Your journey begins at Odawara Station, where you will be picked up by private car and driven up into the highlands of Hakone. The centerpiece of this region is Lake Ashinoko, a long slender crater lake surrounded by lush verdant forests. On clear days, Mount Fuji can be seen rising above the northwest end of the lake, beautiful in any season but particularly striking in winter or spring with its pure white snowcap.

En route to Lake Ashinoko, you can visit Choan-ji, an atmospheric Zen temple amidst the forests of Sengokuhara. Established in 1356, Choan-ji Temple is best known for the over 500 rakan statues found around its grounds, each depicting a disciple of Buddha. You can also stop by Owakudani, a valley where steam vents and bubbling hot pools are a reminder that this actively volcanic region still has a lot going on under the ground.

When you arrive at Lake Ashinoko, you will pay a visit to the lakeside Hakone Shrine. One of the region’s most iconic views is provided by the shrine’s red torii gate, which stands in the shallows of the lake itself. Mount Fuji is best seen from the south end of the lake, where you can also visit the site of a historic road checkpoint nearby. During the Edo period (1603-1868), this was the top of a major mountain pass on the old Tokaido Road between Tokyo and Kyoto, with the Hakone Checkpoint marking the frontier of Kanto to travelers heading east or west.

*For your Hakone tour, you can choose an itinerary of either Owakudani-Hakone Sekisho-Hakone Shrine or Choanji Temple-Owakudani-Hakone Shrine, based on your interests and preferences.

Following your tour of Hakone, you will then make a short journey by car (about one hour) to the remote west coast of the Izu Peninsula. There, you will visit Numazu Port, home to a busy fish market known for selling freshly-caught fish from Suruga Bay as well as its famous dried aji (horse mackerel).

At the sea’s edge you will also find the stunning Senbon Matsubara Pine Forest, a 10-kilometer stretch of coastline home to thousands of Japanese pine trees. A major battle between warring factions destroyed the forest in the late 1500s, but it was restored by the diligent efforts of a revered Buddhist monk. If you’re lucky with the weather, you might be able to snap a perfect photograph of Mount Fuji framed between the twisting branches of a pine tree.

Having enjoyed your tours of Hakone and Numazu, it will be time to head to your accommodation at Fuji Seiran where your exclusive luxury suite awaits.

Situated on a hill overlooking a small bay sheltered by a graceful curving sandspit covered in Japanese black pine trees, Fuji Seiran is surrounded by tranquil beauty. Beyond is a majestic sight of scenic grandeur, with the deep blue waters of Suruga Bay stretching off into the distance, with the mighty peak of Mount Fuji rising up into an ever-changing sky. This will be your view for the duration of your stay in one of the five exclusive luxury suites that comprise Fuji Seiran.

After check-in, you will be guided to your own personal luxury suite. Note how the interior and furnishings are characterized by deep mature shades such as beige, gold, and brown, creating a pleasing contrast with the bright colors streaming in through the large picture windows at the front of the suite. The room’s lush sofas and chairs are the perfect place to sit back and soak it all in, or you can stretch out on your bed as you admire the sea and the great mountain.

Soon after entering your suite, you will be drawn inevitably to the wooden terrace outside your window. This terrace is yours alone to enjoy for the duration of your stay, where you can hear the waves crashing on the shore and feel the sea breeze in your hair as you continue to gaze at the remarkable panoramic scene before your eyes.

As well as outdoor sofas and lounge seats with footrests, your terrace also includes an open-air onsen rotemburo bath and a sauna. All can be enjoyed at your leisure, providing a private and intimate outdoor space where you can spend time together however you please. As well as the stunning vistas of Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay, the terrace is also the perfect spot for a drink after dinner and stargazing on a clear night. You can also visit the hotel’s large Yuhimi Terrace for a wonderful view of the sunset.

As with everything else at Fuji Seiran, the emphasis with meals is on delivering privacy and comfort as well as a unique and memorable experience. The hotel has developed relationships with select local farms and fish markets to source the finest seasonal ingredients that the rich soil and waters of the Izu Peninsula can provide. Dishes are personal innovations of the on-site chef, balancing a variety of flavors and textures with striking visual presentation for a dining experience that enthralls the senses.

Guests at Fuji Seiran are offered full all-inclusive drink service, including coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages, with a substantial selection of drinks provided in your suite’s refrigerator and the drinks bar at Yuhimi Terrace. Enjoy a drink together whenever you like, at any time of day, either indoors or outside in the fresh sea air.

There is nothing like waking up to the sounds of waves on the shore and birdsong in the air. Start your day right with a hearty Japanese-style breakfast served in the privacy of your suite. Feel free to enjoy your meal indoors or head outside onto your own private terrace.

Checkout is not until noon, so feel free to linger over a coffee, relaxing on a terrace chair or in the bath or sauna as Mount Fuji glows and Suruga Bay shimmers in the morning light.

While the common theme in this Wabunka itinerary is undoubtedly Mount Fuji, your tour by private car will whisk you through an astonishing range of landscapes. From the mountains of Hakone with their bubbling volcanic pools in Owakudani and the glistening waters of Lake Ashinoko to the pine forests and rugged coastline of west Izu, you will see more variety in just one day than you ever thought possible in Japan.

Following this remarkable tour, your stay at Fuji Seiran offers the chance to slow down, relax, and reflect on where you are and where you have been. At Fuji Seiran, you can create your own unforgettable images of Mount Fuji, both in the photographs you take and in the indelible reaches of your mind. Glamorous yet secluded, luxurious yet private, modern yet intimately connected to nature—Fuji Seiran offers a remarkable experience that you and the ones you care about will always remember, and share.