Mt Fuji, Shizuoka Wasabi Farm Tour with Hokusai Train & Bullet Train

Mt. Fuji is not just a mountain on this day trip. You approach it through Hokusai’s woodblock art, learn about its spiritual place in Japanese life, then see the water that flows from its slopes. The train changes are part of the story, not just a way to get from Tokyo to Shizuoka.

I like two things in particular: the Hokusai-themed train, which links the scenery to the art, and the hands-on wasabi tasting, a rare chance to grate fresh Mazuma root yourself. The falls and Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine give the day welcome variety between those two highlights.

The trade-off is a full schedule with substantial bus and train time, plus a late lunch that may not arrive until about 2:30 p.m. Mt. Fuji visibility also depends on weather, and the tour runs even when clouds hide the peak.

What to know before you go

• The train ride is part of the attraction: Travel from Mishima toward Fujinomiya on a Hokusai-themed train with ukiyo-e art and photo stops at places linked to his views of Fuji.
• The day blends sacred sites and nature: Visit the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, the head shrine of Japan’s Sengen shrines, and two very different waterfalls.
• You make your own fresh wasabi: Walk around a wasabi-growing area, grate Mazuma root, and taste it.
• Lunch has four choices: Select Japanese-style, vegetarian, Muslim-friendly, or Indian thali, with tea or coffee.
• The finish depends on your package: Choose Tokyo Station, Mishima Station, or Gotemba Premium Outlets, and check the exact endpoint when booking.
• Come prepared for a long day: Meet at 8 a.m., wear athletic footwear, leave large suitcases behind, and bring a filling breakfast.

Start at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, then board the Shinkansen

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Your morning begins at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu’s B1F Bus Terminal, at Bus Terminal B in front of the information desk. Look for the JTB Sunrise Tours sign and arrive with time to spare. The departure is at 8 a.m., and late arrivals or no-shows are not refundable.

At about 8:10, the group boards a Tokaido Shinkansen for Mishima. The ride takes roughly 53 minutes. Reserved seats are normally provided, though crowded trains can mean non-reserved seating. That is a useful detail if you count on sitting beside a particular person or need to keep a group together.

The train gives you a quick, comfortable start out of Tokyo. From Mishima, the change to the local Hokusai train shifts the mood from high-speed travel to a slower, more scenic approach to Fujinomiya.

👉 See our pick of the Best Tours In Fujinomiya

See Fuji through Hokusai’s woodblock art

The Hokusai Special Train is a cultural stop in its own right. Its design draws on Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, and the ride toward Fujinomiya takes about 45 minutes. The train also slows or stops at places depicted in the prints, giving you chances to take photos.

That connection makes the scenery more interesting than a simple train window view. Hokusai’s images helped shape how people around the world picture Japan, and here you can compare the art with the places around you. If clouds obscure the mountain, the train still offers the artwork and a sense of how Fuji has influenced Japanese culture.

The train is a highlight, but it is not a private sightseeing carriage. The experience depends on the day’s visibility and the train’s operating conditions. Treat the ride as a chance to look, listen, and take a few pictures, rather than expecting a long stop at every viewpoint.

Put the mountain in context at the World Heritage Centre

After arriving at Fujinomiya Station, you transfer to an air-conditioned bus with free Wi-Fi. The short ride takes you to the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, where you spend about 50 minutes.

The centre explains Fuji’s history and spiritual significance, helping make sense of the shrine visit that follows. A 4K theater screening of the mountain runs every 15 minutes. It is a good place to get a fuller view of Fuji even if the real peak is hidden by weather.

This stop is more than a rainy-day substitute. Mt. Fuji is a natural landmark, but it is also a sacred mountain with a long role in Japanese belief and worship. The centre gives you that context before you head to the shrine.

Visit Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine

A short walk brings you to Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha, the head shrine of Japan’s Sengen shrines and an important centre of Mt. Fuji worship. The visit lasts about 20 minutes, so you have time to take in the grounds and hear the guide explain the site’s connection to the mountain.

The shrine has traditionally been revered as a place to pray for protection from Fuji’s eruptions. That link between religious practice and a powerful volcano gives the visit a particular weight. It is not just a quick photo stop beside a famous peak.

Expect a brief introduction, not a long period for independent exploration. A large sakura tree near the shrine has been especially noted when blossoms are beginning to open, but seasonal flowers are not guaranteed. The value here is the setting and its meaning, rather than a lengthy visit.

Compare the two waterfalls at Shiraito and Otodome

A bus ride of about 30 minutes takes you to Shiraito Falls. Mt. Fuji’s snowmelt emerges from the cliffs in many narrow streams, creating the fine, curtain-like effect that gives the falls their name. You have about 15 minutes to see the falls and take photos.

Otodome Falls is nearby and offers a sharp contrast. Here, a stronger flow drops in powerful columns, with a loud, reverberating sound. The stop is also about 15 minutes, enough to appreciate the difference in scale and force between the two falls.

These brief visits add a welcome change of pace after the museum and shrine. They are among the day’s most memorable outdoor stops, especially when the weather is clear. Still, the schedule moves on quickly, so bring your camera ready and wear shoes that feel secure on the walkways.

Expect a late lunch with four meal choices

Lunch follows the waterfall visits, after another bus ride. The scheduled meal lasts 50 minutes, and the actual timing can be late. One tour participant noted eating around 2:30 p.m., so have breakfast before you leave Tokyo and consider carrying a small snack if you tend to get hungry.

You can select a Japanese-style meal, a vegetarian meal, a Muslim-friendly meal, or an Indian thali with tea or coffee. The Muslim-friendly option avoids pork and alcohol, but it is not halal-certified. The Indian thali is vegetarian and does not include meat or fish.

The range of choices is helpful, but it does not cover every dietary need. Allergy-friendly and gluten-free meals are not available. If you have a serious food restriction, check the menu details before booking rather than assuming the meal can be adjusted.

Grate Mazuma wasabi at a local farm

The wasabi farm visit is the day’s most hands-on stop. After about a 30-minute bus ride, you spend roughly half an hour learning about the growing area, then grate and taste Mazuma wasabi. Seeing the crop in its growing environment makes the tasting more than a condiment demonstration.

Freshly grated wasabi can be fragrant and milder, with a hint of sweetness, rather than simply sharp and hot. The experience gives you a useful comparison with the prepared wasabi familiar from many restaurant meals. You may also come away with a better sense of why fresh wasabi is treated as a distinct local product.

The farm or facility can change if the planned site is closed. In that case, the tour may visit an alternative place, and the day is not canceled or refunded for that reason. The stop is short, but it is unusual enough to make this tour different from a standard Fuji photo outing.

Choose your finish before you book

The lowest listed prices begin at $151.35 for the Mishima Station or Gotemba Premium Outlets options. The Tokyo Station package starts at $176.59. Prices can change, so check the current amount and package details before paying.

The fare includes the outbound Shinkansen from Tokyo to Mishima, the Hokusai Special Train, the air-conditioned bus with Wi-Fi, attraction admissions, an English-speaking guide, lunch, and the wasabi grating and tasting. Tips and personal expenses are extra. This is a solid bundle for a day with several transport legs and guided stops, especially if you value having the transfers and explanations organized for you.

The finish matters as much as the price. The Mishima option ends at Mishima Station, where you make your own way onward. The other choices end at Tokyo Station or Gotemba Premium Outlets. Compare the package names carefully: the day begins in Tokyo, but not every option ends there.

The tour is designed for international visitors, and residents of Japan cannot book it. Children aged 0 to 5 may join free if they do not need their own seat or lunch. If they need a seat or meal, book at the child rate; children aged 6 to 11 must be with a paying adult, and those 12 or older pay the adult rate.

Plan for weather, walking, and a full day

The schedule starts early and stays busy. You move between trains, a bus, indoor exhibits, a shrine, waterfalls, lunch, and the farm. The listed times are estimates, and traffic or congestion can change the order and duration of stops.

Mt. Fuji may be partly visible or hidden altogether. The tour still operates in poor visibility, with no refund for weather. That makes this a better choice if you want culture, nature, and local food as well as a mountain view, rather than a trip whose success depends on a clear Fuji photo.

Wear athletic footwear, as recommended, and do not bring a large suitcase. The tour includes walking between nearby sites and short visits outdoors. For sustainability, the booking charge also includes the purchase of government-certified J-Credits that support climate measures such as forest conservation.

Should you book this Shizuoka day trip?

Book it if you want more than a quick Mt. Fuji viewpoint and like the idea of mixing art, religious history, waterfalls, and a local food experience. The Hokusai train and fresh wasabi tasting are the most distinctive parts, while the World Heritage Centre and shrine give the day useful cultural context. English-speaking guides on recent departures have included Nao and Sunny, though guide assignments can change.

Think twice if you need a slow-paced day, have strict dietary needs, or are mainly paying for a guaranteed view of the mountain. The stops are short, lunch can be late, and visibility is never promised. If those limits suit you, the tour offers a well-rounded way to see a less familiar side of Shizuoka without arranging each connection yourself.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Meet at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu B1F Bus Terminal, Bus Terminal B, in front of the information desk. Look for a guide holding a JTB Sunrise Tours sign. Departure is at 8 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

You can choose a package ending at Tokyo Station, Mishima Station, or Gotemba Premium Outlets. The Mishima option ends at Mishima Station, where you make your own way to your next destination.

Is a view of Mt. Fuji guaranteed?

No. Weather can partly or fully obscure the mountain. The tour still operates, and no refund is given because of poor visibility.

What meals can I choose?

You can select a Japanese-style meal, vegetarian meal, Muslim-friendly meal, or Indian thali with tea or coffee. The Muslim-friendly meal does not use pork or alcohol but is not halal-certified; the Indian thali contains no meat or fish.

Can the tour provide allergy-friendly or gluten-free meals?

No. Allergy-friendly and gluten-free meals are not available.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Yes. Children aged 0 to 5 can join free if they do not need a separate seat or lunch. Children aged 6 to 11 must be accompanied by a paying adult, and children aged 12 or older pay the adult rate.

What should I bring or wear?

Athletic footwear is recommended. Large luggage such as suitcases is not allowed, so leave it at your accommodation.

Can I cancel for a refund?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using destination local time.