How to Get o Mt Fuji from Tokyo - 4 Options

Mount Fuji is one of the biggest icons of Japan, and an absolute must-see.  Situated about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo, it is easily accessible from the city. You can take a train, public bus, or private transfer to get to Mt Fuji from Tokyo for about 2-3 hours. Of course, taking a private transfer is most convenient as it will save you a lot of time on the way.

1. Car / Private Vehicle from Tokyo to Mount Fuji - the Most Hass-free Way

The drive from Tokyo to Mount Fuji takes approximately 1½ hours, covering the 107-km (or 67-mile) journey.

It is possible to rent a car and drive this yourself, but we recommend getting a private car transfer, whether you want to go to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (to climb from), or Kawaguchiko Station (for the best views). This makes for a smooth and hassle-free journey.

On your way, you can stop off in Otsuki, where you can visit two waterfalls, Taro and Jiro, and some shrines in the hills. Taking a private transfer does give you the flexibility to make further stops along the way, and enjoy the journey.

And given that this is essentially a door-to-door service, we think this is the best way to get between the two, particularly if you are traveling with luggage and looking for convenience.

Read more about How to Plan a Trip to Mount Fuji

2. Buses from Tokyo to Mount Fuji: The Cheapest Way

There are a range of different bus companies serving the route between Tokyo and Mount Fuji, including direct buses which take around 2 to 2½ hours.

Prices for buses range between US$10 and US$25, and we do recommend booking ahead to ensure you have a spot, particularly during peak tourist season (March to May, and October to mid-December).

These are your cheapest option to get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, but not the most comfortable. Buses have luggage holds below the seating for your luggage.

The buses to Mount Fuji leave from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal every 15 minutes or so to Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (for climbing), and from either Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal or Shibuya Station and Tokyo Station to Kawaguchiko Lake.

3. Regular Train from Tokyo to Mount Fuji

The Fuji Excursion Limited Express Train is the fastest train from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, taking just 2 hours from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko Station. This costs US$25 for a one-way ticket.

We highly suggest booking and planning this in advance, since there are a limited number of trains throughout the day. You can reserve seats for these too. Depending on the train line you want to take, tickets are usually available over a month in advance, but we recommend getting them a couple of weeks before your trip.

Another line that connects Tokyo from Shinjuku Station is the Kaiji Limited Service Train. This stops at a few more stops along the way, and takes 2½ hours to get to Kawaguchiko Station. It is slower but has beautiful countryside views and is sometimes described as the scenic route. Tickets for this cost around US$25 one way.

If you want to go to Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, you will need to take a bus from Kawaguchiko after either of these two trains listed above, which takes an additional 50 minutes, and costs around US$13 for a one-way or US$20 for a return.

While the train is not a bad option for those wanting to go to Kawaguchiko, we don't suggest it for Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station because of the transfer onto the bus. In this case, a direct bus would be a faster, more convenient, and cheaper option.

Regular Trains (+Bus Transfer) from Tokyo to Mount Fuji Summary

If you do not need all of your luggage immediately, we suggest using the takuhaibin luggage transfer service that is popular throughout Japan. This would mean you don't have to take all of your luggage with you on the train. While there are some luggage spaces, if you have many pieces, it can be a little tight (or hard work) on the trains and buses.

You can read more about this under the Shinkansen heading below.

4. Shinkansen from Tokyo to Mount Fuji

There is also the option to take the Shinkansen bullet train (part way) from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, although there is no direct line. Your best bullet train option would be to take the Shinkansen train to Otsuki, which takes just over 1 hour from Tokyo, and then the Fujikyu Railway normal train to Lake Kawaguchiko (Kawaguchiko Station) or Fujisan Station, which takes an additional hour.

Which Trains are Best: Kodama or Azusa?

To get to Otsuki Station, you need to take either the Kodama or the Azusa Shinkansen, which are similar in price, with the Azusa train being slightly more expensive and not included in the Japan Rail Pass unless you pay an extra fee.

Tokyo–Otsuki Shinkansen Trains Summary Table

Train Schedules: What You Need to Know

The Shinkansen trains to Otsuki go approximately once to twice per hour, depending on the line, and they run between 6am and 9pm.

The Fujikyu Railway train that you have to get from Otsuki runs once or twice per hour too, with some of the trains being themed (for example, there is a Fujisan View Express which has bigger windows for the views, and a Thomas the Tank Engine themed train too).

Booking ahead is especially important for the themed trains as they don't run as frequently.

Tickets for this are around US$10, and it takes just under an hour. We recommend checking the schedules ahead of time if you want to book these tickets, because both the Fujikyu Railway train and the Kodama and Azusa trains to Otsuki don't depart as frequently as some of the other regular trains listed above.

Should You Purchase Tickets in Advance / Reserve Seats?

We suggest booking tickets in advance, particularly if you are traveling during the peak seasons (March to May, as well as October to mid-December).

Trains can book out, and it's best to reserve a seat to make sure that you can fully enjoy the views without worrying about not having reserved a seat in advance.

Which Station to Use in Tokyo and How to Board Your Train

For the Shinkansen train, you can either get on the train at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa.

While Tokyo Station is the first station, giving you a better chance of a seat if you haven't reserved one, Shinagawa is easier to navigate since it is a smaller and less crowded.

Your choice will depend on where in Tokyo you are staying, and whether you think you will have difficulty managing the station.

You will see signs pointing towards your platform at the station, and the barriers will either require a physical ticket (don't forget to grab it at the other side of the barrier after putting it in), or there will be a scanner for a QR code if you have a digital ticket with a QR code.

Read more about How to Get around Japan — the 5 Most Practical Ways

Can I Take a Day Trip from Tokyo to Mount Fuji?

It is possible to visit Mount Fuji in a day from Tokyo, given that the approximate travel time is around 1½ or 2 hours each way.

You can also spend a night at Kawaguchiko Lake or the surrounding area. Sunset and sunrise are both also beautiful there, and stopping over for the night gives you the time to experience both without having to rush back to your train, car or bus, and gives you the flexibility to stop off along the way at Otsuki, for example.

Exploring Japan with Asia Highlights

Asia Highlights has decades of experience putting together custom tour itineraries, and our Japan experts are ready to create your once-in-a-lifetime Japan trip. Whether you want to book a private transfer from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, or a 3-week long Japan adventure, our team is ready to make your dreams come true.

If you have any questions, or want to see what would be possible during your time in Japan, please do not hesitate to contact us!