See a different side of Fujisan (Mt. Fuji) while experiencing the culture and cuisine of Fujinomiya.  This foodie tour is a wonderful way to spend the day away from the crowds – explore a delightful city, support local businesses and (fingers-crossed) witness unrivalled views of the sacred mountain itself.

Begin your day with a wander through the shotengai (local commercial street) to see a variety of quintessentially Japanese shops, before taking to the kitchen to make your own lunch: yakisoba, or fried noodles, a dish that Fujinomiya is famed for.  After eating your fill, try on a traditional kimono and visit a sacred Shinto shrine, learning about the history of this iconic garment in the most evocative of settings.  Next, try your hand at sweet-making with a wagashi workshop.  These sugary treats are often paired with bitter matcha tea, and are just as much art as they are food.  Enjoy some green tea for yourself before returning to the train station for your journey back, or possibly onto a ryokan (traditional inn) for a night in the countryside.

This trip begins and ends at Shin-Fuji Station, allowing you to visit from Tokyo or Odawara Station (near Hakone) via the reliable shinkansen bullet trains.