Explore Mt. Fuji Ice Cave in Aokigahara Forest

Our guide, Tada, led us into the Aokigahara Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees. The soil here is volcanic, dark and rich, the air thick with moisture and mystery. Every surface — every trunk, branch, and stone — was covered in soft green moss, giving the forest an otherworldly feel. It felt ancient, suspended in time. Tada explained that Ao means “blue-green,” a fitting name for this place that shimmers between shades of life. The forest sits on a network of 1,000 lava caves, remnants of Mount Fuji’s eruptions. “Stay on the trail,” he warned gently. The roots here twist above the ground like living veins, beautiful but treacherous. Tada has been mushroom hunting for over 20 years, his knowledge of the forest endless. He showed us the Wind Cave obelisk monument, marking the entrance to an underground ice cavern once used as nature’s refrigerator. Inside, the temperature never rises above freezing. The Japanese once stored food and silk cocoons here. When they brought the silkworms back into the warmth, the insects thought the seasons had changed — and produced silk five or six times a year instead of once. The perfect blend of nature, science, and ingenuity. The cave itself was hauntingly beautiful. Down at the deepest point, we turned off our headlamps at Tada’s request. Instantly, everything vanished — no light, no sound, just total darkness. It was the darkest I’ve ever known, an infinite quiet that pressed gently against your skin. We stood like that for three minutes, breathing together, letting the silence sink in. It was strangely peaceful, grounding — a reset for the soul. When the lights flickered back on, I felt lighter. And deeply grateful for AAA batteries. Outside again, the mountain air felt fresh and clean. The forest whispered, the moss shimmered in dappled sunlight, and time seemed to slow. After days of neon, noise, and motion, this was balance — calm and clarity.

The cave tour was phenomenal! Our guide was humorous, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned about the volcanic region, cedar forest, and historical uses of the cave. Highly recommend!

This was the highlight of our trip! We went as an anniversary adventure and ended up being the only ones on the tour. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife in the area and the cave was incredible! Worth every single penny. Highly recommend hiking shoes and light clothes for under the coveralls and I would not recommend for those that are physically limited in any way.

Toshi was excellent and a great guide. Very accommodating and his knowledge was great. Tour was very informative. Transport was nice

Went in thinking it would be an eerie experience and left feeling wholesome knowing there is more to Aokigahara Forest than what it perceived to be.

Our guide Tada was very responsive when I had questions leading and on the day of the event. And he was such a great guide who answered all our questions and knew so much about the area. The forest was so peaceful, loved everything about it. And the entrance of the cave was beautiful, took so many pictures. Thanks for the great day.

If coming from Tokyo for the early hike, make sure you have a way there on time. The express bus from Shibuya was the perfect option for transportation. Tadasuke was an excellent guide and ensured that he was giving all the information in Japanese and English for the group. He is very knowledgeable about the forest that the ice caves are in and helped to explain how the environment came to be. The past uses of the ice caves and the general knowledge about nature were very pleasant. Once in the caves, it’s a sight to see. Pictures and video will not do it justice as they just can’t capture the experience. I wouldn’t worry about being claustrophobic either, the caves are very spacious and very cold once in them. Highly recommend giving this a try

We were a mixed age group: 65, 40 & 6. Takasi was both lovely & excellent, especially with my 6 year old. There was a chance of the trip being cancelled as it was pouring it down! He was happy to take us & we made the best of it despite the weather! The forest is beautiful. We also went to the wind cave, which in the rain was very beautifully mysterious looking. Completely separate to this tour we did the Mount Fuji ropeway and boat ride which were very disappointing in comparison. I would definitely recommend booking this.

The guide was very good in explaining the surrounding and answering the questions The cave was also amazed me with its unseen borser of warm and coller temperatures Amazing experiences!

Our tour guide, Takashi-san, was very resourceful and had great knowledge of local plants, geography, and the history of the ice cave. My sister and I really enjoyed our hike, even though it rained a bit on the day we visited the cave. We were amazed to see the ice formations inside. We also enjoyed exploring the landscapes shaped by thousands of years of volcanic lava and ash. Takashi-san was very patient—waiting for us to change clothes and put on helmets to make sure we didn’t get muddy or dirty. He was very responsible, and we truly appreciated that he picked us up from our hotel and was willing to drop us off at the train station after the hike so we could head to our next destination. It was the best trip we had during our four-day stay while exploring the Mt. Fuji Ice Cave in Aokigahara Forest!