Mt. Fuji Circuit

Day 1 is spent in Tokyo, where we are first introduced to Mt Fuji and it's importance to Japanese society. We travel by Shinkansen Bullet train to the Fuji area where our walking begins. Our initial destination and lodgings are at Lake Tanuki - a popular spot from which to view the iconic mountain, after which we spend a day following an excellent trail through rural villages and countryside, all the while accompanied by the magnificence of Mt Fuji. The path skirts the surrounding hills and takes us as far as Lake Motosu, where we stay a short walk from the shores of this beautiful lake.

Journeying through a remarkable landscape of old forest growing over prehistoric lava flows, we spend the following night on the shores of Lake Saiko before resuming our circuit  along a ridge of wooded hills with Lake Saiko on one side and Mt. Fuji on the other. The trail culminates on top of one of Japan's Hundred Famous Mountains before we descend to the shores of lively Lake Kawaguchi town for lodgings and an evening's entertainment.

On Day 6 we hike in the nearby Lake Yamanaka area before transferring to the elegant resort town of Hakone, where hot springs, art museums, and splendid views can be enjoyed on the final day of the tour.

Price: US$2650 per person. The single supplement is US$180 (Please see below).

What is included and not included? Local travel from tour meeting point to finishing point, accommodation, all breakfasts and evening meals, baggage transfers, and entrance fees are included. Not included are flights, lunches, and drinks with meals.

Single room supplement: The single room supplement is USD180 per person and guarantees a single room in hotels on two nights. Please note that while we cannot guarantee to do so we will endeavour to provide single accommodation on the nights we stay in traditional Japanese accommodation. No additional charge is made for any single accommodation provided in traditional inns.

Group size: The small, intimate nature of some inns makes the maximum group size 12 people. We have no minimum size. If we accept a booking we guarantee to run the tour.

Please see the Itinerary for this tour and Tour Dates for dates and availability. These tours start on an Saturday and finish on an Friday.

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and to book this tour.

This itinerary for the Mt. Fuji Circuit tour is 'ground only' beginning in Tokyo and ending in Hakone. After receiving the booking form and deposit we will provide detailed instructions for getting to the meeting point in Tokyo.  Arrangements can be made by Walk Japan for extra time in Japan before and after this tour. At the end of the tour, travellers are advised not to book themselves out on an early morning flight as it will take several hours to reach a major international airport from Hakone.

Day 1

Meet in our hotel at 2pm for an initial tour briefing. A short exploration of Tokyo will begin to introduce the importance of Mt. Fuji to the Japanese. Further briefing and orientation over dinner at a lively local restaurant.

Dinner provided.

Day 2

An early morning transfer by Shinkansen Bullet Train to the Mt. Fuji area and the beginning of our walk. We will now be walking for most of the next six days as we start our Mt. Fuji Circuit.

A succession of ever quieter country roads lead us past a woodland Shinto shrine to the trailhead of Mt Tenshigatake (1330m). The path to the top is initially gentle, but it is followed by a few steeper sections, and the final push to the top will leave most feeling relieved that the toughest climb of the entire tour is behind us. On a clear day, while enjoying a well-deserved picnic lunch, we will be rewarded with outstanding views of Mt. Fuji.

We have now joined the Tokai Nature Trail, the most extensive of Japan's long-distance paths, running from the outskirts of Osaka to Tokyo. After another hour spent traversing along a ridge to the top of Mt. Chojagatake (1336m) we start a leisurely descent  to our lodgings for the evening in Lake Tanuki-ko(400m), another very popular spot from which to view Mt. Fuji. Lake Tanuki-ko is not one of the famous Five Lakes of Fuji; rather it is a man-made area of water originally created by draining the surrounding rice paddies. Here, "Tanuki" refers not to the jolly, well-endowed badger of Japanese folklore but instead, the literal draining of fields.

Total walking time 4.5 hours, Total height gain 700m, Total distance 10km.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 3

After breakfast we begin today's walk with a stroll around Lake Tanuki-ko. We rejoin the Tokai Nature Trail trail at the far bank and continue our walk on a mixture of rural roads, forest tracks, countryside footpaths and mountan trails that will enable us to cover a good deal of ground today. It takes just over one hour and a half to reach the small village of Inogashira, a pleasant place with the twin attractions of a quiet temple and a pretty waterfall - Jinba no Taki.

Our route continues around the foothils of the mountains, with magnificent views across the plains to Mt. Fuji on our right. We walk through farmland and cedar plantation forest and crossdried-up river beds en route to our lunch spot.

After lunch we start our only real climb of the day - 25 minutes uphill, followed by a gentle and beautiful mountainside trail through mixed forest. We then catch a local bus for a short journey to Lake Motosu-ko and our lodgings.

Total walking time 6.5 hours. Total height gain 500m. Total distance 20km.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 4

Leaving Lake Motosu-ko, we spend the morning walking along a woodland path and through the atmospheric Aokigahara forest.The trees here are precariously balanced on a rocky landscape of ancient lava flows. However, it is best not to stray too far from the trail, as Aokigahara's rugged terrain and dense forest has a reputation for confusing walkers.

Aokigahara contains a number of large caverns in which quantities of ice remain year round. We visit one of these and enjoy lunch nearby. Continuing over a short pass, we make a leisurely descent to our lodgings for the night on the shores of Lake Sai-ko. Our accommodation is a Japanese inn on the lake shore, with excellent views and superb local food.

Total walking time 5.5 hours. Total height gain 300m, Total distance 15km.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 5

We depart our lodgings in Lake Sai-ko and return to the trail, which is a rising traverse providing views of lakes Sai-ko and Kawaguchi-ko on one side, and Mt. Fuji on the other. A series of excellent viewpoints leads us gently to the top of Mt. Ashiwada (1355m), along with Mt. Fuji, one of Japan's Hundred Famous Mountains, and our lunch spot.

A leisurely descent leads us to a picturesque Shinto shrine, before we continue on country and woodland roads to the outskirts of Lake Kawaguchi-ko. Here we spend some time at the Fuji Visitor Center, where informative audiovisual displays  make an interesting end to our day before heading into the town of Kawaguchi-ko and our accommodation for the evening. After several days in the countryside, this lively lakeside town is an opportunity for us to eat in a restaurant and, for those in the mood, sample some nightlife.

Total walking time 5 hours. Total height gain 450m. Total distance 12km.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 6

Leaving Lake Kawaguchi-ko, we journey via the pleasant village of Oshino to the start of today's walk, which takes us up onto a ridge overlooking Lake Yamanaka-ko.  The trail follows the the hilltops along the north side of the lake, passing over several peaks, including Nagaike-yama (1178m) and Ishiwari-yama (1413m). We then descend past a mountain shrine to Hirano where we meet our onward transport and continue to the resort of Hakone. Arriving late afternoon, we settle into our lodgings with natural hot springs attached and relax before a celebratory evening meal reviewing the highlights of the tour.

Total Walking time 5 hrs. Total height gain 650m. Total distance 7km.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 7

The tour finishes after breakfast, but your guide will be available until after lunch to advise regarding the best ways to enjoy Hakone.  We also provide a complementary all-day pass to the idiosyncratic but easily followed local transport system of the area.  For onward travel, Tokyo is easily reached from Hakone.

Breakfast provided.

This itinerary is subject to change.

Please see Tour Dates for scheduled tours and their availability. Contact

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and to receive the booking form.

The following travel tips are intended to be helpful advice for the Mt Fuji Circuit tour. In addition, please refer to your own past experiences and make adjustments or amendments as necessary. If you require any further advice please contact us.

Clothing & baggage:

In late autumn and early spring, days will be cool to cold and nights cold to very cold, so it is advisable to bring a number of layers, including thermal undergarments and a windproof jacket in addition to a warm sweater/fleece and hat. We recommend good quality walking shoes/boots, gaiters and two collapsible walking poles. You may also like to bring some comfortable, casual shoes for use in town. Some individuals find Japanese pillows uncomfortable and you may like to bring your own inflatable pillow. Yukata, evening gowns for sleeping in, are provided at each lodging. However, we recommend leggings, a top, etc. to wear underneath. This will provide a degree of modesty and help ward off the cold air. Your rooms will be heated and futons very warm, but some of the older, traditional Japanese buildings can sometimes be draughty.

When walking, our main luggage is sent on ahead to the next lodgings by vehicle. Each day we carry only what we need (camera, water bottle, note book, rain jacket, etc.) for the walk itself. If you are travelling prior to and/or after the tour you may have more baggage. In this case, baggage not required for the tour can be sent on at the beginning of the tour to our final hotel or another destination within Japan. Expect to pay between Yen 1,400 ~ 1,800 per item.

Food and drink:

While travelling during the day it is not usually necessary to carry more than water, a snack and personal needs. Shops, vending machines and kiosks, which are found in most places we visit, provide for many immediate needs including drinks, snacks, cosmetics and clothing. Lunch will be taken either in restaurants or with food bought to eat as a 'picnic on the road'.
For meals not included in the tour expect to pay between ¥700~1,500 per person for lunch.
Dinner in the Japanese inns is Japanese style, though breakfast may be more Western in style. Tap water is nearly always drinkable your guide will advise.

Medicines and cosmetics:

Some medicines and cosmetics with which you are familiar may not be available in Japan, although there are usually similar products. Prescription medicines in Japan may differ from foreign medicines in minor, but possibly unacceptable, ways. If you require a specific medicine or cosmetic, either for health or comfort, please bring sufficient quantities with you.

Access to cash:

Exchanging cash or travellers' cheques in major currencies is possible in most towns that we visit. However, changing foreign currency at a bank can be a time-consuming exercise. Instead, we recommend alternatives including arriving in Japan with some Japanese currency, using credit cards, and withdrawing cash from ATMs.

Japan is still a society based on cash payments. Given that the crime rate is quite low, there is not a great deal of risk in carrying around relatively large amounts of cash. Credit card payments are sometimes possible, but do not rely on it as credit cards are not universally acceptable in Japan, particularly in rural areas. ATMs at Japanese post offices, which are ubiquitous in Japan, and Seven-Eleven stores provide cash against the following credit cards - Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club International, PLUS, Maestro, Cirrus and JCB.  Most Japanese bank ATMs, though, do not accept debit cards or provide access to foreign bank accounts.

International telephoning and cell phones.

Making international telephone calls and using the internet outside of major urban areas can be difficult or impossible. Please bring a telephone charge card issued by your local telephone company, such as AT&T, BT and Telstar. These can be used almost anywhere.

The Japanese cell, or mobile, phone system uses a specialized CDMA technology which is incompatible with most overseas systems. Some G3, Blackberry smartphones and iPhones operate in Japan, however, please confirm with your provider whether your phone set will work. If your phone does not work in Japan you may like to rent a cell phone from providers such as NTT Docomo, Cellhire, Mobalrental, Worldroam, Vodafone, etc.

Click on photos to enlarge

The following is an indication of what level of activity to expect on our tours. The itineraries for all our tours provide specific details of each day's walking.

Please note that one person's expectations of what is easy or hard can be very different. Whilst age, physical ability and fitness are factors in deciding what a person is capable of, often a seemingly less fit person completes our tours with no problem. Another factor to consider is the weather, which can affect people differently.

Since 1992 we have taken many thousands of people of many nationalities, all ages and abilities on tour in Japan. We have good experience and knowledge about what most, if not all, people can achieve so please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further information and advice related to your abilities.

Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few flights of stairs and walk less than 1 km a day. Travel will be almost entirely by public transport, taxi and private hire bus.

Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to 5 km a day on mainly even ground.

Participants must be in reasonable health, mobile and able to participate in 4~6 hours of walking at a moderate 2kph to 4kph pace. The terrain is mainly even ground, with occasional short but steep climbs.




Participants must be in reasonable health, mobile and able to participate in 4~6 hours of walking at a 2 kph to 4 kph pace. The terrain includes more uneven ground than Level 2 with some short, occasionally longer, steep climbs.




Participants must be in good health, mobile and used to a reasonably active lifestyle. Walking may require up to six hours of moderate-paced activity per day, at a 2 kph to 4 kph pace over varied terrain. Ascents and descents can sometimes be steep,    necessitating the use of arms for support.

 

Participants must be in good health, have a good level of physical fitness and used to an active lifestyle. Walking may require up to eight hours of moderate-paced activity per day, at a 2 kph to 4kph pace over varied, mountainous terrain including some long ascents and descents.