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Snow-capped Mount Fuji glowing at sunrise

Japan · Japanese Alps & Fuji

Japan

Mount Fuji dominates the skyline, with the Five Lakes, pagodas and the Japanese Alps within a day's travel. The official climbing season runs from early July to early September.

Best months
Jul–Sep (Fuji climb)
Signature peak
Mount Fuji, 3,776 m
Fly into
Tokyo Haneda (HND)
Destinations
12
Explore Japan Best time to visit

Destinations in Japan

Where to go in Japan

12 of 12 destinations · Main season Jul–Sep (Fuji climb)

Snow-capped Mount Fuji glowing at sunrise Best Jul–Sep

Yamanashi & Shizuoka

Mount Fuji

Japan's highest peak, with an official climbing season from early July to early September.

3,776 m · Jul–Sep · Moderate

Good for: Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Chureito Pagoda framing Mount Fuji above Fujiyoshida Best Apr · Nov

Yamanashi

Chureito Pagoda & Fuji

A five-storey pagoda framing Mount Fuji, best in cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf weeks.

Fuji views · Apr · Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
A suspension bridge over the Azusa River with autumn larches and the Hotaka peaks at Kamikōchi Best mid-Apr–mid-Nov

Nagano, Northern Alps

Kamikōchi

A clear-water valley in the Japan Alps, reachable only by bus or taxi, with easy riverside walks beneath jagged peaks.

1,500 m · mid-Apr–mid-Nov · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking · Lakes

Stays Flights Tours
Snow and a dark pool on the high Tateyama plateau in the Japan Alps Best mid-Apr–Nov

Toyama and Nagano

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

A 37 km route across the Northern Alps by cable car, ropeway and trolley bus, famous for its huge snow walls in spring.

2,450 m · mid-Apr–Nov · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
Mount Fuji, a pirate-style sightseeing ship and a red torii on Lake Ashi at Hakone Best Year-round

Kanagawa

Hakone

A mountain area of hot springs, lakes and volcanic valleys, an easy trip from Tokyo with views of Mount Fuji.

723 m · Year-round · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours
Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji among autumn forest at Nikkō Best Apr–Nov

Tochigi

Nikkō

Ornate shrines in cedar forest below a mountain plateau of lakes, waterfalls and hot springs.

1,269 m · Apr–Nov · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Villages & culture · Lakes

Stays Flights Tours
A stone bridge among old cedars at Okunoin, Kōyasan Best Apr–Nov

Wakayama

Kōyasan

A mountain-top temple community, the centre of Shingon Buddhism, with a vast forest cemetery and temple stays.

800 m · Apr–Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
Wooden merchant houses along the street of the old post town of Tsumago Best Apr–Nov

Gifu and Nagano

Nakasendō: Magome and Tsumago

An 8 km walk on the old Nakasendō post road, linking two well-preserved Edo-period post towns.

801 m · Apr–Nov · Easy

Good for: Trekking · Villages & culture · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
Thatched farmhouses and rice fields in Shirakawa-gō seen from above Best Year-round

Gifu

Shirakawa-gō

A mountain village of steep thatched farmhouses, a UNESCO site that looks magical under winter snow.

500 m · Year-round · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
The wide grassy caldera of Mount Aso seen from the crater rim Best Apr–Nov

Kumamoto, Kyushu

Mount Aso

A huge volcanic caldera on Kyushu, with five peaks, grassy plains and an active crater.

1,592 m · Apr–Nov · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Colourful volcanic slopes of Asahidake in the Daisetsuzan range Best Jul–Sep

Hokkaidō

Daisetsuzan

The wild heart of Hokkaidō, with volcanic peaks, alpine meadows, hot springs and brown bears.

2,291 m · Jul–Sep · Moderate

Good for: Trekking · Scenic views · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
Moss-covered rocks and ancient trees in the Shiratani Unsuikyo forest on Yakushima Best Mar–Nov

Kagoshima

Yakushima

A round, mountainous island of ancient cedars, moss-covered forests and very heavy rain.

1,936 m · Mar–Nov · Moderate

Good for: Trekking · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours

About Japan

Japan at a glance

Japan's best-known mountain, Fuji (3,776 m), rises southwest of Tokyo and can be reached in around two hours by road. In summer, thousands of people climb it. In the other seasons many more come to photograph it from the shores of the Five Lakes and from viewpoints such as Chureito Pagoda.

The official climbing season on the main trails runs from early July to early September. Outside it, the huts and services are closed and conditions can be dangerous, so most visitors enjoy the mountain from below.

Spring brings cherry blossom, usually in early to mid April around Fujiyoshida, and autumn colour arrives in November. Japan's public transport makes the region easy to combine with Tokyo and the Japanese Alps.

Getting there

Fly into Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT). Highway buses and trains reach the Fuji Five Lakes area in about two hours.

Getting around

Local trains and buses serve Kawaguchiko and Fujiyoshida, and during the climbing season special buses run to the 5th Stations.

Entry and safety

Many nationalities can visit Japan visa-free for short stays, but rules vary. Check the official government information before you travel.

Altitude, cold and fast-changing weather affect climbers even in summer. Book mountain huts in advance, and follow the official climbing rules and any daily limits.

Official sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Where to stay

Where to stay in Japan

Hotels in Japan are coming soon

We are adding the hotels, guesthouses and lodges that local owners register with us. Each one is reviewed before it appears here. Meanwhile, you can compare stays on our partner sites.

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From the journal

Planning Japan in more depth

Snow under tall trees at Nathia Gali

Seasonal · · 3 min read

Winter in the mountains without skiing

Snow walks, quiet villages and clear-sky viewpoints, plus the safety habits that matter in cold, short days.

Read article

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Everything you need for Japan

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