Explore Mount Fuji with the Whole Family in Just 24 Hours
At the beginning of August, our family went on a really exciting road trip to Mount Fuji. It was actually our first time driving such a long distance and staying overnight in the car, which made the whole experience even more memorable.
We originally planned out our route in detail, hoping to visit several beautiful spots around Mount Fuji. But since it was our first long-distance trip by car, we ended up making a lot of flexible changes along the way depending on how things went. In this post, I’ll share everything about how we planned, prepared, and what we learned along the journey—hopefully it’ll be helpful for your own trip too!
1. Preparation & A Flexible Plan
At first, we planned to drive around and visit the famous Fuji Five Lakes at the foot of Mount Fuji. These include:
- Lake Motosu
- Lake Shoji
- Lake Saiko
- Lake Kawaguchi
- Lake Yamanaka
We had quite a detailed itinerary, with top priorities being the 5th Station of Mount Fuji and the traditional village of Oshino Hakkai. Oshino Hakkai is a well-known village often featured on travel websites and located right at the base of Mount Fuji.
But since we were a bit nervous about driving through the night, we decided just before the trip to focus only on those two main spots. If we still had energy, we’d try to visit more places. The whole plan was very flexible because we were driving ourselves, sleeping at highway rest stops, and didn’t book any accommodation.
2. Driving to Mount Fuji
We left around 11 PM from Hirakata, Osaka. The drive was about 400 km and took around 4.5 hours on the expressway. We stopped for about 30 minutes at Gulf Nagashima PA (Down) for a break.
If you’re not familiar with driving in Japan, the expressways here have plenty of rest areas that are great for long-distance drivers. It’s even recommended to take a break every 2 hours. These stops usually have food, clean restrooms, and sometimes even onsen (hot springs)!
After about four hours of driving, we reached Fujikawa Service Area around 4 AM. This spot is famous for its amazing view of Mount Fuji, and we planned to rest here for three hours before heading up to the 5th Station—about another 100 km.
The sunrise here was breathtaking, so we stayed up to watch Mount Fuji glow in the early morning light. Around 6 AM, we started heading toward the 5th Station, which took about an hour and a half. One thing to note: from early July to mid-September, private cars aren’t allowed to drive up the mountain. You’ll need to take a bus:
- Adults: 2,500 yen
- Children: 1,250 yen
Honestly, that 30-minute bus ride turned out to be a blessing—I got a quick nap that helped recharge my energy!
3. Mount Fuji 5th Station – Stunning Views and Majestic Scenery
Once we arrived at the 5th Station, I finally understood why so many tourists recommend visiting at least once. You can really feel the powerful beauty of Japan’s most iconic mountain.
It was my second time here, but the first for the rest of my family. The moment we stepped out, we were blown away by the view—giant clouds floating below us made it feel like we were walking in the sky.
If I remember correctly, the 5th Station is about 2,035 meters above sea level. The place was bustling with tourists and hikers. This is where many climbers start their trek up the mountain. We also dream of climbing Mount Fuji one day, but not this year—the kids are still too young. Hopefully, we’ll make it happen soon!
Mount Fuji is only open for climbing from July to mid-September. You can check the details at http://www.fujiyama5.jp
4. Oshino Hakkai – A Fairy-Tale Village at the Foot of Fuji
After returning from the 5th Station, we grabbed some lunch and headed to Oshino Hakkai, just 10 km away. This charming old village is famous for its natural spring water that comes straight from Mount Fuji. It’s home to eight small, crystal-clear ponds filled with fish.
The village has preserved some traditional Japanese houses, and what impressed me the most was how the locals maintain the area and promote tourism. The region is known for its fertile land, which means lots of fresh fruits and veggies—sold right in the village. We visited during peach and grape season, and wow, the peaches were huge and super sweet!
The clean water from Mount Fuji makes everything here taste so fresh, including the corn and tomatoes, which are often cooked and sold on the spot.
Another highlight: the small ponds filled with salmon and colorful fish (some even blue and yellow!). We also visited a traditional Japanese home museum where you can really imagine life in Japan from centuries ago. If you visit during spring or fall, you’ll catch cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, making the scenery even more magical.
You can also get awesome photos of Mount Fuji from here—but just a heads up: Fuji often hides behind clouds, so aim for a clear, sunny day!
5. Owakudani, Hakone – Home of the Famous Black Eggs
After Oshino Hakkai, we decided to swing by Owakudani in Hakone before heading home. The kids were getting a bit tired from the heat and the long drive (though they napped well in the car 😄). We arrived around 3:30 PM and stayed for about an hour.
Owakudani is a unique spot where you can still see active sulfur vents from an old volcanic eruption. They even collect and process sulfur here. One fun feature? The famous black and golden eggs boiled in the hot sulfur springs. They look cool but taste like regular boiled eggs. It’s 500 yen for 4 eggs.
Don’t miss a photo with your black egg! And yes, the smell of sulfur is strong, but that’s part of the experience.
You can also take the Hakone ropeway to get here, which is another fun option if you’re not driving.
6. Wrapping It Up
We ended our 24-hour journey with a BBQ dinner near Gotemba (home to the famous Gotemba Premium Outlets) and hit the road again around 7 PM—finally arriving home past midnight.
Even though we didn’t stick perfectly to our original plan, this trip was packed with meaning and memorable experiences. We didn’t book a hotel, and our itinerary was flexible, but everything turned out just right. The kids had a great time, and they’re already asking to go back to Mount Fuji—so we’ll definitely return soon!
Of course, traveling like this has its pros and cons:
Pros:
- Total freedom with time—stay longer if you like it, leave if you don’t. Perfect for families like ours who love flexible travel.
- Budget-friendly—you can eat what you like, rest whenever needed.
- Easy to adjust your itinerary based on your energy level.
Cons:
- Driving at night can be exhausting if you’re not used to it. Make sure to time your breaks well—one mistake we made was letting the kids nap while we stayed awake too long.
- Expressways are still busy at night, so you’ll need to be alert and in good health to drive safely.
Despite some small hiccups, this was a valuable first experience in long-distance road-tripping at night. It gave us confidence for future trips around Japan. I hope you try something like this at least once—it’s a great way to travel affordably, especially with kids. We’re definitely planning more adventures like this in the future.
Let us know your own experiences—we’d love to hear your stories too!