How to get from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji (the cheapest way)
There are trains that go from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji, but it involves a transfer in the middle. Trains are more expensive and we weren’t sure how long the transfer would be so at the end, I decided to take the highway bus instead. One way tickets cost 1750 yen and approximately 90 minutes, which was pretty fast and cheap.
The highway bus operates from Shinjuku station/Shibuya station and drives to Lake Kawaguchiko/Fuji-Q Highland. I would recommend taking the bus to Lake Kawaguchiko- it’s the main station of all the Fuji lakes and the central hub. All the buses you need to take in Mt. Fuji goes through Lake Kawaguchiko station. I would recommend booking your tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Just make sure to print your tickets before you board!
Where to stay
I stayed at a ryokan/hostel type of old Japanese traditional house located very close to the train station- Samurise Hostel. It has a rating of 8.5 on booking.com
Some positive aspects about the hostel
- Located very near Kawaguchiko station- probably only a 3 minute walk which made traveling easier (to/from Tokyo and around Mt. Fuji)
- Spacious room with futons
- 2 showers and 2 washrooms for 4 rooms (well enough)
- showers and washrooms were clean and very modern
- free water and coffee/tea, microwave is provided
- I didn’t find it to be noisy at night, probably because everyone was so tired and went to bed early.
- Free washing machine to use
Negative aspects about the hostel
- Ryokan type of houses are very cold in winter. We had to sleep away from the windows because it was just too cold.
- Heater did not make the room feel like it was warm enough
- Furniture is older than it looks in the photos
What to do in Mt. Fuji
First of all, transportation in Mt. Fuji is well-serviced by a couple of buses designed for tourists. The Retro Bus (Fujikyu) bus allows you to take the red/green/blue line for unlimited rides for 2 days in row which I found very handy (2 days, 1500 yen). Here is what to expect for each line and a map.
4 Great Places to take photos of Mt. Fuji
- Take the bus to Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center station, a popular spot to take a photo of Mt. Fuji. There is a garden to view the flowers (in Spring/Summer), nothing to see in winter. There is also a souvenir shop with a restaurant (Top Left, Photo 1).
- Take the bus to Pleasure Crusier Ropeway Ent. station to ride the ropeway (cable car) up the mountain to take higher views of Mt. Fuji. There is a cookie store at the station and I highly recommend it. It’s so delicious! (Top Right, Photo 2)
- Take the bus to Oshino Hakkai Ponds 忍野八海 station to visit 8 different ponds with nice views of Mt. Fuji. This is also a small village with photos to take and food to eat. You can easily spend 1/2 day here too. (Bottom Left, Photo 3) Take the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Loop Bus. Read more.
- Take the green line to Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato-Nenba station (yes, it is a bit far) where you can experience some traditional straw Japanese homes. There is a small entrance fee of yen, but you can easily spend 1/2 day here visiting each of the homes. There is also a house that offers kimono/ninja rentals as well. Visit house #21 or Shosen for a soba lunch (highly ranked nationwide) where you can sit by the window and enjoy Mt. Fuji in the distance. (Bottom Left, Photo 4) Read more.
What to eat in Mt. Fuji
Near Kawaguchiko station
- right across from the station called Hoto Fudo (google search Hoto Fudo Kawaguchiko ekimae) that offers Mt. Fuji’s reknowned miso soup noodles. Recommended noodle soup costs 900-1000yen
- Tempura restaurants, 天ぷら忍者 and Fuji Tempura Idaten all within reasonable walking distance
- Sanrokuen is a restaurant where you barbecue your food over charcoal. This is a great experience for winter travelers. It is a 15 minute walk from the station, but well worth it!