A daytrip that tackles Mt Fuji and Hakone in one hit.

I like how this tour is built for efficiency with shared bus transport, and it keeps moving even if you’re short on time. Two of my favorite parts are the Mt. Fuji 5th Station photo stop and the Hakone views at Lake Ashi, plus you also get a very fun ninja-themed stop.

The one thing to plan around is timing and conditions. Access around Mt. Fuji can depend on the weather, and the day runs on a tight schedule, so you should be okay with short stops and moving as a group.

Key things I’d watch before you go

• Shinjuku meeting point is specific: check in by 7:50am at the i-Land tower area, by the LOVE statue in Nishishinjuku
• Mt. Fuji is the morning anchor: you arrive around 10:30am at the 5th Station (Subashiri Trail), about 2,000 m up, then you’re off
• The ninja village is the lunch centerpiece: Oshino Shinobi no Sato includes a set lunch at Samurai Restaurant
• Hakone is built around big views: Ropeway ride to Owakudani Valley, then Lake Ashi cruise, then Hakone Jinja
• Small group feel for a bus tour: maximum 15 travelers, with a professional English-speaking guide
• No hotel pickup, but mobile ticket helps: you meet in Tokyo and board the bus from Shinjuku

Price and value: what $188.59 buys you

At $188.59 per person, this isn’t a “cheap and cheerful” ride. But it’s also not just transportation to a couple viewpoints. You’re paying for a full day that strings together multiple paid elements, plus a guide and multilingual audio.

Here’s what’s included that matters in real life:

• Bus fare plus a full-day itinerary
• Professional English-speaking tour guide
• Buffet lunch
• Ropeway fee
• Oshino Shinobi no Sato admission
• Lake Ashi cruise
• Multilingual audio guidance (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Indonesia, Thai, Russian, Ukraniane)

And what’s not included is simple: drinks. That’s it. So if you want to control costs, you’ll just budget for water and snacks on the way.

Also, this is a shared tour, with a stated maximum of 15 people. That small cap is a big deal for a bus day. It usually means you spend less time waiting for the group to catch up and more time at the views.

Starting in Shinjuku, and the one meeting point detail you cannot miss

Your day begins in Nishishinjuku (Shinjuku City) near the i-Land tower, at the LOVE statue. The check-in time is 7:50am, with a departure at 8:00am.

Why I think this matters: if you show up late, you’re not going to “wait for the next bus.” This tour is scheduled tightly, and the morning drive to the Fuji area is part of how they fit everything in. Plan on arriving a bit early, then take a quick look at the exact spot so you’re not wandering with a group.

If you’re trying to get your bearings fast, use public transit to reach the meeting area, since the tour notes it is near transit and there’s no hotel pickup.

Mt. Fuji 5th Station: the morning photo stop with real altitude

The main Fuji moment lands around 10:30am at Mt. Fuji 5th Station (Subashiri Trail) on the eastern side, roughly 2,000 m above sea level. Admission is free for this stop.

What to expect:

• You’ll get the classic high-altitude Fuji setting, and this is the place where photos usually look dramatic, even with imperfect weather.
• There’s also a practical reason it’s scheduled early: the rest of the day is built around Hakone, and that means you want Fuji while energy levels are still good.

The catch is right in the tour info: access to the mountain area may be contingent on weather conditions. So if the forecast looks rough, bring layers and keep your mindset flexible. If you can’t access a certain viewpoint, the guide will typically adjust what you can do next, but you should still expect some uncertainty when conditions change.

One more reality check: at this altitude, temperatures can feel cooler than Tokyo. So wear something that can handle wind.

Oshino Shinobi no Sato and Samurai Restaurant lunch

Around 11:10am, you head to Oshino Shinobi no Sato in Yamanashi Prefecture. This is a ninja-themed village, and it’s designed as a visual place to stroll, take photos, and then reset for lunch with Mt. Fuji in the background when conditions cooperate.

Lunch runs 11:10am to 12:20pm at Samurai Restaurant, and the tour includes the admission for this stop.

Why this stop works, even if you’re not traveling with kids:

• It’s not just a gimmick. It gives you a structured break in the middle of a long day, where you can sit down, eat, and then wander at a slower pace than the bus rhythm.
• You’re also positioned between Fuji and Hakone, so it’s a smooth transition.

The one thing to consider is that this is a timed tour day. So if you’re the type who wants to linger for extra photos, you’ll need to balance that with the group pace. Still, it’s an easy “yes” stop for most people because it’s simple to enjoy and doesn’t require advanced planning.

Ropeway to Owakudani Valley: big views, short time

After lunch, you head toward Hakone. Around 13:30, you connect to the Hakone Ropeway for a short ride to Owaku-dani Valley.

This is one of those sightseeing stretches that pays off because:

• You get elevated Hakone views that are hard to replicate on your own without extra planning.
• It’s the kind of stop where photos come out differently than the lake and shrine views later in the day.

The tour info keeps the stop time to about 1 hour here. That’s a good thing if you want variety without losing the whole afternoon to one location. The drawback is also obvious: you won’t have a full, independent wandering session. You’ll do the main highlights with the group and move on.

Lake Ashi cruise and Fuji reflections

Next, you reach Lake Ashi around 14:50, with a stop that runs about 45 minutes. There’s also a cruise included, and the tour frames this as one of the iconic moments in the area, especially for views with Mt. Fuji in the background.

Here’s what I’d pay attention to:

• This is your “calm down” segment after ropeway and valley sights.
• Even if you don’t get a perfect Fuji reflection every time, you’re still in one of Hakone’s best view zones. The lake setting makes the day feel less rushed.

Plan to dress for a bit of wind. Lake days can feel cooler than you expect.

Hakone Jinja and the Torii of Peace on the water

Around 15:15, you move to Hakone Jinja, with about 15 minutes of transit time, then time in the shrine area from about 15:30 to 16:00.

The star detail here is the picturesque red torii gate on the water, called the Torii of Peace.

Why I like this stop:

• It’s visually memorable in a way that doesn’t depend on you hiking or booking anything extra.
• It gives you a cultural anchor after the more scenic and themed stops.

The time is short, so don’t expect a long, slow shrine circuit. But it’s enough time to see the key photo angles and understand the setting.

If you want those photos, try to angle yourself before the best spots get crowded, and work quickly. This tour keeps the flow moving.

Odawara Station options and the ride back to Shinjuku

You head to Odawara Station around 16:30, with a quick stop near the Odawara Station Tourist Information Center for about 10 minutes. After that, the bus ride continues to Shinjuku Station, arriving back around 18:50.

There’s one fork in the road that you should know:

• If you chose a Shinkansen option, the tour ends at Odawara.
• Otherwise, you return to Shinjuku, West Exit, around the evening.

This matters for your planning. If you’re connecting to something after 6pm, keep in mind the return timing.

The guide factor: why this feels smoother than a DIY day

The tour includes a professional English-speaking guide, and the overall experience is clearly built around keeping the day organized. In one of the strongest pieces of feedback tied to this tour, the guide was named Yuki-san, described as kind and packed with useful tips.

I take that to heart for how the day feels. When you’re bouncing from Fuji to Hakone, what saves your patience is someone helping you:

• understand what you’re looking at,
• move to the right spots,
• and not waste time trying to decode logistics on your own.

Even if your Japanese is limited, the included multilingual audio guidance helps you follow along in your preferred language.

How the tight schedule actually works for you

This tour is about variety in one day, and the times reflect that. Most stops are around 30 to 60 minutes, with a longer meal stop at Oshino Shinobi no Sato.

If you thrive on structure, you’ll like it. You get:

• Fuji in the morning,
• a themed village + lunch mid-day,
• Hakone highlights in the afternoon,
• and a return ride before dinner.

If you prefer slow travel, the schedule can feel like pressure. You won’t have a lot of time to wander off the plan. So I’d book this if you want a hit list, not if you want a relaxed “stay as long as you feel like it” day.

Shared bus tour pros and cons, with real expectations

This is a shared transport model. That usually means good value, but you should plan for group pacing.

Pros:

• You avoid rental car stress and parking problems.
• The itinerary strings together paid experiences you might otherwise pick one or two of.
• You get the guide to keep you on track.

Cons:

• Waiting for the group is part of the deal.
• You might not get long at every viewpoint.
• Mt. Fuji conditions can shift, so you should accept that the “best possible view” isn’t guaranteed.

The tour info also says it operates in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately. Translation: bring layers and don’t assume clear skies.

Who should book this Mt Fuji and Hakone full-day bus tour

This is a great fit if:

• you have limited time in Tokyo and still want Mt. Fuji and Hakone in one day,
• you’d rather pay once for an organized plan than piece together several tickets,
• you like photo-heavy stops but don’t want the complexity of a self-planned itinerary,
• you’re traveling with family, including kids, and want a fun mid-day stop like Oshino Shinobi no Sato.

It might be less ideal if:

• you hate tight schedules,
• you want maximum time at fewer locations,
• you’re the type who can handle weather changes only if you can hike or adjust independently.

Should you book it? My straightforward take

Book this tour if you want maximum highlights with minimal logistics. The included items matter: ropeway fee, Lake Ashi cruise, lunch, and key admissions mean you’re not constantly paying on the fly. Plus, the small group size (up to 15) is a real advantage for a bus day.

Don’t book it if your priority is lingering slowly in one place, or if you’ll be disappointed by the possibility that Mt. Fuji access can depend on weather. In that case, you might prefer a more flexible plan.

If you’re deciding right now, my practical advice is this: go into the day expecting short stops, pack for cool mountain air, and treat the Fuji and Hakone moments as photo opportunities rather than a guarantee.

FAQ

What time does the tour start and where do we meet?

You check in at 7:50am and depart at 8:00am at the meeting point in Nishishinjuku, at the LOVE statue in front of the i-Land tower (Shinjuku, Tokyo).

How long is the tour?

The tour is listed as about 9 hours.

Is hotel pick-up included?

No. The tour does not include hotel pick-up and drop-off.

What’s included in the ticket price?

Included are bus fare, a professional English-speaking tour guide, buffet lunch, ropeway fee, entry to Shinobi no Sato, Lake Ashi cruise, and multilingual audio guidance.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included as a buffet lunch at Samurai Restaurant during the Oshino Shinobi no Sato stop.

Can we reach Mt. Fuji if the weather is bad?

Access to the mountain area may be contingent on weather conditions, so plans can be affected.

Do I end back in Shinjuku, or can I finish at Odawara?

You normally return to Shinjuku Station in the evening. The tour also notes that customers who choose the Shinkansen option finish the tour at Odawara Station.