Tokyo Metropole & Greater Kanto · Fuji, Kawaguchiko

Fuji from Kawaguchiko: Chureito Pagoda, the ropeway, the boat to Oishi Park and hoto noodles

The day you really see Fuji, provided the sky is clear: the pagoda with the mountain behind it (the photo of Japan), a ropeway to a viewpoint, a boat to the quiet shore of the lake, and pumpkin noodles in an iron pot. If it is cloudy, swap it for another day.

A day trip from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi, at the foot of Fuji, on a day with clear skies. The day runs in one line, from east to west: you get off the bus near Chureito Pagoda and climb to it while the mountain is still visible, pass the Fuji Heritage Center on the way to the lake, eat hoto noodles near Kawaguchiko Station and ride the ropeway to a viewpoint. From there you cross the lake by boat to Oishi Park on the north shore, have an early dinner facing the mountain, and ride the bus back to the station and to Shinjuku. About 8 km on foot, plus the pagoda's 398 steps. The day's rides: ¥230 on the train, ¥1,000 on the boat (or ¥470 on the red bus) and ¥570 on the red bus back, plus ¥180 if you ride to the ropeway instead of walking. The bus day pass costs ¥1,500, more than all of the day's bus rides, and the two-day 'Fuji Five Lakes Passport', ¥3,300, costs more than all the rides together. On this day, buy single tickets.

Verified online, October 20268 stops · 06:45 to 20:10¥8,920 · ≈ $57 per personWalking between stops: 95 min · Transport: ¥1,800Day trip from TokyoClear skies onlyGood with kids

The day on a map

6 stops, in order

Stops: 6
Walking minutes: 39

Stop number on the timelineWalkingTrain, metro or busBase map: © OpenStreetMap

Open this day in Google Maps

The same stops with the same numbers, and the way from stop to stop. On a phone it opens in the app, and that is what you navigate with in Japan. Pin names on the map are in Hebrew.

Getting there: From Busta Shinjuku: highway bus, ¥2,200. Get off at the 'Chuo Expressway Shimoyoshida' stop (中央道下吉田) on the expressway, about 10 minutes before Kawaguchiko Station, and choose it as your drop-off stop when you book. Not every bus stops there. The 06:45 and 06:55 buses arrive at Kawaguchiko at 08:30, so at Shimoyoshida around 08:20. Book a seat on highwaybus.com days ahead, and leave by 07:00 at the latest. By train: the 'Fuji Excursion', a direct train from Shinjuku Station that stops at Shimo-Yoshida about a quarter of an hour before Kawaguchiko, for example the 07:30 that arrives at Kawaguchiko at 09:28, ¥4,200 with a reserved seat to Kawaguchiko. Without an express train: the JR Chuo Line with changes at Takao and Otsuki, about 2 hours 45 minutes, ¥2,580 to Kawaguchiko. These are the fares after JR East's fare increase on 14 March 2026. If you come by train, get off at Shimo-Yoshida; you reach the pagoda about an hour after the bus, and the whole morning shifts.

06:4508:20
BusMust
Highway bus from Shinjuku to Shimoyoshida
You start on the bus from Busta Shinjuku. Sit on the right: 40 minutes before arrival Fuji appears in the window. Before you buy a ticket, check the forecast and a live camera of the mountain, because the mountain shows in the morning and clouds over in the afternoon. Get off at the 'Chuo Expressway Shimoyoshida' stop, and bring a small bag, because the first thing of the day is 398 steps. If your bus does not stop at Shimoyoshida: ride on to Kawaguchiko Station and take the Fujikyu train to Shimo-Yoshida, 4 stations, 13 minutes, ¥310.
¥2,200 · ≈ $14Book the bus seat in advanceOpen in Maps
Walk to the pagoda
- Walk · 15 minFrom the stop on the expressway, go down to the street and walk about 1.2 km west to Arakurayama Sengen Park, then the steps to the pagoda.
08:3509:40
Stop 1ViewpointMust
Chureito Pagoda: the photo of Japan, after 398 steps
The pagoda stands in Arakurayama Sengen Park, and 398 steps climb up to it. From the deck behind it you see the pagoda, the town and Fuji, and that is the photo. Entry is free. Cherry blossoms in April, autumn leaves in November, and a line for the photo in both.
FreeOpen in Maps
On to the Heritage Center
- Train · 50 min · ¥230Walk down the steps and about 850 meters to Shimo-Yoshida Station, and ride the Fujikyu train to Fuji-Q Highland, 3 stations, 10 minutes. On weekdays the local train leaves at 09:59, and the next one only at 10:46. From the station, about 1.8 km on foot along the amusement park, 22 minutes.
10:3011:15
Stop 2MuseumIf there is time
Fujisan World Heritage Center: the mountain from the inside
On the way from the pagoda to the lake: the Fujisan World Heritage Center, with a model of the mountain and an exhibition on the pilgrimage. Entry to both buildings is free, and from the deck on the second floor of the north building you see the mountain itself. Open 09:00 to 17:00, in July and August 08:30 to 18:00, and from December to February until 16:30. The south building is closed on the fourth Tuesday of every month. If you would rather save the walk, stay on the train to Kawaguchiko and skip the center.
FreeOpen in Maps
Walk to lunch near the station
- Walk · 22 minAbout 1.7 km north, to Kawaguchiko Station.
11:4012:40
Stop 3LunchMust
Lunch break near Kawaguchiko Station
Hoto, the food of Yamanashi Prefecture: flat, thick noodles in miso soup with pumpkin and vegetables, in a boiling iron pot. One serving is enough for two moderately hungry people. Pick one:
- Hoto Fudo, the branch opposite the station¥1,320
  On the ground floor of the Marubon building, opposite Kawaguchiko Station. The house hoto is ¥1,320. Open 11:00 to 19:00. Pay in cash.
- Hoto Fudo, the white dome branch¥1,320
  The Higashi-Koiji branch, in a building that looks like a cloud come down from the mountain, by the architect Takeshi Hosaka. The same hoto, open 11:00 to 20:00, and about 8 minutes by taxi from the station.
- Fuji Tempura Idaten
  Tempura fried in front of the diners, 3 minutes on foot from the station. Open daily, 10:00 to 22:00, no reservations.
- Kosher or vegan? Every kosher and vegan place in this city
¥1,320 · ≈ $8Open in Maps
Walk to the ropeway
- Walk · 14 minAbout 1.1 km from the station toward the lake, to the ropeway's lower station.
- or: Bus · 15 min · ¥180The red bus, the Kawaguchiko loop line, from Kawaguchiko Station to the 'Cruise and Ropeway Entrance' stop, 11 minutes, and from there a 3-minute walk. It leaves every 15 minutes from 09:00.
12:5514:00
Stop 4RopewayRecommended
Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (Kachi Kachi): a view over the lake and the mountain
A 3-minute ropeway to a viewpoint at 1,075 meters, with Fuji on one side and the lake on the other. Round trip ¥1,200 from 1 November 2026. From 7 to 18 December 2026 the ropeway is closed for its annual inspection, and on 25 and 26 November 2026 the last ride up is at 15:00. On weekends a half-hour line. At the top a swing with a view (paid), and the rabbit and the tanuki from the folk tale. If you like walking, go down on foot, 30 minutes.
¥1,200 · ≈ $8Open in Maps
Cross the lake by boat
- Ferry · 20 min · ¥1,000From the ropeway's lower station, walk down to the promenade and the Funatsu pier, and board the 'Oishi Park Line', a boat that crosses the lake in about 15 minutes to the park's pier. All year round boats leave at 14:15 and 15:15, and from November to March that is the last one. The rest of the year there is also a 16:15.
- or: Bus · 20 min · ¥470From the 'Cruise and Ropeway Entrance' stop, the red bus to the 'Shizen Seikatsukan' stop, the nature center in Oishi Park, 16 minutes. The bus leaves every 15 minutes.
On the way you can stop at:
Fujiyama Cookie: The shop for the cookies shaped like the mountain, a minute on foot from the ropeway. Open 10:00 to 17:00, and closed on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
The Appare sightseeing boat: Leaves the same pier every half hour for a loop on the lake, ¥1,000. If you take the boat to Oishi Park, you are already sailing.
14:3016:00
Stop 5Viewpoint and gardenRecommended
Oishi Park: the quiet side of the lake with the full Fuji
The classic spot on the north shore: lavender in June and July, red kochia in October, and the mountain rising from the lake. The boat docks right next to the park. In the nature center's shop, lavender ice cream and Yamanashi fruit, grapes and peaches. By this point in the day Fuji may already be in cloud, which is why the pagoda was in the morning.
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Stay for dinner
- Walk · 3 minThe restaurant and the nature center are at the park entrance, next to the bus stop.
16:0017:30
Stop 6DinnerRecommended
Dinner at Oishi Park
Eat early, at the park entrance and facing the mountain, so the sunset stays in the window. On the north shore few places are open in the evening, and the village goes to sleep at 19:00. Buy the Fujiyama cookies, shaped like the mountain, at midday near the ropeway, because the shop closes at 17:00. Pick one:
- Kobaiya, the Oishi Park branch¥1,880 to ¥2,580
  At the park entrance, with a terrace that looks out at Fuji. Hoto in a thick soup, for example the house classic at ¥2,380, and cold hoto noodles for dipping. Open straight through from midday until 20:00.
- Hoto Fudo, the main branch on the north shore¥1,320
  On the way back: get off the red bus at the 'Kawaguchiko Museum of Art' stop and walk about 650 meters. The house hoto is ¥1,320. Open 11:00 to 20:00 and closes when the noodles run out, and on weekdays after 16:00 the restaurant asks you to call and check when it closes.
- Kosher or vegan? Every kosher and vegan place in this city
¥2,000 · ≈ $13Open in Maps
Ride to the station
- Bus · 30 min · ¥570The red bus from the 'Shizen Seikatsukan' stop to Kawaguchiko Station, 27 minutes. The 17:42 bus arrives at 18:09, in time for the 18:25 highway bus. It leaves every 15 minutes, and the last one at 18:27.
18:2520:10
BusMust
Bus back to Shinjuku
You close the day on the highway bus from Kawaguchiko Station to Busta Shinjuku. Book the return seat together with the outbound one, because the last evening buses fill up on weekends. The 18:25 and 18:40 buses arrive in Shinjuku at 20:10 and 20:25. And if you still have energy: Omoide Yokocho is 5 minutes away.
¥2,200 · ≈ $14Book the return seat in advanceOpen in Maps

Fuji from Kawaguchiko: Chureito Pagoda, the ropeway, the boat to Oishi Park and hoto noodles

6 stops, in order

Highway bus from Shinjuku to Shimoyoshida

Chureito Pagoda: the photo of Japan, after 398 steps

Fujisan World Heritage Center: the mountain from the inside

Lunch break near Kawaguchiko Station

Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (Kachi Kachi): a view over the lake and the mountain

Oishi Park: the quiet side of the lake with the full Fuji

Dinner at Oishi Park

Bus back to Shinjuku

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