■ About Me
Hello! My name is Aida, and I am an international student from the Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is a country located in Central Asia and bordered by China to the east, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and Kazakhstan to the north. Last time, I introduced one of my favorite hot pot dishes, beef shabu-shabu. Today, I would like to introduce the Muslim-friendly Mt. Fuji one-day bus tour that I joined.
■ What Makes This Tour Great
・ Every place you visit has a prayer space, and there is enough time for prayers
・ A halal-certified lunch box is provided
・ You can visit several scenic spots where you can experience Mt.Fuji up close
■ Places We Visited (3 Locations)
・ FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace
・ Fujikawaguchiko Masjid
・ Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba
From here, I will share my experience in a VLOG-style story. Although I’ll include some personal thoughts as well, I hope you can feel the “real point of view” of a Muslim traveler joining a Mt. Fuji tour for the first time.
■ №1:The Morning of Departure — The Start of a Long-Dreamed-Of Trip
To join the Mt. Fuji one-day bus tour that I had always dreamed about, I arrived at Takanawa Gateway Station 40 minutes earlier than planned. Feeling my heart race with excitement, I bought a cup of hot coffee to kich off the start of my tour. When I made my way to the meeting point, I was greeted by the friendly smiles of our guide and fellow travelers.
The guide explained everything in English, so I didn’t have to worry about language at all. And he didn’t just guide us — on the bus, he also shared stories about the places we would visit and talked about Japanese culture. For Muslim travelers, he also made sure we had enough time for our prayers. It truly felt like a tour that had everything covered.
I quickly became comfortable with the other participants. As I settled into the clean bus seat, I thought to myself, “Today is going to be a wonderful day.”
■ №2:FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace — A Viewpoint Overlooking Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
Stay duration : 1hour
After about two and a half hours on the bus, the scenery outside the window slowly changed from the city of Tokyo to quiet mountain views. I watched everything with excitement. Our first stop was FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace, a popular spot where you can see Mt. Fuji and several lakes all at once.
That day, the top of Mt. Fuji was a little covered by clouds, but the view of Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka was even more beautiful than I expected. I found myself stopping in my tracks, just to take it all in.Seeing us so amazed, the guide smiled and joked, “It looks like Mt. Fuji is feeling a bit shy today,” which made everyone laugh.
If weather conditions make the view from FUJIYAMA Twin Terraces less than ideal, the guide will take the group to another scenic spot instead. Not having to worry too much about the weather is another great feature of this tour.
■ №3:Fujikawaguchiko Masjid — A Special Moment by the Lakeside
Stay duration : 1hour15minutes
After leaving FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace, we rode the bus for about 35 minutes and arrived at the Fujikawaguchiko Masjid. This is the only mosque in the Lake Kawaguchi area and an important place where travelers can pray comfortably. The mosque even provides clean prayer mats and clothes, so you don’t have to worry if you forget something. It made me feel very safe to know that even far from home, there is a place where I can pray just like I would in my own country.
There are also terrace seats by the lake where you can enjoy the halal lunch box you selected before getting on the bus. The air was cold that day — a little chilly — but with the beautiful lake view, the meal felt warm and satisfying.
【My Recommendation】Even with beautiful views, most people don’t choose to eat ice cream outside in the cold. But I believe that eating ice cream here, at the terrace of Fujikawaguchiko Masjid, has a special meaning. It’s hard to explain in words, but it becomes a memory you will never forget. So if this story makes you even a little bit curious, try eating ice cream on the terrace in winter — it might become a moment you’ll remember for the long time.
■ №4:Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba — Stepping into the World of Japanese Anime and Period Dramas
Stay duration : 1hour30minutes
After leaving the Fujikawaguchiko Mosque, a 35-minute bus ride brought us to our final destination: Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba. This open-air museum recreates a traditional village with thatched-roof houses where visitors can enjoy local crafts, food, and cultural experiences. As soon as I saw the thatched houses, the narrow paths, and the handmade crafts, I felt like I had stepped right into one of the Japanese anime or some samurai dramas that I love so much. I was so execited.
【My Recommendation】There are about 20 thatched houses offering different hands-on experiences, but my top recommendation is House No. 12, “Hinomiya.” Here, you can try on traditional Japanese clothing, including kimono and full samurai armor. Since our stay was short, I couldn’t explore each house properly this time—but next time, I definitely want to try the local food workshops and the kimono dressing experience.
Note: You can also pray at Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, but they do not provide prayer mats or garments, so you’ll need to bring your own.
■ №5: The End of the Journey – The return home surrounded by the last impression of Mt. Fuji
Around 3 p.m., we got back on the bus and began our trip back to Tokyo. Even on the return ride, our guide continued sharing interesting stories about Mt. Fuji in a calm voice. Listening to that gentle tone, my eyelids slowly grew heavier. As the landscape outside turned warmer under the evening light, I drifted peacefully into sleep.
When I woke up, we had already arrived at Takanawa Gateway Station. It was 6 p.m.—the end of a day that felt almost like a dream. As soon as I stepped off the bus, the cool air brushed against my cheeks, and all the memories of the day rushed right back to me: the majestic views of Mt. Fuji, the stillness of Lake Kawaguchi, the peaceful time at the mosque, and the feeling of stepping back into old Japan village. Once again, I truly felt in my heart: “Today really was a wonderful day.”
■ Tour Schedule
07:20 — Meet-up (Takanawa Gateway Station, 1st floor, Bus Terminal, Stop No. 3) ※①
07:30 — Departure (Travel time: 150 minutes) ※②
10:00 — FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace (Stay: 60 minutes) ※③
11:00 — Departure (Travel time: 30 minutes) ※②
11:30 — Fujikawaguchiko Masjid (Stay: 75 minutes)
12:45 — Departure (Travel time: 35 minutes) ※②
13:20 — Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba (Stay: 90 minutes)
14:50 — Departure (Travel time: 180 minutes) ※②
17:50 — Arrive at Takanawa Gateway Station ※④
※① There is a prayer room at the station (Maghrib prayer available).
※② All travel is by chartered bus.
※③ For tours from May to November, the destination is “FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace.” For tours from January to April, it is replaced with the “Kubota Itchiku Art Museum.”
※④ Arrival time varies between 17:00 and 19:00.
■ Summary
In this vlog-style introduction, I shared my experience on the Muslim-friendly "One-Day Mt. Fuji Bus Tour". What did you think? Honestly, I wish I could have stayed longer at places like Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba, since there’s so much to see and explore. Still, if you want to enjoy Japan’s beautiful nature and culture or see Mt. Fuji up close, this one-day bus tour is a great option. Especially for Muslim travelers, having dedicated prayer times and halal-certified lunch options makes the whole trip stress-free and enjoyable. If this article sparked even a little curiosity, I truly recommend joining a Muslim-friendly Mt. Fuji day tour.
Thank you so much for reading to the end.