If you want to get up close to Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji there are a few ways to go about it. If you just want to see this perfectly cone-shaped volcano from a distance (to snap a photo) you can try hopping aboard the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto – this journey offers good views of the mountain about an hour into your journey.

However, it is seldom possible to get a really clear view due to clouds and poor visibility, particularly in summer.

A better bet is to travel to the hot-springs town of Hakone or to the Fuji Five Lake region and stay overnight so that you can be at the foot of the mountain in the early morning when the views are at their best. To get really up close and personal you can hike Mount Fuji during July and August or go skiing in winter.

Mount Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

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