Hakone is one of the best day-trip destinations from Tokyo because it has something for everyone. From beautiful shrines and forested walks to onsen hot springs and dramatic volcanic landscapes, Hakone is a great place to spend some time away from the bustle of the city. It’s also a great place to see Mt. Fuji, with iconic viewpoints around Lake Ashi, scenic ropeways, and even from onsen hot springs.
Because Hakone covers a large area (see my detailed Hakone area guide here) it’s important to know that not all places have Mt. Fuji views. Hakone’s Gora area for example, famous for day-use onsen, museums, and world-class Japanese ryokan, is tucked in a valley where Mt. Fuji is not visible.
Mt. Fuji is also elusive in general, with poor visibility and cloud cover expected for more than half of the days of the year. Visibility is often best first thing in the morning, which is why staying overnight Hakone in a Mt. Fuji-view ryokan or hotel is recommended.
Visiting Hakone on a day-trip from Tokyo? Don’t fret! Here are the best places to see Mt. Fuji from Hakone, regardless of whether you’re staying overnight or not.
This article contains affiliate links. Whenever you purchase something through one of these links, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Through commissions I keep my travel blog ad-free. Thanks for your support!
1. Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
One of my favorite views of Mt. Fuji from Hakone is on the Hakone pirate ship, technically called the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise. This cruise crosses Lake Ashi and is part of the famous Hakone freepass loop (I write about this in my Hakone 1-day itinerary here).
I love that the Mt. Fuji view changes by the second as the boat crosses the lake. I can never get enough of watching the different angles of the beautiful mountain as the boat glides by!
The top deck of the boat, on the left hand side has the best Mt. Fuji views. Together with views of the deep blue lake and surrounding Hakone mountains, this Hakone Sightseeing Cruise is a must-see when visiting Hakone.
2. Narukawa Art Museum
The view of Mt. Fuji from Hakone’s Narukawa Art Museum is one that shouldn’t be missed, especially for photographers visiting Hakone. The museum’s second floor panorama lounge has an ultra-wide, 50-meter window that provides a perfect frame for capturing Mt. Fuji. It also includes views of the red floating torii gate and Lake Ashi, so on clear days you can capture one of the most iconic Mt. Fuji photos from Hakone.
With tables and chairs set up facing the window for the perfect Fuji view, it’s a great place to admire both Japanese artwork and paintings and the natural wonders of Fuji. A cafe on-site also serves modest drink and dessert sets that you can enjoy while admiring the view.
Entry to the museum costs 1,500 yen though, and because it’s only open from 9am to 5pm, you won’t be able to catch a photo of sunrise or sunset Fuji (unless you’re visiting in the winter for the sunset).
3. Onshi Hakone Park
Onshi Hakone Park is another lesser-known Mt. Fuji viewing spot in Hakone, located just south of the Narukawa Museum. This park is built on a tiny peninsula that juts out into Lake Ashi, and has been preserved as a nature space since the 1800’s when it was used as a summer resort spot for the Japanese imperial family.
A Lakeside Observation Building located in the park is free to enter, features historical exhibits of the Hakone imperial era, and holds other various exhibits throughout the year. A small tea shop on the second floor also sells drinks and sweets on-site.
The best views of Mt. Fuji from Onsehi Hakone Park are from the Benten-no-hana observation deck (see the image below) and the second floor of the Observation Building which has a Fuji-viewing lounge and balcony.
4. Owakudani Valley
Another amazing Mt. Fuji view from Hakone is from the Owakudani valley. Nearly all visitors to Hakone will pass through this point when travelling around the famous Hakone Loop.
As the top station of the Hakone ropeway, Owakudani has plenty to steal your attention: from the large souvenir shop and restaurant to the chance to try Hakone’s famous volcano-cooked black eggs. The dramatic geothermal activity is occuring in the opposite direction of Fuji-san, so it’s surprisingly easy to forget to look for Mt. Fuji.
But once you turn around, you’re rewarded with one of the best Mt. Fuji views in Hakone. Because Owakudani is already a must-visit stop in Hakone, it’s worth remembering to check for Fuji on clear days.
Check out all of my posts about Hakone, Japan:
- Hakone neighborhood guide – Where to stay in Hakone
- Hakone one-day itinerary – Hakone day-trip itinerary
- Splurge on a private onsen hot spring – Hakone Ryokan with Private Onsen
- Stay in a traditional Japanese inn – Best Hakone Ryokan
- Admire Mt. Fuji – Best places to see Mt. Fuji from Hakone and Hakone hotels and ryokan with Mt. Fuji views
- Perfect for onsen getaways to Hakone – a refresher on Japanese onsen etiquette
5. Komagatake Summit
Komagatake Summit is the lesser known ropeway in Hakone that many first-time visitors don’t travel to. It’s not located on the Hakone Loop, so it’s a much less crowded ropeway, also with amazing views of Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi and the Hakone area. Because of its location and height (the tallest mountain in Hakone), on super clear days you can even see Tokyo’s skyscrapers and Tokyo Skytree in the distance!
Komagatake Summit has a number of attractions at the top, including one of the first Hakone shinto shrines, a small cafe and souvenir shop at the summit station, and of course a number of observation decks for Mt. Fuji viewing.
The Komagatake ropeway is not included in the Hakone freepass, but freepass holders get 10% off its price. The ropeway is 1300 yen one-way, and 2200 yen round-trip, with other discounts available for people staying at the Prince Hotel Lake Ashi and Ryuguden ryokan, and if you book ahead through Klook. Adventurous visitors can embark on one of several hiking trails to get to the summit or back down to Lake Ashi.
6. Mount Kintoki and Mount Myojingatake
Ok so these are technically two different Mt. Fuji viewpoints from Hakone, but because they’re both moderate-level mountain hikes in the Hakone area, I’ve combined them into one.
Both hikes take around 1 hour one-way or two hours round-trip from the Gora area of Hakone, and are great additions to a 2-day Hakone itinerary. If you want to tackle both in one day, they’re about 60 minutes apart on foot.
Mount Kintoki, also referred to as Mount Ashigara, is the more famous hiking spot. The trails are well maintained, the climb is suitable for beginners, and there are modest teahouses at the top selling food and drinks so you can refuel while enjoying Mt. Fuji views.
Mount Myojingatake offers a quieter alternative with equally beautiful Mt. Fuji views. This hike is known for its pampas grass fields in autumn, and provides a spacious summit area for resting.
7. Hotel Green Plaza Hakone
Now let’s get in to some of the most unique and really special Mt. Fuji views from Hakone! Hotel Green Plaza, located on the north edge of Lake Ashi, is a historical Hakone hotel with Mt. Fuji views. You can either stay here overnight and enjoy rooms with Mt. Fuji views (and even some with private onsen!), or you can visit this hotel as part of their onsen day-pass program.
Hotel Green Plaza offers visitor day-passes to their public onsen facilities, so you don’t need to stay overnight here to enjoy their epic set-up: Mt. Fuji views from their outdoor onsen! That’s right, enjoy stunning views of Mt. Fuji, from the lakeside, from their luxurious outdoor onsen facilities.
8. Odakyu Hotel de Yama
Last but not least, don’t miss the mt. Fuji views from Hakone’s Odakyu Hotel de Yama. This is another lakefront, historic hotel located on the eastern side of Lake Ashi. What makes the Mt. Fuji view from this Hakone hotel special is their expansive gardens that provide a perfect foreground to Mt. Fuji in the background.
Enjoy seasonal rhododendron and azalea flowers and bushes, especially in April and May, in their 1,000+ bush flower garden. Visitors can enjoy a meal at Odakyu Hotel de Yama’s terrace and check out their observatory as well, perfect for soaking in views of both Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi.
Map of best places in Hakone to see Mt. Fuji
Seeing Mt. Fuji from Hakone is one of those experiences that never gets old, no matter how many times you visit. From lakeside viewpoints and ropeway rides to quiet hiking trails and onsen with a view, Hakone offers some of the most varied and rewarding Fuji scenery in Japan.
If you’re planning your trip to Japan and hoping for that unforgettable Fuji moment, be sure to keep these best places to see Mt. Fuji in Hakone on your itinerary!
