About Mount Fuji
You’re hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t at least heard of Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is considered one of the most sacred places throughout Japan, and crowds of locals and travelers alike come to the mountain each year.
It’s located just southwest of Tokyo and is split between Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture.
As to be expected, Mount Fuji offers some of the most memorable terrain for hiking and climbing. You don’t have to be a hiker or climber to want to go to Mount Fuji.
There is so much more to do on and around Mount Fuji and the surrounding area, giving you a million reasons to add visiting Mount Fuji to your to-do list if you’re staying in Tokyo.
Kawaguchiko
Kawaguchiko is one of the many places to stay if you want to extend your Mount Fuji excursion for a couple of days or so.
This gorgeous resort town is considered part of the Fuji Five Lakes region and is conveniently located right at the bottom of Mount Fuji along the base. Kawaguchiko is a picturesque place to stay, regardless of the time of year you’re visiting Japan.
There are some beautiful, natural hot spring baths within this resort town that are not only an integral part of Japanese culture but offer some unforgettable relaxation.
There are also many museums worth checking out, and various events and festivals you may be lucky enough to witness. There’s even a theme park nearby.
Lake Kawaguchiko Via Trip Advisor
Many of the transportation options that offer a direct route from Tokyo to Mount Fuji will bring you to Kawaguchiko.
When in Kawaguchiko, you should also take a ride on the ropeway to get one of the most spectacular views of Mount Fuji. There’s also a bus that can take you from Kawaguchiko right to Mount Fuji’s trails.
Traveling From Tokyo To Mount Fuji
Regardless of the transportation option, you choose to get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, you’re looking at a trip that lasts anywhere from two hours to six hours one way.
There are plenty of places to book accommodations around Mount Fuji if you don’t want to spend the majority of your day traveling or want to extend your stay in the scenic area.
Mount Fuji Hotels Via Tripadvisor
Taking a highway bus will likely be your most economic option for traveling between the two areas. Buses can get you there pretty quickly, and they run quite often, so those factors are something to consider.
With trains, you also get a lot of options in terms of how to get to Mount Fuji from Tokyo, but you may pay a little bit more money.
Route One: JR Chuo Line – Fujikyu Railway Line
To take this train route from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, you’ll want to head to the Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. If you have a JR Pass, you can use it to board the train and get off at Otsuki Station.
This part of your train ride usually takes about an hour.
From there, you’ll hop on the Fujikyu Railway Line to get to Kawaguchiko Station. For this part of the trip, your JR Pass won’t be valid. The cost of this ride is about 1140 yen, and it takes just under an hour.
Route Two: The Local Train
When taking the local train route from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, you’ll be following a similar path as route one. However, without the Japan Rail Pass, you might be extending your trip about an hour more at the most.
Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) Official Website
It’ll also cost a little bit more out of pocket for your trip, but this option is still quite affordable comparatively.
To start this journey, you’ll make your way to Shinjuku Station and board the JR Chuo limited express train. If you happen to have a JR Pass, your ride is free.
You also have the option to reserve seats, though that will come at a premium. To reserve a seat, you’ll pay just under 3000 yen, and an unreserved seat without a JR Pass costs about 2300 yen.
Once you’re on the JR Chuo train for about an hour, you’ll arrive at Kawaguchiko Station.
From there, you will get on the Fujikyu Railway Line and will get off at that route’s Kawaguchiko Station. This trip costs about 1140 yen as well.
Route Three: The Highway Bus
Taking a highway bus between destinations is a budget-friendly option for your travels. You also have a few options for where you can catch a bus based on where you are in Tokyo.
There are buses that can be caught at Shinjuku Station, Shibuya Station, or Tokyo Station. Before you head to the station, you can search for bus schedules for the day on Japan Bus Online.
Japan Bus Online Official Website
If you want to take a bus from Shinjuku Station, you can board either the Fujikyu or the Keio bus. Each bus usually runs once an hour, and the ride usually takes just under two hours. The fare is approximately 1750 yen for a one-way trip.
At the Shibuya Station, there’s a Fujikyu bus that will go straight to Fuji Five Lakes and Kawaguchiko. The bus departs from Shibuya every two hours or so.
The bus ride itself can take anywhere from two to two and a half hours and costs about 1800 yen for a trip.
From Tokyo Station, you can choose either the Fujikyu bus or the JR Kanto bus. Both buses usually leave the station every half hour to an hour and cost around 1800 yen for a one-way trip.
Each bus will take you to Kawaguchiko Station in about two hours.
Kawaguchiko Station Official Tourism Website
Regardless of which bus you decide to take, the bus ride is not overly long, and you’re booking tickets so you’ll be able to sit. The price also can’t be beaten, as you’re looking at between $12-$14 USD per trip.
Route Four: Airport Bus
If you have flown into Narita or Haneda airports, or are staying close to the airports, you can hop on a bus from either airport to head to Mount Fuji.
These bus rides are longer and more expensive than the other bus options, so it may only be worth it if you are close to the airport and want to head straight to the mountain from either airport.
Narita Airport Official Website
The Narita Airport bus can cost you anywhere between 3300 yen to almost 6000 yen, and it’ll take close to four hours to get from the airport to Mount Fuji.
From the Haneda Airport, you’ll pay just under 2500 yen and will be on the bus for about three hours.
Haneda Airport Offical Website
Consideration: Mount Fuji Climbing Season
The official climbing season for Mount Fuji falls between July 1st and September 10th for the Yoshida trail, while other trails open on July 10th.
There’s a special bus offered during the climbing season that brings you from Shinjuku’s Expressway Bus Terminal to the start of the Yoshida trail in under three hours.
Official Guide To Climbing Mount Fuji (Japan National Tourism Organization)
The buses come at a small premium compared to year-round bus trips, but it’s worth considering should the offering of this particular bus trip works better with your schedule.
It also gives you an additional option to get directly from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and back if you happen to be making the trip during climbing season.
What About The Bullet Train?
There aren’t any direct shinkansen routes that’ll bring you from Tokyo to Mount Fuji.
You can take the bullet train from the Tokyo Station stop and get off at the Mishima stop, but then you’ll have to grab a bus to Kawaguchiko.
The bus ride is about an hour and a half from Mishima to Kawaguchiko, so you’re not saving time or money.
What About Driving From Tokyo To Mount Fuji?
There aren’t many advantages to renting a car for the trip, especially for the sole purpose of getting you from Tokyo to Mount Fuji.
Driving can be expensive, with the cost of the rental car, gas, tolls, and other transportation expenses.
Rental Car Companies In Japan:
Once you get to the Mount Fuji area, driving can also be a little bit tricky, as there are certain areas that don’t allow cars to drive on the roads.
Japan Automobile Federation (rules of the road)
The only time taking a car may benefit you is if you’re looking to go to Mount Fuji just to hike or enjoy a hot spring bath, and have a certain time where you can fit that into your schedule.
You also have to pay for parking and may have additional travel to do depending on your final destination.
