Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko)
Lake Kawaguchi, or Kawaguchiko, is a lake in Yamanashi Prefecture on Mount Fuji’s north side. Surrounding the lake is a well-developed tourist area. Make your way to Kawaguchiko’s north side to capture that iconic view of the mountain reflected in the water’s calm surface. If you are ready to see it up close and personal, you can access climbing trails for Mount Fuji from Kawaguchiko Fifth Station.
Hakone
Hakone is a resort town on the edge of Mount Fuji that's known for its many onsen and ryokan. It is a weekend getaway spot for Tokyoites. Hakone is also a popular Tokyo side trip amongst international tourists.
Arakura Sengen Park
One of the most famous views of Fuji has a red pagoda in the foreground. You will see it on advertisements to visit Japan, magnets, postcards, and the like. The view is actually of the Chureito Pagoda, part of the Arakura Sengen Shrine in Arakura Sengen Park. The entire shrine is built on and around a mountain, and the pagoda, built in 1963 as a peace memorial, is almost 400 steps up that mountain.
Hiking your way to the top may prove challenging if you are not used to the incline, but it is commonplace to stop for a breath along the way, so no one will judge if you need a moment. Visit during the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom or in autumn when the leaves take on a bright crimson hue. If you are willing to put in the effort, you will be rewarded with amazing vistas.
Lake Sai (Saiko)
Saiko is another of the Fuji Five Lakes, along with Kawaguchi, Yamanaka, Shoji, and Motosu. Here, make your way to Iyashi-no-Sato, an open-air museum that recreates an Edo-era farming village. Although views of the mountain are not as clear from here as the other lakes, it offers a lot of atmospheric charm and gives visitors a sense of what Mount Fuji looked like during the Edo Period.
Kamakura
Kamakura, a town right between the waters of Sagami and Tokyo Bay, is a favorite spot for those looking for a good place to surf. It is well-known for its bronze Great Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple; at 40 feet, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha in Japan.
Of Kamakura’s many beaches, Inamuragasaki is a black-sand beach with towering cliffs. It is not the largest beach in the area that you can visit, but it is relatively unspoiled. More importantly, the sunset and Fuji views make for an incredible moment.
Shinkansen
The Tokaido Shinkansen runs south of Mount Fuji allowing travelers a view of the mountain from the trains as they whiz by. The fields south of the track also offer nice views of the trains and the mountain together.
Bunkyo Bikku Center
Mount Fuji is nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Tokyo, but it can still occasionally be seen from the city’s observatories. Also known as the Bunkyo Civic Center, this tower houses a free observatory on the 25th floor. In good, clear weather, Mount Fuji can be seen peeking out from behind the skyscrapers of Shinjuku. It becomes a popular place among photographers to capture views of Tokyo at sunset.