Région du mont Fuji

Culminant à 3 776 mètres, le mont Fuji est le plus haut sommet du Japon et l'un de ses symboles les plus reconnaissables. La région des cinq lacs de Fuji, en particulier Kawaguchiko, est la base la plus prisée pour l'admirer sans le gravir.

C'est une excursion facilement réalisable à la journée ou avec une nuit sur place depuis Tokyo, et les villes lacustres environnantes offrent sources chaudes, vues sur le lac avec le Fuji en toile de fond, et un rythme plus tranquille que la capitale.

• Lake Kawaguchiko's shoreline viewpoints, especially near the Chureito Pagoda for the classic Fuji-and-pagoda photo.
• Hakone's onsen (hot spring) ryokan and the Hakone Ropeway.
• Climbing Mount Fuji itself during the official July–September climbing season (a serious overnight hike, not a casual outing).

Clear mountain views are most likely in winter and early spring (though it's cold); autumn (October–November) pairs good visibility with foliage color. Summer often brings haze that obscures the peak from a distance.

Kawaguchiko has the widest range of lake-view hotels and guesthouses; Hakone is a better choice if an onsen ryokan experience is the priority.

Direct highway buses run from Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Kawaguchiko in about 2 hours. Hakone is reachable via the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku, followed by local trains, cable car, and ropeway connections within the area.

A day trip from Tokyo (bus fare plus meals) can be done for roughly ¥6,000–10,000; an overnight ryokan stay with onsen access and kaiseki dinner typically adds ¥20,000–40,000 per person.

Mount Fuji is frequently obscured by cloud cover, even on a clear-forecast day in Tokyo, the mountain itself may not be visible. Building in an overnight stay improves the odds over a single day trip.