How Do I Get from Tokyo to Mt Fuji

Mount Fuji, the best-known attraction and the symbol of Japan, is situated about 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest to Tokyo downtown. It’s easily accessible to go from Tokyo by multiple means of transportation, including trains, buses, and chartered cars. It’s pretty expensive to take a taxi in Japan, as the fare from Tokyo downtown to Mt. Fuji is up to JPY 50,000 or so. Thus, it’s not recommended to call a taxi for your trip. Fuji Five Lakes at the mountain foot, especially the Lake Kawaguchi, are the best spots to admire Mt. Fuji. Thus, the vehicles to Mt. Fuji stop over there or end at the lakes.

Highway Bus from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji: 2-2.5h, JPY 2,390

Departure Station: Tokyo Station / Ikebukuro / Shinjuku

Arrival Station: Fuji-Q Highland, Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi), Lake Yamanaka

Density of runs: 13 buses every day

Time Consumed: 2h to Lake Kawaguchi & 2.5h to Lake Yamanaka

Ticket Fare: JPY 2,060-2,390

The highway bus from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji or Lake Kawaguchi via Fuji-Q Highland start off in the morning from Yaesu South Exit or Tekko Building by Tokyo Station, which are quite close to each other within a few minutes’ walk. The 13 buses run in several routes, ending at different terminuses under the Mount Fuji. Meanwhile, there are also highway buses to Mt. Fuji from Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Shinagawa.

At Lake Kawaguchi, you can look far into Mount Fuji. Time permitted, the Mt. Fuji 5th Station can’t be missed unless it's closed in winter. The bus shuttling between Lake Kawaguchi and the 5th Station on hillside departs every hour, and takes JPY 1,780 for a one-way trip.

Highway Bus to Mt. Fuji

Lake Kawaguchi Bus Station

Narita Airport-Mt. Fuji Highway Bus: 3h 40min, JPY 5,000

Departure Station: Terminal 3 No.11, Terminal 2 No.10 or Terminal 1 No.8

Arrival Station: Fuji-Q Highland, Mt. Fuji Station, Lake Kawaguchi

Density of runs: 1 bus every day

Time Consumed: 3h 40min for the whole course

Ticket Fare: JPY 5,000

The highway bus is also an alternative to connect Narita Airport with Mount Fuji directly. The bus starts off at 10:25 from T3, 10:30 from T2 and 10:35 from T1. It runs to Fuji-Q Highland, Mt. Fuji Station and Lake Kawaguchi with no stop on the way, as arriving at Fuji-Q Highland at 13:45, Mt. Fuji station at 13:55, and Lake Kawaguchi station at 14:05.

Haneda Airport-Mt. Fuji Highway Bus: 2h 52min, JPY 2,520

Departure Station: Terminal 3 platform No.7, Terminal 2 platform No.14, or Terminal 1 platform No.13

Arrival Station: Fuji-Q Highland, Lake Kawaguchi, Mt. Fuji Station

Density of runs: 1 bus every day

Time Consumed: 2h 52min for the whole course

Ticket Fare: JPY 1,830-2,520

The bus starts off at 14:40 from T3 of Haneda Airport, and picks up passengers at T2 at 14:50 as well as T1 at 14:55. After a few stops, it arrives at Fuji-Q Highland at 17:15, Lake Kawaguchi station at 17:25 and Mt. Fuji station platform No.1 at 17:32. Departing from Haneda Airport, you have to get accommodation under the mountain, and go sightseeing the next day.

Tokyo to Mt. Fuji/Lake Kawaguchi Trains

With no Shinkansen bullet train on this route, a limited express train is the first choice to travel between Tokyo and Mt. Fuji. You can take the limited express train Fuji Excursion, which directly connects Shinjuku and Lake Kawaguchi. Also, trains with a transfer at Otsuki is another option.

Shinjuku Train Station

1. Direct Limited Express Train Fuji Excursion: 1h 56min, JPY 4,130

Departure Station: Shinjuku, Tokyo downtown

Arrival Station: Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi)

Density of runs: 3 trains every day

Time Consumed: 1h 56min

Ticket Fare: JPY 4,130

Limited express train Fuji Excursion departs from Shinjuku at 07:30, 08:30, and 09:30, arriving at Lake Kawaguchi at 09:26, 10:26, and 11:26 respectively. What should call your attention is that only reserved seats are arranged on the Fuji Excursion train, so you have to buy a ticket of limited express reserved seat in advance.

2. Trains with Transfer at Otsuki: about 2.5h, JPY 2,500-3,600

If the limited express train Fuji Excursion is not available, you would need a transfer at Otsuki.

Shinjuku to Otsuki: JR Chuo Line		Otsuki to Kawaguchiko: Fujikyu Railway Line
Train	Timetable	Train	Timetable
Azusa 1	07:00-07:55	Local train	08:19-09:14
Azusa 3	07:30-08:30		08:50-09:52
Kaiji 7	08:30-09:35		10:00/09:58-10:55
Kaiji 11	09:30-10:35		11:01-11:56
Kaiji 15	10:30-11:28	Fujisan View Express 1	11:49-12:39
Kaiji 19	11:30-12:28	Fujisan Express 11	12:48-13:42
Kaiji 23	12:30-13:28	Local train	13:50-14:46

Trains from Shinjuku to Otsuki spend 55-65min, JPY 2,360 for a reserved seat & JPY 3,130 for the Green Class. The slower local trains from Ostuki to Lake Kawaguchi take another 55-62 minutes. Fujisan View Express and Fujisan Express are a little faster, spending 50-54min to cover the distance from Ostuki to Lake Kawaguchi.

Please watch the timetables of both the first train and the connecting train before your travel, manage your time well, and give yourself enough time for the transfer, so as not to miss the connection.

Railway Platforms at Lake Kawaguchi

3. Narita/Haneda Airport to Mt. Fuji Trains

• If you want to go to Mount Fuji from Narita Airport, you can get on Narita Express to reach Shinjuku in 80-90 minutes at first. Narita Express train takes you JPY 3,470 for a reserved seat or JPY 5,740 for the Green Class.

• If going from Haneda Airport, you can take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho in about 20 minutes and transfer to Yamanote Line to Shinjuku in 25 minutes. In this way, you may spend 50 minutes or so to reach Shinjuku from Haneda Airport, with a total fare of JPY 720.

Then, both the limited express train Fuji Excursion and transfer trains are accessible at Shinjuku station, to travel from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji.

Rented Car from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji

In Japan, a chartered car is convenient and relatively money-saving. You can rent a car to Mount Fuji in Tokyo, particularly when you have several fellows like a family tour. It is an about 2.5-hour drive from Tokyo downtown to the Lake Kawaguchi, and you can enjoy the wonderful landscapes all the way with freewheeling stopovers. The fee is counted according to the time you’re to rent and the type of cars. Please read the contract details carefully and take your valid driving license in Japan.