Day 3 starts in Numazu at sea level and quickly changes scale. The route leaves Suruga Bay to the north, then climbs through the Gotemba and Subashiri area toward the high ground below Mount Fuji. The top comes after roughly 46 km at just over 1,100 metres. From there, the day opens into the Fuji Five Lakes: Yamanakako first, then the line passes Oshino and Fujiyoshida before reaching Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko and the edge of Motosuko. It is not a flat sightseeing ride; the profile keeps moving even when the lakes look calm. After the last high section, the road drops into the Kofu Basin, where orchards and vineyards replace lava slopes and forest. The stage ends in Kofu after about 148 km and 1,700 m of climbing.
