Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi day trip: Private car tour

Mt. Fuji, five lakes, two caves and a shrine in one morning and afternoon

A private car tour of Mt. Fuji and the Kawaguchiko Lake region in Yamanashi Prefecture, with an English-speaking driver guiding you through the Five Lake area, Oshino Hakkai's spring-fed ponds, two lava tube caves, and shrine viewpoints. You travel by private vehicle for ten hours, stopping to walk and explore each site at your own pace, with pickup included and all entry fees paid separately at each location.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Narusawa Ice Cave15m
2. Mt. Fuji 5th Station30m

Explore Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi

• Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park
• Explore Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine
• Visit Oshino Hakkai ponds
• Tour Iyashi no Sato village
• Explore Narusawa Ice Cave
• Explore Fugaku Wind Cave
• Visit Lake Kawaguchi and surrounding lakes
• Ride Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

The experience

The tour starts from your pickup point and heads into Yamanashi Prefecture to reach Mt. Fuji's foothills. Your driver speaks English and navigates the route while you sit in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water on hand. The day moves through the Five Lake region (Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Saiko, Shoji and Motosu) each offering different angles of Mt. Fuji across the water. Stops are built around what you want to see and do, not a fixed schedule that rushes you through.

The itinerary centers on three kinds of stops: shrines with views, caves to walk through, and lakeside vantage points. Arakurayama Sengen Park has many stairs leading up to a five-tiered pagoda and an observation deck overlooking Mt. Fuji. Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine sits in a dense forest of cedar trees and stone lanterns, its main hall built in 1615. Oshino Hakkai, a village in the foothills, is known for eight spring-fed ponds fed by runoff from Mt. Fuji itself. The Narusawa Ice Cave and Fugaku Wind Cave are both lava tubes in the Aokigahara forest. You walk into them to feel the temperature drop and see the geological layers. At Kawaguchiko Lake, the ropeway lifts you for a bird's-eye view, and if the schedule allows, you can take a boat or paddle out on the water.

An optional add-on takes you to Mt. Fuji's 5th Station at 2,300 meters altitude, where you can see the Five Lakes spread below and sometimes a sea of clouds. That stop costs ¥2,100 extra and means dropping another location to stay within the ten-hour window. The 5th Station is not available until May 15, 2026, and access depends on weather and road conditions. Restaurants and shops at the station sell Mt. Fuji curry and melon bread made only there. Your driver will advise which sites fit the day you choose.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• hotel or meeting point pickup.
• English-speaking driver.

Before you book

Lasts 10h, runs every day at 07:00 and 08:00, from JP¥ 90,000 per group, with a live guide in English, Hindi, Japanese and Urdu, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Hindi, Japanese and Urdu

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tour Japan

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day and want to see Mt. Fuji from multiple vantage points (the shrines, lakes, caves, and ropeway) with frequent stops to walk between each site rather than long stretches in the car.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Hindi, Japanese and Urdu.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I visit Mt. Fuji's 5th Station on this tour?

Mt. Fuji's 5th Station is an optional add-on available from May 15, 2026 onward, sitting at 2,300 meters with views of the Five Lakes and sometimes a sea of clouds. It costs ¥2,100 extra and requires dropping another stop to stay within the ten-hour tour window. Access depends on weather and road conditions.

What are Oshino Hakkai and the ice caves like?

Oshino Hakkai is a village in the Mt. Fuji foothills fed by abundant spring water from the mountain. It has eight clear ponds you can walk around. The Narusawa Ice Cave and Fugaku Wind Cave are both lava tubes in the Aokigahara forest where you walk inside to see the geological layers and feel the temperature drop.

What shrines and viewpoints does the tour include?

Arakurayama Sengen Park has a five-tiered pagoda and observation deck with panoramic views of Mt. Fuji across many stairs. Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine sits in a cedar forest with stone lanterns and a main hall built in 1615. Both offer different perspectives of the mountain and the surrounding landscape.

Can I take a boat or ride the ropeway at Kawaguchiko Lake?

At Kawaguchiko Lake, the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway lifts you for a bird's-eye view of the lake and mountain. Motor boating, paddle boats and cruises are available if the schedule permits, and restaurants around the lake are good spots for lunch.

What's included in the tour price?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water and pickup are included. All admission fees to shrines, caves, the ropeway and other attractions are paid separately at each location.