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If you just wrapped up a few days in the Fuji Five Lakes area and want to go from Kawaguchiko back to Tokyo easily, read on!
Being one of Japan’s most touristy destinations, I am quite surprised at how overwhelming public transport is for getting to/from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo.
Already, getting around Kawaguchiko and between Fuji’s Five Lakes (i.e., Kawaguchiko, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko, and Motosuko Lake) is overwhelming for a first-time visitor.
So it felt only appropriate when I was trying to head back to Tokyo that I had to jump over hurdles just to find a simple solution. Again and again, Kawaguchiko–Tokyo bus and train timetables came up short or were incorrect when searching online.
In this short and sweet post, I’m sharing a simple step-by-step guide on how you can get back to Tokyo from Kawaguchiko Station without a tour.
I hope this mini guide saves you some time from reading Reddit threads dating back to ten years ago! 😅
3 Best Ways to Travel to Tokyo From Kawaguchiko & Fuji Five Lakes
First note: This list may be non-comprehensive, but in any case, this guide details the 2-3 easiest, fastest, and cheapest ways that I have found/experienced to get back to Tokyo from Kawaguchiko.
Second note: Kawaguchiko Station includes the train station and two bus stops.
Third note: JR passes cannot be used for the Fujikyu Railway (aka, the connection between Kawaguchiko and Otsuki). IC cards (Icoca, Pasamo, Suica) are OK; tap these for the base fare but you must purchase a supplemental ticket for any “express” service. You can also use your IC card for use on the JR line once at Otsuki.
Fourth note: “Back to Tokyo” could mean Tokyo Station, Shibuya Station, or Shinjuku Station when speaking to the ticket office agents in Kawaguchiko, so be precise if you purchase day-of tickets for where you want to go! I asked to go to Shinjuku as I knew, from there, I could get closer to my final destination within Tokyo (e.g. Bakurocho Station on the JR line).
1. By Train (Kawaguchiko – Ōtsuki – Shinjuku)
This is how to get from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo (Shinjuku Station) via train, at a glance:
- 1A. Train from Kawaguchiko to Otsuki (takes about 45 minutes with the Fujikyuko Express train)
- Buy a ticket or tap your IC card — this journey deducted ¥1,161 from my IC card. The normal fare is ¥1,170 but I think the IC card gives you some very minor discounts compared to paper tickets.)
- Express train: Must buy an additional paper ticket at the office (¥400/adult for the non-reserved seat car); an agent will check your ticket when arriving in Otsuki
- 1B. JR Train from Otsuki to Shinjuku Station
🚊 If you don’t mind leaving in the afternoon, you can also book a JR Fuji Excursion 36 Train direct from Kawaguchiko to Shinjuku via Klook. The earliest departure with this ticket is at 3:03 PM and costs $27.55 (¥4,140—making it a bit more expensive than the other options).
| Operators | Fastest | Earliest Departure | Latest Departure | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR | 1h 54m | 15:03 | 17:36 | $27.55 – Book here |
1a. Kawaguchiko to Otsuki
The first step is to take the train from Kawaguchiko to Otsuki.
You can buy your ticket at the station or tap your IC card for this portion of the journey.
If you wish to travel on the express line to Otsuki, it requires an extra Fujisan Express ticket. Read more below!
The Fujikyu Railway connects the 26.6km scenic stretch between Kawaguchiko and Otsuki.
If you also visited the Chureito Pagoda while in Kawaguchiko, chances are you rode the “Thomas Land Train” for kids to Shimoyoshida; the Fujisan Express ticket (additional cost of ¥400) from Kawaguchiko to Otsuki is operated by the same company.
You can purchase the train ticket (or tap your IC card) OR buy the base ticket + a supplemental express ticket for ¥400 (non-reserved seats) in cable car #3. For reserved seats in cable car 2, it costs ¥200 or ¥900 for reserved seats in cable car 1.
The lady told me that non-reserved seats would be fine since I was boarding the first train (and therefore getting first dibs on non-reserved seats to Otsuki).
I traveled on Monday morning in mid-February, so keep in mind this might not be the case for you if traveling during peak season in spring or fall and on a weekend.
Tip: Use Google Maps to track your location and suggest itinerary routes. It’s not always perfect, but it has always gotten me to where I have wanted to go!
1b. Otsuki Station to Shinjuku Station
Then, from Ōtsuki Station, you have two options to get back to Tokyo.
- Option 1. Transfer to the JR Limited Express train (purple) and reach Shinjuku in 1hr with 3 stops (¥2,362)
- Option 2. Transfer to the JC Chuo Line (orange) to Takao Station and then cross the platform for the same line to Shinjuku Station. This option is a local train line that takes 1hr20m via the commuter train with about 20 stops (¥1,342)
Option 2 is what I ended up doing by accident! This train went to Takao Station and I had to cross the platform to board another local train for Shinjuku—easy; I just asked a few locals if I was on the right train to Shinjuku. When in doubt, ask a local!
Certainly, the JR Express line back to Shinjuku would have been more comfortable but the local train wasn’t too bad and I ended up taking out my laptop to work a bit!
💴 The entire trip to get back to my destination in Tokyo from Kawaguchiko/Fuji Five Lakes cost me approximately ¥3,300 or $22 and took about 2h15m in total.
- Kawaguchiko to Otsuki — ¥1,561
- ¥1,161 (IC card tap payment)
- ¥400 (Express ticket, non-reserved car)
- JR commuter line from Otsuki to Shinjuku — ¥1,530
- JR line from Shinjuku to Bakurocho — ¥330
Note: If your final destination is Tokyo Station in Tokyo (and not Shinjuku Station), you’ll simply take the same journey but transfer to the Tokyo Metro line “M” for the Marunouchi red line from Shinjuku-Tokyo Sta.
2. By Bus (Fuji Express Bus)
The easier way to get from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo is perhaps to travel via bus.
There are two operators, either of which you can book with:
- FJ = Fujikyu
- KO = Keio
Many people take the Fuji Express Bus from Kawaguchiko Station (Kawaguchiko Edi bus stop). This bus ends at the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (15 stops, 1h45m travel time).
From what I found online here, these are the departure times for this service:
For SHINJUKU STATION:
 | Kawaguchiko Station | 7:00 | 8:10 | 9:10 | 10:10 | 10:50 | 11:10 | || | 12:10 | || |
|---|
For TOKYO STATION:
| Kawaguchiko Station | 6:30 | 7:30 | 8:30 | 9:30 | 10:30 | 11:30 | 12:30 | 13:30 | 14:30 | 15:00 |
Note that a new timetable may become available from April 2024.
You can purchase Highway Bus tickets at the Kawaguchiko Ticket Office inside the station or scan a QR code inside the Mt Fuji guide pamphlet (which I’ve copied/pasted the links below—you’re welcome!) 😇
Expressway bus tickets:
Express train tickets (for Fujisan View Express or Fujisan Express)
What if you’re going to Osaka or Kyoto from Kawaguchiko and not back to Tokyo? That’s possible too!
While I haven’t made the journey myself, you can book a night bus or take the Shinkansen bullet train.
3. By VIP Liner
If you book in advance, you can also take a DIRECT bus on weekends for ¥2,000 ($13.50) without transfers or stops from Lake Kawaguchiko to Tokyo Station or Akihabara Station.
They have 3-seater and 4-seater options.
Book your ticket here:
With these options, you should be able to get yourself back to Tokyo from the Fuji Five Lakes area! 🙌
I hope this quick transport guide can help answer your questions, but if not, please drop them in the comments section below!
Also Read:
Merci Bri pour ces détails et ce guide , cela m’aide beaucoup. Je pense que je vais choisir les trains. En revanche, Peut-on voyager avec de bagages dans les trains locaux et autres? Je trouve des infos que pour le Shikansen et ou JR pass. Merci d’avance
Salut Sabrina! Merci pour votre commentaire! Oui, vous pouvez porter vos bagages dans les trains locaux! J’ai vu des gens qui rentraient à Tokyo avec des valises aussi. Les trains sont un peu commme le métro (en style), pas vraiment comme les trains Shinkansen où il y a des sièges comme on y trouve dans les avions, par exemple!