Fuji or Hakone, if you can only do one
| Question | Kawaguchiko tour | Fuji and Hakone tour |
|---|
| Time facing the mountain | Most of the day, on the north side with the lakes and the Chureito Pagoda | The morning, then the drive to Hakone |
| On a cloudy day | Little to see if the peak stays hidden | The ropeway, Owakudani and the lake still give the day a shape |
| 5th Station | Not part of the classic loop on most tours | Included by Japan Panoramic Tours and H.I.S. when the road is open |
| Way back | Coach on the motorway into Tokyo | Coach, or Shinkansen from Odawara on the package tours |
In winter, when the air is clearest and the 5th Station road is often shut, a Kawaguchiko tour gives you more of Fuji itself. From June to September, when the mountain is visible on only a small share of days, the Hakone half is what keeps the day worthwhile. The visibility figures by month help you decide which risk you would rather take.
What the Hakone half includes
The Hakone Ropeway runs over the volcanic valley of Owakudani towards Lake Ashi. On the TAIHOU tour a one-way ride is included; if the ropeway is closed, the operator refunds that part by e-mail. The pirate-ship cruise across Lake Ashi is optional on that tour and paid on the day, and one traveller below writes that it has to be paid in cash, like the lunch. Japan Panoramic Tours includes both the ropeway and the cruise. H.I.S. lists Owakudani, the ropeway and a boat on the lake. Anything you buy at Owakudani, such as the black eggs boiled in the hot springs there, is extra on every tour.
Fuji comes first, Hakone in the afternoon
All the coach tours here drive to the Fuji side first and reach Hakone in the afternoon. That order matters when traffic builds up. One H.I.S. passenger writes that the coach needed nearly five hours to reach Fuji and that it was nearly dark at the cable car. In late autumn and winter the days are short, so a delay in the morning eats directly into the Hakone half. The tours that return by Shinkansen from Odawara at least spare you the evening motorway back into Tokyo.
Bring yen in cash
On the TAIHOU tour the Lake Ashi boat and lunch are paid on the spot. Several Fuji tours also leave entrance fees to you, so carry enough cash for the day.
The private option for Fuji and Hakone
Mount Fuji Discoveries sends a car with an English-speaking driver to your hotel in Tokyo or Saitama and lets you set the route around Fuji and Hakone. Tolls and parking are included, and if the 5th Station is closed you choose between a full refund and other stops. With a private car you can also swap the order and go to Hakone first when the summit is in cloud in the morning. The private tour comparison sets it against the other private driver listed here.
