A Mt Fuji day trip from Tokyo: train, bus or tour

Mt Fuji is about 100 km west of Tokyo, and on a clear day you can see it from the city. To get close, most visitors head to Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, on the mountain’s north side. It is an easy day trip by train or bus from Shinjuku, and the town has everything you need: views of the mountain across the lake, the Chureito Pagoda nearby, and sightseeing buses that loop around the shore.

Train, bus or tour

The Fuji Excursion train

The Fuji Excursion is a limited express that runs directly from Shinjuku onto the Fujikyu Railway and on to Kawaguchiko, with no change. The one-way adult fare from Shinjuku is ¥4,200 (a ¥2,580 fare plus a ¥1,620 express charge); to Shimoyoshida, for the Chureito Pagoda, it is ¥4,010.

The 7:30 weekday train reaches Kawaguchiko at 9:28 and the 8:30 at 10:26. Return trains leave Kawaguchiko in the afternoon, from about 14:00 to about 17:40, arriving back at Shinjuku between about 16:00 and just before 20:00. Check the Fujikyu timetable for your exact date.

• All seats are reserved, though seatless tickets may be sold when the train is full. Tickets go on sale one month ahead at 10:00.
• Japan Rail Pass: covers only the JR section, Shinjuku to Otsuki. You pay for the Fujikyu section separately. See is the JR Pass worth it.
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass: ¥16,000 for 3 days and covers the Fujikyu Railway as well as JR East lines around Tokyo. Worth a look if you also plan other JR trips around Tokyo in the same three days; check its coverage map.

The highway bus

Fujikyu and partner companies run highway buses from Busta Shinjuku, the bus terminal on the fourth floor above Shinjuku Station, to Kawaguchiko Station, with more than 65 departures a day.

• Fare: ¥2,000 for adults when booked online through Fujiyama Connect, or ¥2,200 at the ticket counter. Children pay half.
• Time: about 1 hour 45 minutes to Kawaguchiko, longer in weekend and holiday traffic.
• No tickets on board. Book online or buy at the counter. Screenshots of e-tickets are not accepted, so open the live ticket on your phone.

The bus is the cheapest way to Fuji and the best for flexible times. Its weak point is traffic on the Chuo Expressway on weekend mornings and evenings.

Getting around Kawaguchiko

Fujikyu’s sightseeing buses run three loops from Kawaguchiko Station: the Red line around Lake Kawaguchiko, the Green line to Lake Saiko, and the Blue line. A pass for all three costs ¥1,500 for 1 day or ¥2,000 for 2 days. With three or four rides it pays off.

The Chureito Pagoda is on the train line, not the lake: get off at Shimoyoshida, two stations before Kawaguchiko, and walk up. Fujiyoshida’s official tourist guide puts it at about 25 minutes on foot from the station to the pagoda.

The Fuji 5th Station

The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, at about 2,300 m, is as high as you can go by road. Fujikyu buses run there from Kawaguchiko Station.

• Fare: ¥2,000 one way or ¥3,400 return.
• Times: from 1 October 2026, buses leave Kawaguchiko for the 5th Station between 9:40 and 14:00.
• Winter: if snow closes the Subaru Line or limits it to the 1st Station, the bus does not run. If the road is open only to the 4th Station, the bus runs to the 4th Station.

From December onwards, check road conditions before you rely on this.

Cost example: one adult, Kawaguchiko day

Example Official fares, late 2026.

A good compromise is the train out in the morning, when timing matters, and the bus back.

When a tour makes sense

A day tour from Tokyo strings together the viewpoints that are awkward by public transport, such as Lake Yamanakako, Oshino Hakkai or the 5th Station, with a guide and a fixed return time. It suits families who do not want to manage connections, and travellers with only one day. Read the itinerary carefully: some stops are short photo stops, and tours usually still run when Fuji is hidden by cloud.

Watch: 10 most beautiful places to visit in Japan

Jon’s 2025 round-up of Japan’s most beautiful places, from Mt Fuji to Nara.

Tips for seeing the mountain

• Go early. Clouds often build around Fuji during the day; the earliest train or bus gives you the best chance.
• Check live cameras on the morning of your trip and keep your plans flexible.
• Winter is often clearer, but cold. Lake Kawaguchiko is much colder than Tokyo; pack a warm layer.
• Respect local rules at viewpoints and in residential streets; several towns have stepped up controls on crowds blocking roads for photos.

Staying overnight at the lakes

A day trip works, but an overnight stay at Kawaguchiko gives you the early morning, when the mountain is most often clear, without a 7:30 train from Shinjuku. Many hotels and ryokan around the lake have rooms or baths facing Fuji. It also makes the 2-day sightseeing bus pass (¥2,000) better value, and lets you combine the lakes with a Fuji-Q Highland day or a trip on to Hakone. If you stay, send big bags ahead or leave them at your Tokyo hotel; the sightseeing buses are not designed for suitcases.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the JR Pass covers Kawaguchiko. It stops at Otsuki.
• Showing a screenshot for the highway bus. It is not accepted.
• Getting off at Kawaguchiko for the Chureito Pagoda. Use Shimoyoshida.
• Planning a 5th Station visit in winter without checking the road.
• Leaving the return to chance on a busy day. Reserve your seat back.

Want hot springs and a lake cruise with your Fuji views? See Hakone Freepass: is it worth it?

FAQ