If climbing Mt Fuji sounds a bit too ambitious, you can still enjoy the icon of Japan from one of the best vantage points in the area. The Fujimi Terrace at Izunokuni Panorama Park in the scenic Izu Peninsula has reopened last summer.
The park is located just under two hours from Tokyo Station and it offers a blissful getaway from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. To get up to the sky-high terrace, just hop on the park's 1,800m ropeway, which will take you up to the summit of Katsuragi Mountain at 452 metres above sea level in seven minutes. A roundtrip on the ropeway is ¥2,400 (¥1,200 for children, ¥800 for infants).
The terrace features spacious seating areas, a wide observation deck, a premium lounge and a cosy sofa area. The latest additions also include three stunning, mirror-like reflective pools of water. The three new water features reflect the gorgeous surroundings including Mt Fuji, amplifying the views around you. You’ll also find comfortable seating around the mirror pools, giving you plenty of photo ops and a scenic place to relax.
Along with the Fujimi Terrace revamp, a new Italian restaurant called Trattoria Izu Paradiso has opened at the base of the mountain. The restaurant, headed by chef Hidekazu Suzuki, serves up dishes made with seasonal ingredients sourced from Shizuoka prefecture.
This spring, the terrace is open during the evenings for a limited time to catch the sunset and surrounding cherry blossoms. The evening viewing is from Friday April 1 to Sunday April 10 with the last downhill ropeway at 8pm.
For the fastest route to Izunokuni Panorama Park from Tokyo Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Mishima Station. From there, hop on the Odoriko 13 Limited Express Shuzenji train, alight at Izu-Nagaoka Station, and take a short 10-minute bus ride to the base of the park.
For more information on the terrace and park, see the website.
More from Time Out Tokyo
Two of Shibuya’s biggest clubs are closing this September
Charities that accept donations in Japanese yen for Covid-19 and war relief
There’s a secret parfait bar in Shibuya serving dessert and cocktail pairings
These Tokyo train stations are getting a Harry Potter transformation
Kanto's largest tulip festival has 550,000 blooms – and it’s near Tokyo
Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.