compares all four, and a guided day trip removes the transfers altogether.
A day trip works if Lake Kawaguchi is your focus: about two hours of travel each way leaves five to six hours on the ground, enough for three to six stops. A night buys you the early morning, which is when the mountain is most reliably clear. We weigh both in a day trip or an overnight at the lakes.
Yes. Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida is free and open around the clock, the nearest station is Shimo-Yoshida on the Fujikyuko Line, and it is 398 steps from the entrance to the viewing deck. Our Chureito Pagoda visitor guide covers access, the stairs and the memorial's history.
This was a very enjoyable day and very good value for the money. The tour leader was wonderful.
We got to see all that was mentioned in booking. Tokyo traffic pushed back the schedule and made it a long day. We got to see some swans which is not common in August and clouds broke to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji. Very good value for what we got to do.
It was a 10/10. Incredible guide, every stop was so worth it. The given time for each stop was perfect. Definitely worth it and we were not too tired at the end because we loved it.
Verified reviews left on the operators' own booking pages. Checked August 2026.
Plan the day
Practical guides to the lakes region, written from timetables, official fares and the Japan Meteorological Agency record.