Tokyo
Although it was cloudy so we could not see the top of Mt. Fuji most of the time. Our tour guide did his best to show us the mountain and the lake, with a cable car view.
Tour guide was very knowledgable about every everything .The 4d fuji airways was excellant worth the money
We had a long bus ride to Mt Fuji but were disappointed the clouds came in and covered the mountain. We could only get to Level 2 as there was too much congestion and traffic higher up at Level 4. Our lunch was a wonderful selection of local dishes and the cruise on the Pirate Ship on Lake Ashi was crowded and chilly but fun to be part of.
It seems both Veltra and JTB Sunrise Tours think its acceptable to sell a tour called "Mount Fuji Tour" when they know 100% in advance that you will not see Mount Fuji
Our experience was as follows
Book online on the Tuesday Evening
Arrive at check in on Wednesday Morning
At check in ask JTB is everything open will we see Mt Fuji - YES
Get on the bus to depart for Mt Fuji
Tour guide runs through the itinerary exactly as advertised
Station 5 Mt Fuji
Cruise
Lunch
Ropeway
Shinkansen Back
1 hour into the drive - OH! sorry Station 5 is closed due to an avalanche we can only go to station 1 today, you wont see Mt Fuji
When we get to station 1 we ask the roadblock security when was the avalanche - 2 days BEFORE!!! so for 3 days they have been selling tours knowing its closed also knowing it will be several days before the avalanche is cleared
So JTB Knew Mt Fuji will not be seen before they sold the tour to myself and busses full of people who booked in the last 3 days, Veltra say they were not informed by JTB and JTB when asked say they only call for an update at 9am AFTER the bus leaves so you have no option to get off and do something else - convenient timing for them and too late for you, but they all knew 2 days in advance, yet no one takes ownership at either company blaming each other - neither company loose out only the customers
Had I known I would not see anything and be on a bus for several hours at the checkin at Niko Hotel JTB Desk I would have cancelled and got 50% refund and booked another tour for the day and done something more productive with my time
Feel quite cheated as did most of the other people on the same bus
JTB/Veltra snake policy is set so you basically can be sold ANY tour and they have a way to not refund you
DISSAPOINTED - CHEATED - WASTE OF TIME - CHECK BEFORE YOU GET ON THE BUS - REQUEST REFUND
JTB SUNRISE TOURS
VELTRA
The trip was generally good and was saved from an OK rating by actually seeing Mt Fuji from the bus and the first stop. After that we drove to the other side of the mountain where it was covered by cloud and we didn't see it again all day. (Cloudy weather can't be helped but guide said "we are driving to the other side as it is less crowded".) Everything ran on time but better explanation of how to manage Japanese lunch (our first such experience) would have been appreciated. Cruise on Lake Ashi was picturesque but boat was very crowded with standing room only for some guests.
★良かった点
・ツアー内容はとても良かったです。アクティビティが多かったので絶え間なく楽しめました。
・ツアーガイドさんは英語と日本語両方喋ることができるのでとても安心でした。
・バスが目立つ黄色だったので迷わず見つけることができました。
・外国人のお客さんが多く一緒にツアーを回ることができて、英語の面でもいい勉強になりました
★残念だったところ
・天気が雨だったので少しも富士山が見えませんでした。富士山をメインで楽しみに参加しましたが、何も見えなかったのでただ観光してるだけのツアーに感じました。同じお金を払ってみるのであれば天気がいい日だったら良かったです!
この度、LIMONにご参加いただきまして誠にありがとうございます。
天気が良くて良かったです!
今後も、引き続きのご利用をお待ち申し上げます。よろしくお願いいたします。
Good views of Mount Fuji.
Perhaps it would be better to have more time in the village to explore.
We were lucky to reach Mt Fuji 5th station, as the sun was shining on this beautiful volcano! Wish we had more time to enjoy its serene majestic beauty! Would love to climb this mountain some day!
Our tour was fun and enjoyable. We were given ample time to roam around and explore the area. We brought our son with us and he loves the cable car and strawberry picking experience. My wife's highlight was the beautiful flowers almost in full bloom. Mine was the overall convenience and comfort of being in an organized tour. Special thanks to Yuki our sweet guide and Kondo our bus driver for being patient waiting for us. Will highly recommend this tour to friends.
Hi, thank you so much for sharing your trip moments with us! It is great to know your families had fun time with the trip, and the activity of riding cable car was a favorable part for your son. We are really honored to be a part of your Japan trip, by offering a way to see the lovely scenery and make encounter with local people. Thank you for recommending this tour too. We wish you the best luck for future travels!
The drive going to Mt. Fuji was smooth. Our tour guide, Amy was excellent and helpful. Too bad we didn't see it at the base or during the boat ride. However, we saw it during the bus ride at least and we're happy.
We did get to see Mt Fuji which was why we went on this tour. Because of this, I rated it fair rather than poor... The boat and sky tram filled in time out of the bus... neither was interesting or exciting. Our tour guide was very bland...he certainly did not make this an enjoyable day. For a couple to go on this excursion at a cost of $250 to 300USD... spend your money elsewhere.
Very professional and informing. I would recommend and use again.
Completely recommend this tour and is well worth it. The scenery and guide are both terrific and it was an awesome day and experience overall. I must say that it is best to do your research regarding the train option before finalising your booking to ensure that you get the best deal. The tour operator offers a discounted ticket for the bullet train if it is bought through them as opposed to buying the ticket at the station.
We booked the tour only day before and were impressed by the quick confirmation response from Veltra office. We throughly enjoyed the tour. The guide was very good and she had a good sense of humour. During the trip up she gave explanations about different sites we were passing. During the ride back she entertained us by showing us how to make an origami. The bus was nice and clean. The lunch was a pleasant surprise stop at a French style restaurant on the way. We had lunch with spectacular view of Mt Fuji. We were not rushed and had time to enjoy each stop and take photos.
Highly recommend, it was very relaxed and enjoyable not to be missed.
Hamed and Susan from Australia
Thank you for booking with us!
We're glad that you enjoy your trip.
Have a nice day!
We assembled at the pick up point which was very centrally located ( directions were well given)and were well greeted by the English speaking Staff. Enroute we were informed that the tour to the 5 th Station of Mt. Fuji cannot be done as the road was icy due to the snow the day before. Alternatively we were taken to a different location “ Oshino Hakkai” with 8 different sacred pools all originating from Mt. Fujiyama. We instantly fell in love with this small Quaint Village.
We were taken for lunch to a European Style Restaurant which was overlooking the Fuji Q Highland . The lunch was a real treat, delicious and sumptuous. We were served Soup, Chicken, Salad, bread, desert and finally coffee/ tea. The ambience of the Restaurant was very very Royale. VELTRA was very kind in providing a vegetarian lunch for my wife.
We were then taken to the Mt Fuji Museum where we were shown a Fantastic Introductory film.
Later we drove to the Scenic Lake Kawaguchico for a Cruise. We had an ice cream treat from the souvenirs shop compliments VELTRA!!!.
We then took the rope way up the mountain to have a spectacular view of the Lake and the surroundings of the Base of Mt Fuji.
We would highly recommend this tour with VELTRA AS IT WAS VERY COST EFFECTIVE CONSIDERING THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION THE SIGHTSEEING, LUNCH, CRUISE RIDE, THE ROPEWAY AND NOT THE FORGET THE ICE CREAM.
THANKS VELTRA FOR YOUR SERVICES AND MAKING OUR DAY ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DURING OUR STAY IN JAPAN.
Thank you for your feedback!
We are glad that you enjoyed the trip.
We are waiting for your next trip with us again.
Have a nice day!
We had a very fantastic experience from Vetra. We were able to see a beautiful Mt. fuji , the weather was great for us . Its all worth it the whole trip even our tourist guide Ms. Yoko .
The guide was very informative. However couldn't go to fifth station of Mt. Ashi as promised in the tour plan. Instead went to the second station due to whether conditions. It would have be better if this clause was mentioned. One among the very less tours that cover both mount Ashi and Hakone in one day. Covers all the important look out points.
Honestly, I expected something completely different. The way was very long, the tour guide was not that excited about the information he presented and most of the facts I knew from the internet tourist sites beforehand. We clearly expected more insight into the history of the place: beautiful legends and folk tales or anecdotes from a local guide.
5-station was closed that day. As for sky gondola and the boat cruise, well, probably on a sunny day, but not on a windy April day. The sky was grey and it was freezing. Smoking valley was just a viewing spot to take a photo and taste a black ice-cream. Sorry to say, but I wouldn’t recommend this trip. I would go for another tour provider.
Excellent guide. Very informative and helpful throughout the whole trip.
This was our second 2-day tour with Taiji in 3 years, and everyone had so much fun! Not only is Taiji super detailed oriented in planning a wonderful itinerary for our group, and equally efficient in executing even the most complicated and busiest schedules, it is all accomplished without making the tour group feel rushed at all. At the end, we were able to enjoy a fantastic customized experience that catered to the varied preferences that ranged from a 15-year old teenage girl up to grandparents in their 70's and 80's!
Best of all, Taiji not only provides a great tour service, but does so by enhancing the experience through his fun personality. Not only is his English excellent, but it is very difficult to find someone who is as humorous as Taiji who can not only understand but participate in sarcastic humor! Thank you so much again for the truly memorable and fun times, Taiji!
Dear Derek
It was such a pleasure to see you again here in Japan.
Yes 3 years was very fast since the first time you booked my tour when I just started this business but din't feel that much time have past when I saw you first at the hotel.
I was very pleased to hear from Veltra that you were requesting me again and myself enjoyed very much the fun time with you as well with your humors too and I remember just like we have been laughing all the way and also to visit new places from your request.
As you know i can manage to bring you to any place including your favorite shopping site Costco.
Oh, and thank you for the gift, I opened that Champagne on my birthday.
Hope that all of your team is doing well and hopefully see you again in Japan to explore new places.
Taiji
The places of interests were worth going although it's packed with tourist. I wasn't too happy with the guide because he didn't even bother to explain much about the places of interest. He just took us there and told us to return at a specific time without introducing the place. A bus driver could have done his job. In the package, I was promised to have vocanlo eggs but didn't receive anything at all.
I should opt to visit the places myself instead of following this tour. Disappointed.
Thank you for your participation and your comments! We will keep improving our itinerary and service standard to make better trips for customer.
I was here in April and I found out that April is time when there is most snow on Mt Fuji . it happened to me and we had to stop at 2 point .. but everything else was nice and perfect. guide was outstanding and ride smooth
Booked this tour a couple of months ago, when the weather forecast said it will be sunny. Unfortunately, the day of the tour itself, there was rain and snow, obviously Fuji-san would be a no-show. However, Taiji made the tour as comfortable for the group as possible, offering alternative activities for the day, since the situation is beyond anyone's control. Have to admit, Fuji-san was just the really optional part of the tour, and the priority was Gotemba Outlets. So we spent more the most part of the day there, taking our sweet time shopping and enjoying what the day has to offer. Taiji is very friendly, on time, drives safely, adaptable to our requests who would go above and beyond. Over all, I would have to say we were in very good hands, and I couldn't have asked for anyone better, would book a tour with them again in the near future.
Dear Jeremy
As said, we had a very difficult day with the weather but nevertheless thank you so much for leaving such kind comment. I work and do all the best especially on a cloudy day knowing that the priority of Fuji tour is to see and get good shots of the mountain.
Please let me know if you plan to come to Japan again. We are not just only doing Fuji tour but we can customize any location according to what you expect.
Looking forward to seeing you again.
Taiji
Shin San was an amazing tour guide very informative. Great food for our lunch Mt Fuji was smiling at us for most of the day. Would highly recommend to other!
The tour was delayed by heavy traffic which as the tours are run almost daily should have been anticipated with an earlier start.
The tour arrived at the Mt Fuji 4th station car park where we waited one hour for a parking space for our coach. The time then available was very limited but sufficient as there was little to see or do. The flank of Mt Fuji shielded by trees is uninspiring, although it was sunny and clear.
We then went for lunch at a lakeside restaurant. The food had been laid out on individual trays and was a very good selection of traditional food.
Immediately after lunch we were back on the coach for a drive to lake Ashi where we disembarked for 20 minutes before the "Cruise". It was a ferry service between stops on the lake and we boarded at one stop and disembarked 15 minutes later at the next.
We went from the landing dock up to the cable car lower station at 16.20 and ascended via the cable car cabin to the top. There was a shrine and viewing points over the lake below.
As we had arrived late at the 4th Station, the clouds had since gathered and there was little to see. Mt Fuji that was fully visible earlier was now covered. at 17.10 the last car descended and we were back on the coach at 17.30. The coach faced 2 hours stuck in traffic back to Tokyo or there was an option to self-fund a bullet train back from Odawara station. I could not leave the tour fast enough and went by train.
For the price I paid of $134 I feel this tour is best avoided.
Superb guide.Transport good.
Pity we could only go to stage 1 on Mount Fuji but only the weather is to blame and not the company.
The lake cruise was very short and perhaps not as interesting as may have been expected? Thew bullet train ride back to Tokyo was great.
Overall well worth the effort and well organised.
Our group of four paid USD134/person, poor value for what was provided.
Departure from Asakusa was 20mins late for no apparent reason.We made 2 stops to pick up more passengers, made the tour group of 40 people - what happened to the max group of 20 that was indicated?
After approx. 2.5 hours we arrived at the Mt Fuji tourist office for a restroom stop then proceeded to the Mt Fuji 4th station, instead of the 5th station, no problem as it was beyond the control of the tour operator. The trip to the 4th station took almost 1.5 hours, instead of 15 mins. due to the large number of buses on route. The operator should have been aware of this delay and made arrangements for this stop to happen later in the day when not so busy. The 4th station stop was very disappointing as all could be seen was the side of the mountain and some slushy snow on the ground. The local authorities could also have better managed the flow and access of buses by limiting each stop to 15mins rather than leaving it to the discretion of each tour operator. From there we were bused to lunch which was probably the only worthwhile inclusion of the entire day. After lunch we bused to the lakeside to catch a 15 min ferry ride to the Komagatake Ropeway - hardly something one would call a cruise. At the Ropeway we were shuffled into a cable car and once at the top of the mountain told to come straight back down as the Ropeway was about to close down - why bother taking us up in the first place? Back on the bus we were dropped off at Odawara station to catch the Shinkansen back to Tokyo, our choice rather than enduring a 3 hour ride back during peak hour. No compensation/discount was allowed for us making our own way back to Tokyo. Overall this was a complete disappointment and poor value for what was paid. If Sunrise Tours has any conscience it would consider refunding the majority cost of this tour as it did not deliver what was paid for and expected. Voucher No. 5201641 - 4th April 2019.
When I first came to Japan, the first place I’ve always wanted to visit was Mt.Fuji and see the beautiful scenary of the mountain!~ It was breathtaking moment to see the mountain in person and get a clear view of it. It was an unforgettable day for me that I’ll cherish!~
Thank you for booking with us!
We're very glad to hear that you enjoy your trip.
Have a nice day!
Such a wonderful mix of awe, serenity, and adventure. Tour guide was extremely competent and accommodating. Worth every yen! I would recommend this to everyone who loves nature and outdoor adventure.
We had a fun time. The clouds cleared and we had a beautiful view of the mountain. Food was great, and our guide Nori is awesome :). The only down sides were the long lines at Mt. Fuji station and for the ropeway. We had the Japan Rail pass, so I scheduled a bus return with drop-off at Odawara and we just used our passes to take the bullet train back to Tokyo. Easy and comfortable.