Mount Fuji by Air and Trail: Hang Gliding and ATV Day from Tokyo

Many day trips to Mount Fuji show the mountain from the ground and stop there. This one looks at it three ways: from a lakeshore, from a forest trail and from the air. It is a private day from Tokyo, about ten hours long, and the activities mean it suits people who would rather do something than sit on a coach.

The day starts early at your Tokyo hotel, with private travel to the Fuji Five Lakes region. The first stop is Oishi Park beside Lake Kawaguchiko, a short walk along the shore with the mountain across the water. Then you move to the active part of the day, an ATV session in the forest. Guests aged 16 and over learn the basics of a four-wheel ATV and then ride a dedicated off-road course with slopes, bumps and uneven ground. Younger eligible guests ride in an eight-wheel ATV driven by an instructor.

The centre of the day is a tandem hang-gliding flight from the Oshino area. After a safety briefing you fly together with an experienced instructor, launching from a point with a drop of about 360 metres. Mount Fuji, at 3,776 metres the highest mountain in Japan, is the backdrop. The last stop is Oshino Hakkai, a village of spring-fed ponds with a view of the mountain.

Two cautions apply. Hang gliding depends on wind and weather, so ask the operator how a cancelled flight is handled before you book. And meals, fees and extras are not spelled out here, so check exactly what your price includes on the booking page.

The Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko, Motosuko and Yamanakako) lie at the northern foot of the mountain, and Oshino Hakkai, the eight ponds, is fed by water that filters down through it. Fujisan was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2013 as a cultural landscape, and Oshino Hakkai is one of its component sites. Views of the summit depend on cloud, and in the rainy season and summer haze Fuji is often hidden, so ask about the plan for a cloudy day and treat a clear view as a bonus.

It is booked through GetYourGuide, which shows free cancellation. The ATV and hang-gliding parts have age and fitness limits, so read them first and tell the operator about any health issue. If you want Fuji without the adrenaline, a lakeside day with a private driver is a calmer way to see it.