Aokigahara Forest Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Aokigahara Forest. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Mt. Fuji Hidden Gem Custom Car Tour with Licensed Guide & Driver

• Full-Day Tour to Mount Fuji in Spanish

• Explore Mt. Fuji Ice Cave in Aokigahara Forest

• Private Mt. Fuji Tour From Tokyo: Scenic BBQ & Hidden Gems

• Exploring Mt. Fuji Ice Cave and Sea of Trees Forest

There’s no cost just to visit the Aokigahara Forest, as it’s a natural area that’s open to the public. However, it’s a good idea to join a guided hike if you want to explore the forest—it’s very dense and it can be easy to get lost, with disastrous results. Expect to pay upwards of US$50 to join a small-group guided hiking tour that also visits some of the interesting caves in the forest.

Yes, the Aokigahara Forest is definitely worth visiting while you're in the Mt. Fuji area, especially if you're interested in nature and natural phenomena such as underground caves. The forest can be a good hiking or walking destination, but it's important to stick to the trails—or go with a guide—because it has a dark reputation and it's easy to get lost.

Per one customer who booked the Explore Mt. Fuji Ice Cave in Aokigahara Forest tour, "Toshi-San was an awesome guide and very knowledgeable about the forest, its history, and the nature in the surrounding area. Hiking into the forest and then deep into the ice cave was a one-of-kind experience and well-worth beyond the ticket price. If you are looking for a perfect day trip from Tokyo that is different and gets you outside, look no further!"

Tours of Aokigahara Forest typically follow walking trails through the dense Sea of Trees forest. Some tours visit the ice caves, natural lava caves containing ice formations, or bat caves. Many tours combine a visit to Aokigahara Forest with other Mt. Fuji area sights, including the mountain itself.

The months of spring (March–May) and fall (October–November) are the best months to visit Aokigahara Forest. Like in much of Japan, this is when the weather is mild-to-warm but not hot or wet. However, you can visit the forest at any time of year if you’re prepared for the conditions.

Tours of Aokigahara Forest typically last between a half day and a full day. Tours of specific forest attractions, such as the ice caves, may be as short as three hours. Tours that include the forest and other sights in the Fuji area often last a full day.

Yes, if you want to take a guided tour in Aokigahara Forest, book in advance. You can visit the forest independently at any time without booking, but there are no facilities at the forest—such as an entrance desk—to book a tour after you’ve arrived, as this is a natural area.

The best time of day to visit Aokigahara Forest is in the day, especially in the morning. Guided tours only operate in the daytime. Because this is a very dense forest, and there’s a real risk of getting lost, it’s not advisable to visit overnight. Camping isn’t allowed.

Aokigahara Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees, covers approximately 14 square miles (35 square kilometers) at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. Its dense vegetation and unique terrain have made it a famous and somewhat mysterious natural attraction.

There are many things to do when you're done visiting the Aokigahara Forest. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Fujikawaguchiko-machi:

• Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchi-ko)

• Lake Motosu (Motosu-ko)

• Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine (Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja)

• Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

• Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Fujikawaguchiko-machi.