Mt. Fuji 5th Station & Hakone Owakudani & Ropeway + Pirate Ship Dual Experience (Upgrade to Bullet Train Round Trip Day Tour Available | Departing from Tokyo)

Mount Fuji and Hakone make a big day out from Tokyo: first, a high-altitude stop at Fuji’s 5th Station, then Hakone’s sulfurous Owakudani valley and a ropeway ride above Lake Ashi. When skies cooperate, you get both close views of the mountain and a chance to spot it across the lake.

I like two things about this trip: the ropeway is included, so you can see Hakone from above without sorting out separate cable-car tickets, and you can choose a Shinkansen return to avoid the full bus ride back to Tokyo. Guides such as Ko and Wanting have been praised for being helpful and attentive, though the guide assigned to you will vary.

The trade-off is time. You cover a lot of ground in about 10.5 hours, and traffic or weather can shorten stops or change the route. Also, the Lake Ashi pirate ship is not included in the base package, despite its place in the day’s plan, so check your chosen option before booking.

The essentials at a glance

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• Fuji’s 5th Station sits about 2,300 meters up. In clear weather, you may see the Fuji Five Lakes and clouds below the summit.
• Owakudani is a working volcanic area. Expect steaming vents, sulfur in the air and black eggs for sale.
• Hakone Ropeway tickets are included. The route connects Sounzan, Owakudani and Togendai, with views of the volcanic valley and Lake Ashi.
• The pirate ship costs extra. The listed fare is ¥1,700, and the base package excludes it.
• The return choice matters. Take the bus back, or choose a Shinkansen option from Odawara to Tokyo Station.
• Weather can rewrite the day. The 5th Station may be replaced by the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre, and Hakone’s ropeway or cruise may be suspended.

👉 See our pick of the 3 Best Spa And Hot Springs Experiences In Hakone

Tokyo to Fuji’s high mountain viewpoint

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m. at Tokyo Mode Gakuen in Shinjuku. Arrive at least 10 minutes early. This is a shared group departure, and the vehicle cannot wait for late arrivals, so give yourself extra time to find the meeting point rather than cutting it close.

The drive brings you to Fuji’s 5th Station, around 2,305 meters above sea level. It is a useful stop for getting close to the mountain without hiking up it. On a clear day, you may look over the Fuji Five Lakes or see a sea of clouds below. The view depends on weather, and cloud cover can hide Fuji even when the rest of the day is pleasant.

You have about 40 minutes here. That is enough for a look around and photos, but not a long visit. This is a busy, well-known mountain stop, not a quiet trailhead. If your main goal is to see Fuji up close, the 5th Station is the tour’s key stop, so it is worth understanding the weather and seasonal limits before you book.

From December 1 through April 25, the 5th Station is closed for this tour, and the visit switches to the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre. Bad weather, road accidents or road closures can also force a change. The centre offers a different kind of visit, so don’t book on the assumption that the mountain stop is guaranteed.

Lunch and the long crossing to Hakone

A meal is available only with selected package options. Choices listed include a chicken bowl, wild vegetable hotpot, or beef and eel set meal. The menu can change with the season and ingredient supply. If you have allergies or dietary needs, note them when booking; most allergy requests can be accommodated, but gluten-free meals are not offered.

If you choose a no-meal option, you’ll need to plan for lunch on your own. The tour information lists meals and drinks as not included in the base package, so confirm exactly what your selected fare covers. A few travellers have found the beef meal particularly satisfying, but it is a practical convenience more than a reason to choose the tour.

The distances between Fuji and Hakone mean a fair amount of time in the vehicle. That is the price of seeing two very different areas in one day. A few stops can feel brisk, especially if roads are busy, and the guide may adjust timings to keep the group moving and meet the driver’s legal work-hour limit.

Owakudani’s vents, eggs and ropeway views

After lunch, the tour heads to Hakone Ropeway. The first listed leg runs from Sounzan Station to Owakudani and takes about 15 minutes. The ropeway fare is included. From the air, you get a view of the volcanic terrain, and on a clear day, Fuji may appear in the distance.

At Owakudani, you have about 40 minutes to walk around and see the steam rising from volcanic vents. The smell of sulfur is part of the place, not a passing whiff. It is a striking reminder that Hakone is geothermally active. Black eggs are sold here, offering an easy local snack, though the visit is short enough that you may need to choose between eating, browsing and taking photos.

You then ride the ropeway from Owakudani to Togendai, with roughly 30 minutes allotted for the leg. The route gives you a changing view: volcanic ground near Owakudani, then Lake Ashi across the section between Ubako and Togendai. The elevated ride is one of the day’s best reasons to book, particularly if you like seeing a place from above rather than only from a roadside stop.

The route can change. Strong winds, heavy rain or maintenance may suspend the ropeway. The operator may substitute another stop, such as Hakone Shrine and Lake Ashi’s water torii. This flexibility is sensible for safety, but it means the advertised sequence is not a promise.

Lake Ashi by pirate ship, or by road

At Togendai Port, you can board the Hakone sightseeing pirate ship for a roughly 25-minute cruise to Hakone-machi Port. The ship is a playful way to cross the lake, and the surrounding water and mountain views offer a calmer counterpoint to Owakudani’s vents. Fuji may be visible in the distance, but only if weather and visibility line up.

Here is the important booking detail: the pirate ship fare is not included in the base package. The listed admission is ¥1,700. Some package names say cable car only and no pirate ship, while the day’s description includes the cruise as an optional part of the route. If you do not take the ship, the group travels by car to Togendai Port instead. Check your selected package and budget for the fare if you want to sail.

The cruise can also be suspended because of weather or maintenance. In that case, the group may visit another Hakone stop or alter the route. This is a scenic extra, not a guaranteed part of every departure.

Choosing the bus or Shinkansen back

The regular return is by bus, with the schedule showing about 90 minutes for the final drive and an expected Tokyo return around 6:30 p.m. That timing is only an estimate. Traffic can make the ride longer, and the tour may reach Tokyo later than planned. Avoid booking a flight, performance or other tight appointment for that evening.

The Shinkansen upgrade can save time and reduce the risk of sitting in road traffic on the way back. The train from Odawara to Tokyo takes about 30 minutes, and there are two trains per hour. There may still be waiting time, and seats are non-reserved, so you cannot count on a reserved place. The guide does not travel with you on the train.

This option suits you if you value a faster return and are comfortable following the station and train instructions on your own. It does not make the outbound journey faster, and it is not a door-to-door ride to your hotel. Compare the upgrade cost with the convenience you expect, especially if you are tired after a full day outdoors.

What the guides and group setup mean for you

The tour is shared, with groups ranging from one to 49 people. The vehicle may be a van, minibus or bus depending on how many people have booked. Seats are assigned on a first-come basis, and you can request a seating arrangement, though the guide makes the final call.

Guides vary. Names assigned on recent departures have included Ko, Xiao Hu, Wanting, Rachel and Lily. Many have been described as caring, efficient and helpful with tickets and moving the group between stops. The role can be more escort than lecture, however, and the depth of explanations may differ. If you want extensive commentary at each attraction, this may not meet that expectation every time.

A small number of experiences have been less smooth, including confusion about the meeting point or directions at Hakone, and one account of a 5th Station visit being replaced early because of traffic. Those are worth keeping in mind, especially since reaching the 5th Station is a major reason to book. Read the pre-departure email carefully, check your spam folder, and confirm the latest meeting instructions the night before.

The tour is offered with Chinese-, English-, Japanese- and Korean-speaking professional driver-guides. If a particular language is important to you, select the matching option when booking and verify it in your confirmation. The group may include people from different language backgrounds.

Price, value and the right expectations

Prices start at $49.29, but the final cost depends on the package. The base option listed is bus return, no meal, cable car only and no pirate ship. Other options include a Shinkansen return and meal combinations. The advertised starting price is best viewed as an entry point, not the full cost of every version of the day.

For that base fare, round-trip transfers from the meeting point, tolls, parking, fuel and Hakone Ropeway admission are included. You still need to account for food and drinks, personal spending and the pirate ship if you want it. The value comes from linking Fuji and Hakone transport in one day, rather than paying for a private vehicle or navigating every connection yourself.

That convenience matters. Fuji’s 5th Station and Hakone’s ropeway, volcanic valley and lake are not a compact set of sights. A single organized day lets you sample them without arranging separate transport, but you trade flexibility for efficiency. You cannot leave the group midway and rejoin later.

A standard-sized piece of luggage is allowed only if you tell the operator in advance. Each person can bring one, but an unannounced bag may not fit, and boarding can be refused without a refund. There is no age limit; children aged 0 to 3 ride free only if they do not need their own seat, while children aged 3 and older pay the adult rate. People aged 70 or older and pregnant women must complete a liability waiver.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity date. Once you have taken part in an activity, visited an attraction or used a ticket, the tour is no longer refundable. That makes the weather caveat worth taking seriously: the operator can cancel in extreme conditions, but poor visibility by itself does not guarantee a refund.

Should you book this Fuji and Hakone day tour?

Book it if you want a practical way to see Fuji’s 5th Station, Owakudani and Lake Ashi in one day, and you are happy to trade long, unhurried visits for transport convenience. I’d choose the Shinkansen return if avoiding highway traffic matters to you, and I’d budget separately for the pirate ship if the lake crossing is part of your plan.

Skip it if you need guaranteed clear Fuji views, a guaranteed 5th Station visit in winter, or detailed guiding at every stop. For the best chance of a rewarding day, keep your schedule flexible, check the package inclusions closely and treat the weather as part of the deal.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

It departs at 8:00 a.m. from Tokyo Mode Gakuen, at 1 Chome-7-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City. Arrive at least 10 minutes early.

How long is the tour?

The scheduled day runs from 8:00 a.m. to about 6:30 p.m. The return time can change because of traffic and weather.

Will I visit Mount Fuji’s 5th Station?

The tour plans a visit to the 5th Station, about 2,305 meters above sea level. From December 1 through April 25, or if weather or road conditions prevent access, the alternative is the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre.

Is the Hakone Ropeway included?

Yes. Admission to the Hakone Ropeway is included, including the route through Owakudani to Togendai.

Is the Lake Ashi pirate ship included?

No. The listed fare is ¥1,700. If you do not take the ship, the group travels by car to Togendai Port.

What does the Shinkansen return involve?

The train goes from Odawara to Tokyo Station and takes about 30 minutes. Seats are non-reserved, there may be waiting time, and the guide does not accompany you on the train.

Are meals included?

Meals are not included in the base package. Some options include lunch, with choices that may include a chicken bowl, wild vegetable hotpot, or beef and eel set meal. The menu can change.