Hiking around Tokyo: Daibosatsu, Yamanashi

Yamanashi Prefecture borders the west side of Tokyo and is home to Mt. Fuji. That being said, there are plenty of hikes which offer stunning views of the picturesque mountain and landscapes surrounding it. One great place is called Daibosatsu which is located off of the Chuo Line, which originates in Tokyo.

The hike itself is somewhat difficult, especially if you are like me, and don't believe in buying "hiking gear" like all other Japanese people do. That being said, the circular hike can be done in running shoes, jeans, and a jumper with out too much trouble in about 4 or 5 hours.

Here is the course that we did:
From Enzan Station, our group was big enough to justify taking a taxi up to the car park located on the map. It was 5,300yen, which is pretty good for Japan considering the distance involved. If you are in a smaller group, there is a public bus to the yellow バス mark for 300yen, and then shuttle taxis up to the car park for 600yen per person.

From here there are two directions on the trail, take the left side and you'll eventually come to a hut which is at number 2 on the map.

From here you will have two directions you can take. I suggest the left path up the mountain towards number 3. Eventually you will reach a clearing at the very top with a stunning view of Mt. Fuji which looks like this:

This is a great place to set up lunch for the day, you'll see lots of other people doing the same thing. After this, head along the trail away from Mt. Fuji towards number 4. This is Daibosatsu, the highest point on this hike. From there continue until the next junction which is located at the number "1697" on the map.
At this junction, head to the left which will take you down the mountain, eventually back to the original bus stop. This part of the hike gets a bit more difficult, so take your time and be careful not to slip. From here you can catch the bus back to Enzan Station for another 300 yen. Its a great hike, with stunning views and can be done in one day if you wake up VERY early!

Getting there:
From Shinjuku you need to take the Chuo Line to Enzan Station. On a normal train this costs 1,890yen one way, takes around 2 hours, and usually requires one or two changes along the way. On a weekend or holiday, purchase the 2300yen "Holiday Kippu" ticket which is essentially a free day pass valid until Otsuki. When you arrive at Enzan you just need to pay an extra 480yen, and on the return trip purchase the cheapest platform ticket at Enzan and use the Holiday kippu when you exit in Tokyo.

Another option is the Limited Express Kaiji train from Shinjuku, which costs 3500 yen for a reserved seat and takes about 1.5 hours.

Enzan station will have maps and information about buses, taxis, and shuttles, so pick your transportation according to time and budget.