I will be taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, and I'm wondering
what's the best stop to get off and try to find the best view of Mt. Fuji.
I read somewhere that Lake Ashi offers an excellent view.
Which Shinkansen will stop where I need to get off?

To me the best views are from the "Highland Hotel" and the "Mt Fuji Visitors Centre".

We took a tour from Tokyo which included hotel pick-up, a stop to Mt Fuji Visitors Centre, a drive up Mt Fuji, lunch at the "Highland Hotel", cruise on Lake Ashi and a cable-car ride up Mt Komagatake; all for 12000 Yen (10000Yen if without lunch option).

We left the tour at Odawara train station where we stayed a night at the Odawara Hilton (highly recommended), before taking the Shinkansen to Kyoto the next day.

Bear in mind you can go a long time between days when you actually SEE Mt. Fuji no matter where you are, it is very often completely covered with clouds.

Odawara is the nearest Shinkansen station, but it's still around 2 hours minimum to Lake Ashi from there. You can do a rushed tour of the Hakone area in a day, but it's better to stay overnight (search for Gora Kadan for everybody's favorite swanky ryokan).

Orientation: http://www.hakone.or.jp/info/map_en.html

But, as said, don't set your expectations too high because the odds of seeing Mt. Fuji just aren't that good.

The absolutely best view I have ever had of Mt. Fuji was from a UA747 at sunrise.

It was so beautiful that even the crew were crowded around the window, oohing and aahing. An amazing memory.

Thanks for all your advise.
I will just have to play it by ear and see how fair the weather is.
Would April be any better or worse in regards to cloud cover around Mt. Fuji?

The best view I've had is from my bed at the Park Hyatt in Tokyo. I had 2 days in a row with clear weather.

Middling. The best time of year is winter; the worst is the rainy season around June.

From the top! And you get the cool walking stick, too...

April is actually quite good for the view. The summer time is the worst for viewing because it is just like NYC. I had an enjoyable view of it coming back from Kyoto. If you are going to Kyoto make sure you go there during the week. The imperial palace is not open on the weekends. You can take the subway to the palace. The last English tour is at 2. If you find yourself arriving at 1:30 at the station, dump your bags in a coin locker and go to the palace. I'd also recommend going to Nara while you are there. Nara was the first capital of Japan. It has the Daibatsuden (Big Buddha Hall). The worlds largest bronze Buddha is there. The worlds largest bronze buddha is conveniently housed in the worlds largest wood building. The amazing thing is that the Daibatsuden was originally 1/3 bigger and was flanked by two seven story pagodas that were 100m = 300 ft tall. War destroyed them. It just goes to show you that mankind does not learn, even 1000 years later.

Kampai,
Klaxon