Public transportation from downtown Tokyo to Mount Fuji is very convenient, especially for foreign visitors who are traveling on their own. From Tokyo to Mount Fuji, there are multiple transportation options. Here we introduce Kawaguchi Lake, the best location to see Mount Fuji. There are two ways to get to Kawaguchiko by public transportation from Tokyo, one is the railway (JR) and the second is by bus.

I. Railway (JR)
To get to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo, you need to transfer to Fuji-Kyuko Line after arriving at Otsuki Station. Take Shinjuku as an example, you would take the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Otsuki Station, then transfer to the Fuji-Kyuko Line. The train stops are at Shimoyoshida, Mount Fuji, Fujikyu-Highland, and Kawaguchiko, but it is recommended to exit at Kawaguchiko. It takes around 50 to 60 minutes from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko by taking the Fuji-Kyuko Railway. (Please note that JR East Pass cannot be used for the Fuji-Kyuko Railway. You need to purchase another Fuji-Kyuko Line ticket. Please check the official website: See Details..


II. By Bus
There are many highway buses from downtown Tokyo that can directly reach Kawaguchiko, such as Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Shibuya, Narita Airport, and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The surrounding Yokohama, Fujisawa, Kyoto, Osaka can all be reached directly bus also. If you are traveling from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and back on the same day, please remember to buy a return ticket in advance. You can get to the Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal and take the Fuji-Kyuko Bus. It is recommended to go from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko, as it is more convenient to walk in the morning. The ride is about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
You can also depart from Tokyo Station. Tokyo Station has two pick-up points, Yaesu South Exit and Yaesu North Exit. There are buses between 6 AM to 9 PM. The Fuji-Kyuko bus requires reservations in advance, either online or in advance at the ticket machines at various convenience stores. It is recommended to come down from Kawaguchiko Station and walk to the various attractions of Mount Kawaguchiko.


After arriving in Kawaguchiko from Tokyo, you can further explore the Mount Fuji area, and visit the Mount Fuji 5th station, to get a closer look at the beauty of Mount Fuji. Here are some suggestions below for you:

1) Fuji-Kyuko Bus offers a number of passes to enjoy the Mount Fuji area, suitable for travelers who want to get the most out of their visit to Mount Fuji. The Mount Fuji Pass has unlimited rides on the buses and trains of the Fuji-Kyuko company around the Mount Fuji area. This pass also includes tickets and discounts for popular sightseeing facilities. Mount Fuji Pass is only available for foreigners who hold a short term tourist visa.
There are 8 Mount Fuji Pass sales windows located at Otsuki Station, Kawaguchiko Station, Gotemba Station, Mishima Station, and Fujinomiya Station. In addition, it can also be purchased through designated overseas sales agents on the official website: See Details..

2) The Kawaguchiko/Saiko Sightseeing Bus departs from Kawaguchiko Station, which runs every 15 minutes. It travels around Kawaguchiko and Saiko, and also the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Boat "Ensoleille", Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum, Kawaguchiko Museum of Kawaguchiko Museum Art, and Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba, etc. The bus company has also launched a 2-day package with unlimited bus rides for two days. Timetable: See Details..


3) Fujiyoshida/Oshino/Yamanakako Sightseeing Bus
From Kawaguchiko Station to Oshino Hakkai, Fujiyoshida, and Lake Yamanakako, there are 11 buses on the route every day. You can travel around Sengen Shrine, Mount Fuji Radar Dome, Benifuji Spring, Oshino Hakkai, Hananomiyako Park, etc. You can use IC transportation cards or the 2-day unlimited pass is also available. With the two days unlimited pass, you can ride for free in all of Fujikko areas (Kawaguchiko Station ⇔ Mount Fuji Station ⇔ Oshino ⇔ Lake Yamanaka) for two days. They are available at the bus ticket counters at Kawaguchiko Station, Mount Fuji Station, and Yamanakako Asahigaoka Bus Terminal. Timetable: See Details..


If you want to go directly from Tokyo to Mount Fuji 5th Station or even climb Mount Fuji during the official climbing season, public transportation is also a good choice. There are 4 climbing routes in Mount Fuji: Yoshida trail, Subashiri Trail, Gotemba Trail, and Fujinomiya Trail, all opened to the public during the official climbing season.

1) Yoshida Trail: This trail has the longest history. Fuji Subaru Line 5th station is closer to the top of the mountain, so it has the highest number of climbers, and the highest number of mountain huts and facilities. The altitude is about 2,305 meters. From Shinjuku, Tokyo, take the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) to Otsuki Station and transfer to the Fuji-Kyuko Railway. After getting off at Kawaguchiko, transfer to the Climbers Bus to reach the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station and start climbing from the climbing path on the inside of the 5th Station Square.

2) Subashiri Trail: On this trail, from the 5th Station to the 6th Station, there is a large forest. The altitude of Subashiri 5th Station is about 2,000 meters. You can take the JR Tokaido Line from Shinjuku, Tokyo and transfer to JR Gotemba Line at Kokutsu Station. Then get off at Gotemba Station and transfer to the Climbers Bus to Subashiri 5th Station. Or you can take the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku and get off at Shin-Matsuda Station, then transfer to the Climbers Bus to Subashiri 5th Station.


3) Gotemba Trail: This trail is the most difficult route. The 5th Station is the farthest from the top of the mountain. You can observe Houeisan from the side. The altitude of Gotemba 5th Station is about 1,400 meters. You can take JR Gotemba Line or Fuji-Kyuko Line and transfer to a shuttle bus at Kawaguchiko, then get off at Gotemba Station, and transfer to the Climbers Bus.

4) Fujinomiya Trail: On this trail, there are many rocks on the road, and mainly consists tourists from Kansai and Nagoya. The altitude of Fujinomiya 5th Station is about 2,400 meters. You can take the JR Tokaido Line and get off at Shin-Fuji Station then transfer to the Climbers Bus bound for Fujinomiya. Or take the JR Tokaido Line at Kokutsu Station to JR Gotemba Line and get off at Gotemba Station to transfer to the Climbers Bus bound for Fujinomiya.

There are many choices for the route from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, we only introduce some of them here. We hope you find the most suitable option for your adventure and journey from Tokyo to Mount Fuji.