Mt. Fuji tour with Gotemba Outlets: Private guide and driver

A local guide shapes the day around what you want to see, not a fixed itinerary.

A private full-day tour of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding region with your own English, Japanese or French-speaking local guide and driver, starting from your hotel. You choose 4 to 6 stops from a list that includes Arakurayama Sengen Shrine with its iconic Chureito Pagoda, the lava caves of Aokigahara Forest, Lake Kawaguchi, Mt. Fuji's 5th Station (weather and season permitting), and Gotemba Outlet with 290 shops. Hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, and an air-conditioned minivan with DVD player are included. Lunch is your choice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway30m
2. Oishi Park20m
3. Mt. Fuji 5th Station1h
4. Lake Kawaguchi30m
5. Narusawa Ice Cave15m
6. Aokigahara Forest30m

Mt. Fuji and Gotemba Outlet Tour

• Visit Arakurayama Sengen Shrine
• Take panoramic photo at Chureito Pagoda
• Explore Aokigahara Forest and lava caves
• Visit ancient shrines and scenic spots
• Have lunch by Lake Kawaguchi
• Shop at Gotemba Outlet mall

The Experience

You're picked up from your hotel in a private minivan and spend the day with a guide who knows the region well enough to adjust the route based on what interests you most. The tour runs about 11 hours, but the stops themselves are flexible. You'll select around 4 to 6 sites from the full list before the day starts, so a morning person can hit the shrine and forest early, while someone who wants to shop can save Gotemba Outlet for late afternoon. The guide speaks English, Japanese or French (Chinese and Korean available on request), so the commentary is in your language, not a translation of a script.

Most visitors start at Arakurayama Sengen Shrine to photograph the Chureito Pagoda framed against Mt. Fuji, then move into Aokigahara Forest for a short hike through the dense woodland and a 15-to-30-minute cave adventure in the lava formations below. Lake Kawaguchi, the most visited of Mt. Fuji's five lakes, offers a quieter stop for lunch (you arrange it) and views across the water. The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the queue and lifts you above the foothills for a wide view of the mountain, the lakes and Fuji Yoshida City below. Mt. Fuji's 5th Station, at 2,300 meters, is the highest point reachable by car. It's closed July through mid-September during climbing season and in winter, and carries a 2,100 yen toll you pay on the spot.

Gotemba Outlet, Japan's largest outlet mall, closes the day with 290 shops spread across the complex. Tell your guide how long you want to spend there, and the minivan waits. The driver handles all the navigation and traffic. You focus on the stops. Bottled water is provided, and the vehicle is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned minivan.
• a local guide fluent in English, Japanese or French (other languages on request).
• bottled water for each person.
• a DVD player in the vehicle for the drive.
• and your choice of 4 to 6 stops from the full list of Mt. Fuji region attractions.

Days and timesDaily · 07:00, 07:30 and 08:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Japan Star Travel Agency

Is this one for you?If your guide speaks your language fluently, you'll hear the real stories behind each stop instead of following a translated script. Ask for English, Japanese or French when you book, or request Chinese or Korean if that's your preference. The flexible stop selection means a first-time visitor can focus on the iconic shrine and forest, while someone returning can spend the afternoon at Gotemba Outlet without rushing through the earlier sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Korean, Chinese and Japanese.

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

Mt. Fuji's 5th Station is available as one of your 4-to-6 stops, but access closes from July through mid-September during the climbing season and again in winter. When it's open, the stop takes about 2 hours and sits at 2,300 meters. The highest point you can reach by car on the mountain. A 2,100 yen toll is payable on the day.

What's inside Aokigahara Forest that makes it worth visiting?

Aokigahara is a dense woodland with lava caves formed centuries ago. You'll hike through the forest and spend 15 to 30 minutes exploring one of the ice caves, where the rock stays cold year-round. It's a quieter, more atmospheric stop than the shrine or the outlet.

How does picking my own stops work?

Before the tour, you choose 4 to 6 sites from the full list: Arakurayama Sengen Shrine, Aokigahara Forest, Lake Kawaguchi, Mt. Fuji's 5th Station, the Panoramic Ropeway, Oishi Park, Oshino Hakkai, and Gotemba Outlet among them. Your guide then builds the day around your choices, so you're not locked into a fixed schedule.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You'll have time to eat by Lake Kawaguchi or elsewhere during the day, and your guide can suggest local options. Let the operator know of any dietary requirements when you book.

Does the tour include entry to the ice caves in Aokigahara?

The tour includes a hike through Aokigahara Forest and a cave adventure, but entry to the Narusawa Ice Cave is not included in the base price. Ask your guide about cave entry options and costs when you arrive.