Views of Fuji
While visiting Japan in the winter, on two separate occasions, I went to a good view-point to see the most famous mountain in Japan: Fujisan.
Lake Tanuki
On our way from Kyoto to Tokyo, my brother and I wanted get a good look at Mount Fuji. We knew we couldn't climb Fuji in the winter so instead we wanted to go somewhere with a good view of the mountain. We stopped at the Shin-Fuji Shinkansen station, located to the south of the mountain, near the coast. From that station, we could already see the mountain, but we wanted an even better view. I had spent some time before, researching different look-out locations, and eventually I found the best option was at Lake Tanuki.
To get there we had to take a one hour taxi ride, then to return, we would spend two hours on a bus and then a train. We spent a couple hours at the lake, hiking up to a lookout point halfway up a hill. There we had spectacular views of Lake Tanuki and mount Fuji on the horizon.
Mount Fuji as seen from the lakeshore.
A time-lapse I took from the look-out.
The view of Mount Fuji from the Tanuki Lake look-out on the following morning.
Chureito Pagoda
When I had returned to Tokyo (after Hokkaido), I had booked a hotel on the west side of the city, near the Chuo Line. This line continues westward out of Tokyo to Otsuki, at Otsuki there is a private line that goes to Fujiyoshida, a town situated in the shadow of Mount Fuji. Rather than spending an extra day in Tokyo, I instead wanted some fresh air and decided to take the Chuo Line west. I stopped at a small town called Saruhashi for a couple of hours, then I transferred at Otsuki, taking the private line to Shimoyoshida stop. There I could walk to Chureito pagoda, perhaps one of the most famous look-out points for Mount Fuji.
The Chureito pagoda seen from a few different angles at ground level. The last image was taken after the sun had set.
I arrived at the Chureito pagoda in the late afternoon. The observation deck faced south-west towards Mount Fuji and the setting sun. Only the side of the pagoda in shadow was readily visible from the observation deck. This meant that capturing photos with both the pagoda and Mount Fuji was difficult as the pagoda was dark, back-lit almost like a silhouette, while the mountain was still brightly lit by the sun. I figured out the best lighting would be the moment after sunset when the light level between Fuji and the pagoda would align. So I found a good spot to wait out the sun, setting up a time lapse of the mountain while I waited.
Time-lapse of mount Fuji from near the Chureito pagoda.
Views of Mount Fuji, with the pagoda in the foreground, taken just after sunset.
Fujisan certainly is a magnificent mountain. It stand prominent over the surrounding landscape and looked absolutely fantastic capped in snow and ice during the winter months. I can see why so many people have been inspired by it for many generations.
I loved seeing it: twice at dedicated look-outs (as I have covered here in this post) but then I also saw it a few times from a far distance, both from the Shinkansen window and from parts of Tokyo. I was always excited to see it and I hope next time I can have opportunity to climb to the very peak of Mount Fuji.
Thanks for reading – Edward
Written 1st of June 2025