Mount Fuji – Overnight Trip from Tokyo
A visit to Japan wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Mount Fiji. Mount Fuji is easily accessible from Tokyo which makes for a great overnight trip. Find out how to get to Mount Fuji and what to do once you’re there in this post.
Continue reading to discover which town offers the best views of Mount Fuji and is less than 2 hours away from Tokyo. How to get there? How much to budget?
There was no doubt in my mind that we would visit Mount Fuji during our 3-week trip to Japan. Mount Fuji is arguably the most iconic symbol and natural landmark of the country. Of course we had to go. And so do you! Our planning was fairly simple, we chose to visit the town with the best view of Mount Fuji which happens to be called Fujiyoshida. Fujiyoshida is home of the Chureito Pagoda which I’m sure most people have seen in photographs.
Your 24 Hours Guide to Fujiyoshida
Day 1
12:45 pm – Take the bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Chuo EXPWY Shimoyoshida. Arrive Fujiyoshida at 2:20 pm and walk 20 mins towards central Fujiyoshida. Freshen up and drop your bags at your hostel.
3:30 pm – Spend your first day exploring the streets of Fujiyoshida. We loved walking around the small streets of Fujiyoshida observing the locals, their homes, and enjoying the peaceful and quiet surroundings. We finished our walk at Omuro Sengen Jinja Shinto Shrine which comes complete with its own sacred hourse, Shiro. We practically had the entire place all to ourselves.
6:00 pm – Have dinner early tonight as you’ll want to be in bed at a good hour in order to wakeup for tomorrow’s sunrise. We opted for a local Udon Restaurant recommended by our hostel. It did not disappoint. We would go as far as to say this was the best udon that we ever had in our lives. The noodles are handmade and have an excellent bite to them. The broth was also much more favorable then any udon broth that we have ever tasted. Apparently the dish is called Yoshida Udon. The udon noodles are meant to be made with spring water running down from Mount Fuji which also adds to the deliciousness of the dish! Not to be missed.
Day 2
5:00 am – Wake up Sunshine!! Today we visit the Chureito Pagoda … at sunrise. You early morning endeavor will be worth the while once you experience the best view of Mount Fuji in Japan. But seriously, get there early. We left our hotel a little behind schedule and arrived at the base of the hill around 5:30 am. We still had 400 stairs to climb. Once we arrived at the pagoda itself, we were not alone. This is a photographers dream. On the plus side, none of the photographers seemed interested in capturing photos of themselves. They solely wanted photos of the Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji in the background. We spent the rest of the morning exploring the grounds around the pagoda and ate the onigiri’s which we packed for breakfast.
8:30 am – By 8:30 am we were done with our Chureito Pagoda excursion and headed back to our hostel. Take this time to nap and pack before checking out. Try not to miss check-out time as the Japanese are very punctual!
11:00 am – Everyone in town recommended that we try the sushi at a restaurant called “Mu Sa Shi No”. The restaurant isn’t listed on google, but it’s located just next door to the Fujiyoshida Youth Hostel where we stayed. Once inside you’ll be greeted by an extremely friendly, 3rd generation sushi master & his wife. We loved our experience here and highly recommend that you try it for lunch.
After lunch, we picked up some delicious mochi at a nearby confectionary shop before heading back to our hostel.
WATCH YouTube: Tasting Fujiyoshida’s oldest sushi – 103 years old restaurant
1:54 pm – Going back to Tokyo, you’ll have to walk under the highway overpass to get to the opposite side of the road where you arrived. Make sure you’re at the bus stop in-time for your departure!
How to Get to Fujiyoshida
As we were on a budget, we didn’t purchase JR Railpasses during our 3-week stay. We decided to pocket the $400 per person (cost of JR Railpass for 3-weeks) and travel slowly instead. As everything is so well organized in Japan, it wasn’t difficult for us to travel by normal bus and train systems.
Bus
We took the bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Chuo EXPWY Shimoyoshida which took 1hour 35mins. The bus drops you off at the Expressway above Shimoyoshida station. It took us approximately 20 mins to walk from the bus stop to our hostel.
You can purchase your bus tickets here: Highway Bus
- Route = Shinjuku – Fujigoko Line
- Bus Stop in Fujiyoshida =Chuo EXPWY Shimoyoshida
- Cost for Roundtrip Ticket = $31 USD (6,800 Yen) / person
- Travel Time = 1h35m
- Bus Timetables can be found here
Where to Stay near Mount Fuji / Fujiyoshida
Fujiyoshida has several options in terms of accommodation. If you plan to come in March & April during the Sakura season, we highly recommend booking in advance as most places will be full during that time.
Save: Fujiyoshida Youth Hostel
We opted for a basic hostel private guest room with shared bathroom and were positively surprised. The hostel is one of the cleanest that we have ever seen! Pierre joked around saying that the hostel was as clean as his grandmother’s house – sparkling. Bonus, the hostel is located next door to the sushi restaurant we mentioned above. Check it out here!
This place was fully booked when Pierre and I visited Fujiyoshida however it could be a great option for those who want to stay closer to the train station & Chureito Pagoda. Check it out here!
Splurge: HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort
We did not stay here but if you’re looking to treat yourself during your stay in Fujiyoshida, this could be a great options. The hotel has an onsen and rooms with a view of Mount Fuji. Check it out here!
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO JAPAN
- Tokyo in 24 Hours – First Timer’s Guide
- Top 10 Things To Do in Ningyocho (Tokyo, Japan)
- Kyoto Travel Guide: 5 Tips To Know Before You Go
- Top 3 Must Eat Foods in Nagoya, Japan
SAVE TO PINTEREST
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