Mt. Fuji Day Trip Review: Your Private Van Getaway
Dreaming of seeing Mt. Fuji? Like your very own way, hitting all the top spots? A private van tour from Tokyo could be exactly what you’re after. Let’s talk about a detailed look at my own trip, with tips, what I thought, and some suggestions that will make your day better. That way, you’ll know if splurging on a private van to see Fuji is basically right for you.
Why a Private Van, Is That the Way To Go?
Wanting to ditch the bus crowds and rigid schedules, very many people go for a private van when heading to Mt. Fuji, alright? So, what’s the big plus? Number one has to be ease. Forget worrying on how to use trains or hoping that buses are running on time. A driver gets you from door to door. With that, you get to set the schedule. You could stay a bit longer somewhere amazing or even skip a spot if the mood is not quite right, or if that location does not fully strike you. It’s that flexibility, very much like having a backstage pass to one of Japan’s ultimate natural views, that is so appealing to heaps of people.
What the Tour Includes, More or Less
The exact plan of your tour might change a bit, depending who you go with, and which package suits you, yet many day trips by private van pack in lots of the main sights. It very likely starts early – think around 7 or 8 in the morning – from Tokyo. Is that ever ideal if you are not a morning person! So the first views you get, hopefully, will be of Fuji itself. Many tours, that, go to the Fuji Five Lakes area. Lake Kawaguchiko, maybe, is well-known for its amazing reflections of Fuji. Others often go to spots like Arakurayama Sengen Park, just a bit famous for those iconic views that add the pagoda to Mt. Fuji, is that great or what! Expect the day to take you near spots for food, like local restaurants that suit your taste, and shopping if that is really something that floats your boat. The beauty with a private tour, just like it is to have a clothing item especially made for you, is the ability to shift what you do, if something grabs your attention along the road.
Personal Experiences, Pretty Much
So, from the start, the personal van really made our day better, by a mile. Instead of struggling on what trains to jump on or stressing over catching the bus, the driver met us on time and took us where we needed to go. Having them really lifted stress and you could enjoy watching Japan move by, it is very interesting. Reaching Lake Kawaguchiko, seeing Fuji reflected so smoothly on that water basically took our breath away. Is that not magical? The view up in Arakurayama Sengen Park can’t be properly expressed with adjectives. Looking at the mountain together with the pagoda looks wonderful on pictures. And even better in person. With the private van it meant that we got to stay a bit longer up at the park, that way, we took photos. I even managed to grab lunch at a little spot I spotted next to a small shrine. The big buses just don’t let you get that kind of choice, almost ever.
Things That Could Be Better, Even if Slightly
Private van tours for Fuji have some problems. This trip costs you more than doing it using buses, alright, especially if you are solo or in two. So, before committing you want to weigh up if that is fine with your budget. Then again, and depending upon your personal guide, a small amount might not fully “know” Fuji. So it might suit you well to have some places that you very much wish to visit clearly communicated before you take off. It would, in addition, be very shrewd to keep your eye on the weather, or even the seasons. Fuji could be totally shadowed by clouds, it really can. Going in the cooler times may give you clearer skies but you will want to bring extra layers.
Some Tips So You Can Make the Most of This Trip
Do a bit of digging. Hunt around, basically, to find a company giving good prices but good reviews, alright? Have a list prepared showing must-sees, more or less, and give them to the guide before the tour takes place, right from the start. Pack everything with you, that you may have to take given some types of weather, warm clothing and stuff. Start with many layers – conditions at Fuji can vary very fast, very fast indeed. Above all else, keep the mindset where you’re open to changing what you think. Fuji sometimes loves hide and seek.
Worth It, Perhaps?
A private Mt. Fuji tour? Should you bother? If you’re all for being comfy and setting the tempo, then this will very possibly match what you need. Yes, it can bite a chunk from your budget but the ease it adds to the experience, alongside being able to go off-script with flexibility, might really just create memories which you hold forever. If your budget is less but want personal control? Consider taking the train, doing a bit of planning, maybe, but that’s a fair compromise.