Drive or train to Mount Fuji 5 Lakes

Planning to stay one night around Kawaguchiko in December. The goal is to take some nice family pictures in front of Mount Fuji and a lake. I am debating whether I should take the train from Tokyo (easiest IMO) or should I rent a car so that I can also drive to Yamanakako to do the same things. Or should we take bus/taxi once we are at Kawaguchiko?

Have anyone done this and what do you recommend?

Also heard that Mount Fuji can be cloudy during the day, so it's best to do it in the morning. How early do we need to wake up(without killing ourselves) for good photos w/ it in front of the lake? For example, is 10am-11am still ok for a clear shot?

Mt Fuji can be very shy. It depends on each day and the period of the year if mt Fuji is visible or not. Generally in winter there are more clear days. But eg a few days ago I had a great view of Fuji from Nagano Prefecture while friends were in Hakone and Fuji wasn’t visible from there. So manage your expectations.

Benefit of train would be that it is easier to decide on the spot if today/ tomorrow is a good day, unless you are willing to reserve car last minute.

Disadvantage of car specially on the weekend is that it can take a long time to drive back to Tokyo. However the fastest train very frequently is sold out.

If you have a clear day I think car would overall be better. Give you more flexibility to go to Yamanakako but maybe also some of the other lakes or Shiraito falls…

So my vote would go for the car.

There are some good advantages to using car around the Fuji 5 Lakes if going all around. You are not compelled to stick to bus schedules, and you can go to many more great places that the buses don't go to.
Why not simply go to Kawaguchiko by train and then rent a car from there? You don't have to worry about traffic jams getting from or back to Tokyo. And for fewer crowds, if you can go there on a weekday instead of a weekend, so much the better.

Thanks a great idea, Ken-san! Thank you! I was thinking it's a pain to drive into/out of Tokyo (never done so before) so would prefer a more layback train. Your suggestion of renting a car only in Kawaguchiko is a great idea.

Just wondering if anyone would suggest an itineary between Kawaguchiko and Yamanaka now that we have a car rental?

We will likely arrive at the area around 11am and need some recommendation 11-3 (including lunch options), check-in at the onsen afterward and stay there until 11am. Then will probably head back to Tokyo the following day at around 2-3pm. So realistically only 4 hours each day with the car.

You could go to several of the lakes, the famous pagoda and Oshino Hakkai.