Fuji-Hakone access guide. How to combine Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone in one trip.

fujiChubu Area
View of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi
View of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi

Mt. Fuji is the icon of Japan. Many tourists visit and see this magnificent mountain. Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi are most popular places to see this mountain and you may think to visit both. I have written two posts in regards to Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi.

In this post, I will focus on the route of these two places. You can find how to combine these two places.

Overview

First of all, please see the map below:

Click to enlarge. *The map shows you major stations and spots only.
Click to view large. *The map shows you major stations and spots only.

The map shows the whole part of Fuji and Hakone area. Lake Kawaguchi is located at the north of Mt. Fuji. Hakone is located at the south side. Lake Yamanaka is located at the east side.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I will not explain the access to Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone areas. Please see the posts below to find the detailed information about the access to each locations and the sample itineraries:

In the map above, you can find the access route between Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone which goes at the east side of Mt. Fuji. This is the route which connects Hakone and Fuji.

Fuji Hakone Pass is highly recommended to travel in both Kawaguchiko and Hakone.

This pass is the best deal to cover both places. You can choose either Shinjuku version or Odawara version. Shinjuku version includes unlimited travel of the most local transportation in Kawaguchiko and Hakone area, one way Shinjuku – Kawaguchiko and one way Shinjuku – Odawara. You have to use one way each. You cannot take same way to get the round trip, such as Shinjuku – Odawara and Odawara – Shinjuku. If you get Kawaguchiko from Shinjuku, you have to go back from Odawara.

Odawara version does not include the round trip from Shinjuku. It gives you the unlimited travel of Hakone and Fuji only. Both Odawara version and Shinjuku version covers Kawaguchiko – Gotemba route too. Please see the official site in the link below to find the information of Fuji Hakone Pass:

Fuji Hakone Pass official site

Lake Kawaguchi – Gotemba (Hakone) bus route

I showed you the map of the whole part of Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi above. I show you the map which focus on this route only below:

Click to view large

Fujikyuko bus between Kawaguchiko and Gotemba

There are two kinds buses running between these places. All buses are operated by FujiKyuko bus.

The local bus

  • Travel time – approximately 1 hour 30 to 40 minutes
  • Frequency of the operation – every 30 minutes
  • It is covered by Fuji Hakone Pass.

This bus runs between Lake Kawaguchi, FujiQ Highland, Fujisan station, Oshino-Hakkai, Lake Yamanaka, Gotemba station and Gotemba Premium Outlet. There are 70 to 80 more bus stops between these places. This local bus service stops all bus stops. This bus runs a few different routes between Fujisan station and Fujisan Yamanakako bus stop. And also some bus trips do not go to Gotemba Premium Outlet. As I mentioned before, most buses to Hakone depart from Gotemba Premium Outlet. You may have to the free shuttle bus which runs between Gotemba station and Gotemba Premium Outlet to get the bus to Hakone. It depends on the bus connection at Gotemba station.

The limited express bus

  • Travel time – approximately 1 hour
  • Frequency of the operation – 3 round trips a day
  • It is NOT covered by Fuji Hakone Pass.

This bus connects Gotemba and Kawaguchiko directly. This bus stops at Kawaguchiko, FujiQ Highland, Gotemba station and Gotemba Premium Outlet only. This bus does not stop at Oshino-Hakkai, Lake Yamanaka, even Fujisan station. And the bus stops at either Gotemba station or Gotemba Premium Outlet. There is no limited express bus stopping at both bus stops in Gotemba. Please be careful.

You can find the timetable of the bus between Kawaguchiko station and Gotemba in the FujiKyuko bus official website:

FujiKyuko Bus official site- Route bus timetables

The departure point in Lake Kawaguchi area

Fuji Kyuko Railway's Kawaguchiko station
Fuji Kyuko Railway’s Kawaguchiko station

You can get the local bus at all major places in this area, such as Kawaguchiko station (Lake Kawaguchi), FujiQ Highland station and Fujisan station (Mt. Fuji station).

*By the way, Fujisan station is not located on Mt. Fuji. The elevation is not much different from Kawaguchiko. You have to take the other bus to get 5th station of Mt. Fuji.

But the limited express bus does not stop at Fujisan station.

The departure point in Gotemba area

Gotemba Premium Outlet (C) myself [CC BY-SA 3.0]

The bus to Lake Kawaguchi area departs from Gotemba Premium Outlet and Gotemba station. Gotemba is only place in Hakone area to get Lake Kawaguchi area directly. You cannot get Lake Kawaguchi area from other places in Hakone, such as Hakone-Yumoto, Gora, Togendai, Hakonemachi. You have to get Gotemba first.

Hakone Tozan bus runs in all part of Hakone which includes Gotemba. But most buses depart and arrive at Gotemba Premium Outlet. The number of the bus to Gotemba station is limited.

On the other hand, some local buses and the limited express buses to/from Kawaguchiko depart and arrive at Gotemba station only.

You may be able to take Odakyu Hakone express bus. This bus takes you to Togendai. It is located at the shore or Lake Ashi. You can change the buses at Sengoku if you go to Gora or Hakone-Yumoto.

JR Gotemba station

Otherwise you can take the free shuttle bus between Gotemba station and Gotemba Premium Outlet. The outlet free shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes during the operation hours of Gotemba Premium Outlet.

You may find the timetables of Hakone Tozan Bus and Odakyu Hakone express bus in the link below:

Hakone Navi – Transportation guide and the timetable

Other places along the bus route between Lake Kawaguchi and Gotemba

As you saw the map, Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako) and Oshino-Hakkai are located on the route. You may drop by or stay overnight at the shore of Lake Yamanaka. Lake Yamanaka is much quieter than Lake Kawaguchi. You can enjoy and relax at the mountain lake resort.

You can access to Lake Yamanaka directly by FujiKyuko express bus from Shinjuku. You also can access to Lake Yamanaka by the express bus between Kawaguchiko and Mishima which is called “Mishima/Kawaguchiko Liner”. Please see the link below to find these express bus timetable:

FujiKyuko Bus official site – Express bus timetable

Sample itineraries

I have a day trip plan and 2-day trip plan which cover Fuji and Hakone. Please find the posts below to get the detailed trip plan:

Assessment

Lake Kawaguchi area and Hakone area are located at the base of Mt. Fuji. But these two places have the different atmosphere. As long as you have enough time, I recommend you to visit both. Fuji Hakone Pass helps you lots to travel in these places.

I hope this post will help you to build your plan.

Comments

  1. Afshin says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I wonder if passes like Fuji Hakone free pass validity start date is when you buy ticket or you can ask for a later start date(for example buy ticket today but it will be activated from 1 week later).
    Because this ticket can only be bought from shinjuku, but I thought to take a trip to lake kawaguchi and hakone from matsumoto(matsumoto->otsuki->kawaguchiko) in my itinerary and I won’t have time to buy ticket unless I go from matsumoto to shinjuku.

  2. Mitali Bhandare says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    We are travelling to Tokyo (13th-16th)this December and post spending a few days there we plan to travel to Kyoto (17th-19th) and stay there for a couple of days. On our way from Tokyo to Kyoto we were planning to go to Lake Kawaguchiko for a day trip. Could you suggest the best train route that we can take from Lake Kawaguchiko to Kyoto? I am trying to search a lot of things but getting lost with so many posts. It would be great if you could help me out.

    Thanks,
    Mitali

    • Hi Mitali,

      I think the best route is Mishima route. Express bus runs between Lake Kawaguchi and Mishima. And you can catch Shinkansen there. Please read the chapter “Access to Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko)” in the post above again.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Alice says:

    Hi,

    We are planning to visit both Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone this Dec. Appreciate your input on our current plan route.

    We will be traveling to Lake Kawaguchi/ Mt fuji 5th station first and then Hakone. Any idea on the most accessible way to get to Hakone?

  4. Krauser says:

    Greetings Takeshi san,

    I made the mistake of purchasing the JR Kanto Pass without realising that it doesn’t serve the Gotemba Line. I’ve book Hotel Just One at Susono. Would you be able to advise if there’s any chance that I can still make use of this JR Kanto Pass to get to my hotel please?

    Thanks in Advance!
    Krauser

  5. Sharon says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    We have a JR Pass and wold like to visit Lake Kawaguchi. How do we travel from Kanazawa to Lake Kawaguchi with our JR Pass ?

    Also from Lake Kawaghchi, how do we go to Roppongi ?

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    • Hi Sharon san,

      You need to go to Tokyo (Shinjuku) from Kanazawa anyway. You cannot get Lake Kawaguchi directly from Kanazawa. So you can take Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Tokyo. And take Chuo line to Shinjuku. And you can find the info in the post above. Roppongi can be accessed by subway from Shinjuku.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. christina says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    We are planning to drop by Lake Kawaguchi on the way back to Tokyo from either Osaka or Kobe. It will be on the last day of our JR Pass (18 Dec). We want to stay 1 night at Lake Kawaguchi, and go back to Tokyo on 19 Dec.
    – So is the Mishima route the best way from Osaka/Kobe? If yes, The shinkansen to Mishima covered by JR Pass?
    – How much the bus fare from Mishima to Lake Kawaguchi? (sorry having trouble to find it from the link)

    Since we also need to buy one way ticket to Tokyo from Lake Kawaguchi anyway, will the total fare be cheaper if we buy any return pass from Tokyo?

    Thank you so much for your help 🙂
    Christina

    • Hi Christina san,

      The bus from Mishima is 2260 yen. Shikansen to Mishima is covered by JR pass.
      The bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko is cheaper than Mishima bus at 1750 yen. You may use this bus on next day.
      http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/1/#fare

      But you will spend 2 more hours to get there if you access from Tokyo. And also you can use JR pass to get Otsuki and transfer to Fuji Kyuko line. The extra fare around 1100 yen. This is the cheapest way to get there by JR Pass. But you will spend 2 more hours than Mishima route too.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Sharon Yeo says:

    Dear Takeshi San

    May I know how do I travel from Hakone to Kyoto? My hotel is near to Hakone-Yumoto station. Thank you very much for your advice in advance.

  8. WONG says:

    Hi Takeshi san,
    First time to go japan, by looking at all the links and maps. Are there any easier way or link that can lead me from Shinjuku Station to Lake Kawaguchi, Mount Fuji and Hakone? Plan to go there on 10 Nov, me and my partner.

    All by train or we need to ride bus? Are there any tour guide can recommend coz my partner have asthma, worry that she cant ride on bus. And Hakone pass for train and bus at Hakone area only?

    Regards,
    Wong

    • Hi Wong san,

      Actually I made the map in this post as easy as possible.
      There are many maps online but most of maps do not show you whole part of Hakone and Fuji. But maybe the maps in the links below may help you.
      http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/fujihakone/
      http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/

      You have to take many kinds of transportation if you travel both Fuji and Hakone area. Especially you have to take a bus from Lake Kawaguchi to Hakone. And also most of places in Hakone are connected by bus.

      If you are okay with it, Fuji Hakone Pass (the link above) is the best deal. This is only deal to cover both. Hakone Free Pass does not cover Lake Kawaguchi.

      Unfortunately I don’t have any information about tour guide. You may discuss with Japanese travel agent. You can find Japan Rail Pass sales agent in the link below:
      http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/purchase.html

      These sales offices are very familiar with trip to Japan mostly. They might be able to find the tour guide.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Mag says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I would like to travel from Tokyo (Hamatsucho station ) to osaka. With the same shinkansen fare ticket , can I do a stopover at Odawara to get to hakone for 1 night, then the next day proceed to kyoto for the afternoon before going to osaka ?

    I will be based at Osaka for 5 days to visit kyoto , himeji, nara before flying out from kansai international airport?

    Should I buy any pass or just pay as I go?

    We are family of 2 adult , 1 high school and 2 elementary kids.

    Thanks for your assistance

  10. Devi says:

    Hello there Takeshi san,

    I just want to know whether Hakone ropeway is still closed due to volcano activity? I’m planning to go to Hakone in early November. If its still closed, I will only just go to Kawaguchi.

    Thanks,
    Devi

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