Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, and stands 3,776 meters high, as sung in the nursery rhyme, ”Fuji is the Number One Mountain in Japan.” The beautifully symmetric form of Mount Fuji is commonly known as the symbol of Japan, and in the past it was the theme of an ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock print) by artist Hokusai Katsushika. The image of Mount Fuji reflected beautifully in the lake is known as “sakasa-Fuji”(upside down Mount Fuji) and is currently printed on Japanese bills. In 2013, Mount Fuji was registered as a World Heritage Site, and it became a popular sightseeing spot not only for visitors from Japan, but also for those from all over the world. It takes around five to six hours from the fifth station of Mt Fuji, which is the starting point. As the altitude is high, the air gets thin from the eighth station, so you should take your time when climbing the mountain. There is an observation deck, a shrine and a shop, and if the sky is clear you will be able to see the vast view of Lake Yamanaka, Fujiyoshida City, and Lake Kawaguchi. You can take the Fuji Subaru Line (toll road) or take a direct bus from major cities in Kanto Area to the fifth station that is at 2,220 meters above sea level.

This is one of the five lakes that was formed by the volcanic eruptions of Mount Fuji, located at the center of the five lakes. The view of Mount Fuji from this lake is symmetrical and balanced making it popular for many artists and photographers for their creations. In addition to tourists who come to enjoy the stunning view of Mount Fuji, there are also those who come to enjoy leisure activities such as boating, yachting, windsurfing, cycling and fishing. There are a variety of attractions around Lake Kawaguchiko including ”Fuji-Q Highland,” which offers many thrill rides, as well as galleries, museums, concert halls and tennis courts. Many tourists pack the area throughout the year. Because it is accessible by car and trains, there are many sightseeing spots and hotels, so it is a hub for sightseeing around Mount Fuji. To get here, take the Fujikyuko Line to Kawaguchiko station.

The Aokigahara Forest lies to the east of Lake Saiko at an altitude of 1,000 meters. Its area is approximately 30 million square meters. It is believed that the forest was formed after the volcanic eruption of Mt. Fuji about 1,200 years ago when the new trees sprouted out of cooled lava. The dense forest is part of Fuji Hakone Izu National Park and registered as a National Natural Treasure. Although the thickness of the soil is only 10 centimeters or so, the forest is a sea of trees with evergreen conifers, such as Japanese cypress, as well as broadleaf trees, such as Mongolian oak, Fuji cherry, and maple trees. It is also a habitat for small animals, birds, and insects, as well as bats that live in the lava caves. You can enjoy trekking at ease by joining a guided tour led by registered Fuji-Kawaguchiko guides who have a wide knowledge of the nature of the forest. It is a 40-minute bus ride on a Saiko shuyu circular bus from the Kawaguchiko Station on the Fuji Kyuko Line. Get off at the Saiko-komoriana bus stop.

Lake Motosuko is the westernmost lake of the Fuji Five Lakes. It is 121.6 meters deep making it the deepest of the five, and it is also the clearest. The view of Mount Fuji from Lake Motosuko is especially beautiful. Many photographers visit this lake to take pictures of Diamond Fuji, which is a phenomenon where the summit and the sun overlap giving the impression of a shining diamond, and the beautiful glow of sunrise. The photo of ”Sakasa-Fuji” (or ”upside down Mount Fuji” meaning the reflection of Mount Fuji on the suface of the lake) by photographer Koyo Okada is a famous work of art used as one of the designs on Japanese currency. There are also various outdoor sports that you can enjoy in the vast nature. It is one of the best spots for windsurfing in the Kanto region, and also great for fishing, boating, hiking and camping. These can be enjoyed throughout the year, which is also very appealing. To get here, take a bus for 50 minutes from the Fujikyuko Line's Kawaguchiko Station.

This is a zoo where you can see animals freely roaming in the park. The park is divided into two zones: the Safari and the Contact Zones. The Safari Zone is further divided into seven sections: the Bear, Lion, Tiger, Cheetah, Elephant, General Herbivore, and Mountain Herbivore Zones. The animals from all over the world are bred in an environment close to nature and can be observed from the Jungle Bus that you can ride while listening to the guide's explanations. Because the Jungle Buses have no glass windows but enclosed with wire mesh, they are especially attractive as you can encounter fierce animals like bears and lions at a very close distance. The Contact Zone is divided into two sections: the Petting Farm and the Animal Village. You can directly interact with, play with, and feed rare and common animals, so the zone is popular among kids. The Dog House, Cat House, and Rabbit House are indoor facilities convenient to visit on rainy days. You can also view a World Heritage Site, Mt. Fuji, from many places in the park. You can take a bus for 35 minutes from the Gotemba Station on the JR's Tokaido Line or Gotemba Line.

In the foothills of Mt. Fuji, there are many places worth seeing such as the five lakes of Mt. Fuji. Shiraito Falls, located on the west side of Mt. Fuji, is one of them. It was selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls in 1990 and is also known as one of the country's a scenic spots and a Natural Treasure. Snowmelt from Mt. Fuji springs out from a cliff that acts as a border between an upper geological layer that allows water to go through and a lower layer that does not. The cliff has a height of 20 meters and a width of 150 meters, and has hundreds of big and small waterfalls flowing off of it. Its has a gentile, feminine appearance so the name, Shiraito (meaning white thread) suites it well. When you stand at the basin of the waterfalls, they look like myriads of silk threads that are hanging down. Shiraito Falls have long been known as great waterfalls, and Minamoto no Yoritomo, who founded the Kamakura Shogunate, praises their feminine beauty in a tanka (a short Japanese poem), ”Above here, what kind of princess is there, I wonder, untying and flowing the strings of a ball, Shiraito Falls”. There is a dynamic and vigorous waterfall, Otodome Fall, nearby that is often seen together with Shiraito Falls for their contrasting beauty. It takes about 30 minutes by bus for Shiraito Falls from JR Fujimiya Station.

This amusement park in Yamanashi Prefecture is famous for its attractions with various thrill rides. Among them is Fujiyama, known as the king of coasters. It is one of the world's largest roller coasters with a maximum speed of 130 km/h, a maximum drop of 70 meters, and a maximum height of 79 meters. There are also other thrill rides such as Takabisha, Eejanaika, and Dodonpa. Even if you are not a fan of thrill rides, you can enjoy the big Ferris wheel, which affords stunning vistas of Mt. Fuji and the entire park, the gorgeous carousel, and the swing ride, which lets you feel the breeze. There is also the Town of Gaspard and Lisa (La villa de Gaspard et Lisa), which is the world's first theme park of the popular French-born characters Gaspard and Lisa. It is a place where children and adults can enjoy. You can go there by taking the JR Chuo Line to the Otsuki Station, switch trains to the Fujikyuko Line, and get off at the Fuji-Q Highland Station.

Lake Yamanakako is one of the five lakes that was formed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji. It is the largest of the five lakes, and the closest one to Mount Fuji. The altitude of the lake is around 1,000 meters above sea level, making it also the highest of the Fuji Five Lakes and the third highest in all of Japan. Lake Yamanakako has abundant nature and a view that changes seasonally with Mount Fuji in the background. In the summer, the average temperature rises to 20 degrees, making it an ideal summer retreat; many tourists arrive at this time. Others enjoy yachting and windsurfing on the large lake. There are various events throughout the year including a road race, summer fireworks display, autumn leaves festival and fantastic illumination in the winter. You can get to this popular resort by driving for two hours from the city center of Tokyo. There is also a direct highway express bus.

Lake Shojiko is the smallest lake of the Fuji Five Lakes. It is called the ”Switzerland of the East” thanks to its stunning beauty, and many tourists visit this lake as one of the best summer retreats in Japan to view the splendid Mount Fuji, which changes colors seasonally. The view of Kodaki-Fuji (”child hugging Fuji” meaning that Mount Omuroyama located in the outskirts of Mount Fuji looks like it is being hugged by Mount Fuji) is famous outside Japan as well. In June, 2013, it was registered as a World Heritage Site as a constituent asset of Mount Fuji. Lake Shojiko is also known for offering a variety of leisure activities. You can enjoy fishing deepbodied crucian carp, black bass and pond smelt throughout the year. Canoeing and auto camping with the magnificent view of Mount Fuji in the background, and trekking in the middle of vast nature are also available. You don't have to worry because it's a trekking course that beginners can also enjoy. There are highway express buses from many areas, and it is also possible to get here directly.

Lake Saiko is one of the lakes of the beautiful ”Fuji Five Lakes.” With Mount Fuji and other fabulous vistas in the background, you can enjoy all kinds of sports like windsurfing, fishing and canoeing. There is an auto camping site by the lake with plenty of facilities such as bungalows, cottages, showers and barbecue grills. You can view around 60 different species of wild birds like the white-eye and varied tits in the Aokigahara woodlands that spread out near Lake Saiko. ”Saiko Yacho-no-Mori” (forest of the wild birds) is perfect for a peaceful walk through the woods and bird watching. There are also lava caves, including one stretching over 350 meters, and the ”Narusawa” wind cave that is covered in ice throughout the year, where you will be able to encounter the mystery of nature. To access, take the Saiko Retro Bus from Kawaguchiko Station and get off at Saiko Station. If you take the highway express bus from Shinjuku, you can get here in just over 2 hours.