Viator VIP: Mt Fuji Private Tour Including Exclusive Visit with Priests at Sengen Shrine

After pickup from your Tokyo hotel by private vehicle, your guide will accompany you on the train to Mt Fuji. You'll stop at key viewing spots and enjoy great photo opportunities, taking in the splendid sights of Japan’s iconic peak as it looms closer from each point along the way.

Upon arrival, sip local tea and listen to your knowledgeable guide explain the history and cultural importance of the Mt Fuji region before driving by private vehicle to Sengen Shrine, located at the foot of the mountain. This spiritual and often-overlooked Shinto home marks the beginning of any traditional pilgrimage to the top of Mt Fuji, especially during the opening of the climbing season or summer fire festivals. At the shrine, you’ll have the opportunity to spend time speaking personally with the local priests, a unique and exclusive experience typically inaccessible to the public! (Please note that the availability of the priests will be confirmed upon booking.)

Amid this stunning setting, enjoy some local snacks unique to the area; your guide will ensure you taste the best food available. If you'd like, feel free to make offerings for a safe visit on the mountain (own expense). Then, drive by private car with your guide to Mt Fuji’s 5th Station, located 7,546 feet (2,300 meters) above sea level. Referred to as the border between heaven and Earth, this stop features Japanese torii gates, shrines and stunning views of the mountain (if the weather cooperates).

Enjoy a delicious bowl of houtou — thick wheat noodles with vegetables in a broth — a specialty of the region. Try samples of traditional sweets and taste local sake. Then, head to Lake Kawaguchi, part of a UNESCO World Heritage-listed area around Mt Fuji. Hop on the Kachi Kachi Ropeway, a cable car that climbs 1,312 feet (400 meters) from the lake’s eastern shore to an observation deck where you’ll have panoramic views of Mt Fuji and the lake at sunset!

At the end of the day, your guide will transfer you back to the railway station and accompany you by express train back to Tokyo, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel by private vehicle.

Viator VIPs feature travel experiences not typically available to the general public — from behind-the-scenes access to private viewings and VIP service — at many of the world’s top attractions, often with no lines and no crowds. Viator VIP tours are not available from other 3rd-party online sellers.