Best place to see Mount Fuji

Sushi, a delicious dish, and Mount Fuji, the country’s most recognizable mountain, are the two things that always come to mind when I think of Japan. They are both equivalent to Japan. It would be a shame to leave Japan without enjoying Mount Fuji and eating sushi. Mount Fuji is visible from a number of locations. But Lake Kawaguchiko is the best location to see Mount Fuji clearly.

Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo

A day trip to Lake Kawguchiko is easy to arrange. However, I recommend using it as a weekend getaway; You can leave on Saturday morning and return on Sunday evening. It increases the chance to see Mount Fuji. One of the best weekend getaways from Tokyo is a visit to Lake Kawaguchiko along with a trip to Nikko.

There are several options for getting to Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo. Taking the bus is the quickest and most convenient option. When it comes to booking a bus, you have many alternatives.

Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo by bus

If you want to visit Lake Kawaguchiko on your own, it is best to take the bus, as it is the fastest and cheapest way to get there. The bus can be taken from various locations in Tokyo. You can select the departure station according to the location of your accommodation.

Starting from Ikebukuro and Shibuya

The Seibu tourist bus departs from Ikebukoro and it takes just over 2 hours to reach Lake Kawaguchiko. The Tokyu transit bus departs Shibuya and travels two and a half hours to Kawaguchiko.

You can pre-purchase bus tickets to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo on our partner website. A one-way ticket costs between $15 and $18 USD. It is best to book online as morning seats sell out quickly on weekends.

From Shinjuku

Highway buses leave Shinjuku Expressway bus terminal (4F), which can be reached from anywhere in Tokyo. Take the new south exit from JR Shinjuku station. The bus ride to Lake Kawaguchiko takes 2 hours and costs JPY 2200 one way. You can buy tickets in advance via their website.

Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo by train

Take the Chuo Line – Fuji-Excursion 7 Limited Express Kawaguchiko from Shinjuku Station. It will cost you JPY 4400 which is twice as much as taking the bus. This train does not accept JR passes. However, if you want to use your JR pass, you can only use it partially and you will have to change trains halfway through. Take the JR train from Shinjuku to Otsuki Station this way. You have to take Otsuki’s Fujikyuko line.

Book a tour to Kawaguchiko

If you don’t think any of the above options are ideal for you and you don’t want to take any chances, book this full-day tour to Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo. This is a full day tour that will cost you less than $100 and is excellent value for money.

Buy a Pass with a good value for money

You can also purchase this Mount Fuji pass which will give you free entrance to Kawaguchiko station from Otsuki (Fujikyu Railway), entrance to Fujikyu Bus, Fuji-Q Highland (includes entrance ticket to 1 attraction of your choice), Grinpa Amusement Park , Narusawa Ice Cave and Fugaku Wind Cave, Mount Fuji panoramic ropeway, Kawaguchiko excursion ship ‘Appare’, Yamanakako an excursion ship of ‘Swan Lake’.

Things to do in Kawaguchiko

Kawaguchiko is also called a cloud magnet. For most of the year, the top of Mount Fuji is shrouded in mysterious clouds. If you are lucky, however, you will have a sunny day, which means you can experience some of the best views of Mount Fuji.

Walk in the green belt on the lake

Take the “Red-Line” bus from Kawaguchiko station to station number 17, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum. A short walk from here will take you to one of the most beautiful hiking trails on the lake.

The boardwalk overlooks the lush mountains. After a while you will find a place to rest. If you arrive in April (spring), you can see the beautiful cherry blossoms – all pink! If you come in the fall, you will see a very different color of red and orange.

Mount Fuji, Japan’s famous landmark, is on your left. It just sits there like a wise monk. In front of it is the beautiful, ever-smiling Lake Kawaguchiko, one of Japan’s famous Five Lakes of Fuji.

I was simply captivated by the surrounding beauty. All I did was walk the sidewalk and observe the scenery.

It wasn’t just about the pink cherry blossoms and ume trees; there were also some other interesting colors. When you get tired of walking around the lake, return to the main road and board the red line bus, keeping the lake on your left.

Visit Oishi Park for great views of Mount Fuji

Your next stop is the beautiful Oishi Park. You have to go to the last stop, No. 20, Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center. Crossing the street will take you to Oishi Park. The park contains beautiful flowers and a well-known gift shop.

Located on the northern shore of the lake, Oishi Park is one of the best places for unobstructed views of Mount Fuji. Grab an ice cream cone and sit on the grass to pass the time.

Mount Tenjo Cable Car

This cable car takes you to the observation deck of Mount Tenjo. Panoramic views of the lake, Aokigahara Forest and Mount Fuji are offered. Count on a considerable waiting time, because this cable car is used by most visitors.

Fuji-Q Highland

Get ready for an adrenaline rush! Kawaguchiko is more than just nature and Mount Fuji. Fuji-Q Highland is an excellent amusement park. It contains some of Japan’s most famous roller coasters. One of them, Fujiyama, is 70 meters high and travels at a speed of 130 kilometers per hour. As a result, it is the third longest and eleventh tallest roller coaster in the world. There are also some haunted houses that you can visit there. Book your ticket to the Fuji-Q highland and prepare to scream as you gaze at the magnificent Mount Fuji from the top.

Lake Kawaguchiko Hotels

Koyabashi (Best Ryokan in Lake Kawaguchiko)

Koyabashi is a budget hostel and one of the cheapest in Kawaguchi. Each unit has spectacular views of Mount Fuji. The photo of Mount Fuji above was taken from the window of my hotel room in Koyabashi. The only drawback is that it is a bit far from Kawaguchiko station; Still, you can take the Blue Line bus here. Because the blue bus doesn’t run often, check the schedule (at the bottom of this blog) when you plan your trip.

How to reach Kawaguchiko Lake from Kawaguchiko station?

Lake Kawaguchiko can be reached relatively independently. Besides walking around you have two excellent options.

Take a bus

The town itself is small. During the day, three bus lines (red, green and blue) serve most of the areas. If you plan to stay in Kawaguchiko for more than a day, you will need to purchase a 2-day permit for JPY 1,500. With this pass, you can take any bus in town. You must enter the bus through the back door. When you get off, you must show your pass to the bus driver. If you don’t want to buy a pass, you can use an IC card, such as Pasmo or Suica. They also accept Visa cards. All you have to do is tap it when you get into the back of the bus. Don’t forget to tap the map before going back down. If your main purpose is to admire the lake and Mount Fuji, you should take the Red Line bus.

The red line bus runs every two minutes, the green line every hour and the blue line every 2 to 4 hours.

Route map for the Kawaguchiko tourist bus

Kawaguchiko Red Line Bus Schedule

Kawaguchiko Blue Line bus schedule

Kawaguchiko Green Line bus schedule

Rent a bike

Cycling is another excellent way to get around the city. You can rent both an electric and a normal bicycle. There are several shops near the station. Renting is easy; just fill out a form, pay and you’re good to go.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko