Fuji and Hakone 2-day trip sample itinerary

I have shared a day trip sample itinerary of Fuji and Hakone before.

Fuji Hakone one day trip sample itinerary. You can visit both Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone by day trip from Tokyo!

But this itinerary covers both Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone areas in one day. It is very tight and many places are not covered. If you can spend two days, you can enjoy Fuji and Hakone areas one day each. You can visit many more places easily.

In this sample itinerary, I tried to put most of popular spots in these areas. And also this plan includes Fuji Shibazakura festival which is most popular event in spring. You can do this trip from Tokyo to Tokyo. You also can squeeze this trip between Tokyo and Osaka. You can drop by this area on the way to Osaka or Kyoto from Tokyo or versa.

This itinerary has been created by timetable in March, 2018. If you try to do this plan, please check the updated timetable before you go.

If you look for the itinerary to Hakone or Fuji (Lake Kawaguchi area) only, please see the link below. You may get more information about access to these places and some sample itineraries:

How to build the trip plan to Hakone. Various sample itineraries of Hakone

How to build the trip plan to Fuji area. Various sample itineraries of Fuji Five Lakes and 5th station

Purchase Fuji Hakone Pass

This deal covers both Fuji and Hakone area. It is valid for 3 days. This is two days itinerary but this deal is cheaper than total fares anyway. Please get this pass day before departure day because you will be busy on departure day.

Odakyu Railway – Fuji Hakone Pass official site

There are two types of Fuji Hakone Pass, Shinjuku departure and Odawara departure. If you intend to use JR Pass, JR East Pass or Tokyo Wide Pass, you may purchase Odawara departure. Because Odawara departure does not include Shinjuku to/from Kawaguchiko or Odawara. You may use your pass for this segment to save the total cost. If you squeeze this itinerary between Tokyo and Osaka (or Nagoya or Kyoto), you may use Odawara departure version anyway. You need only one way to Fuji. It does not make senses to use Shinjuku departure because it includes round trip between Shinjuku and Fuji/Hakone.

If you want to take limited express train “Romancecar” from Hakone to Shinjuku, you may book when you purchase a pass. Limited Express seat fee is extra on top of Fuji Hakone Pass. But this express train takes you to Shinjuku directly from Hakone-Yumoto. Interior is very comfy. It is highly recommended.

Day 1 Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Lake Kawaguchi

On the first day of trip, enjoy sightseeing around Lake Kawaguchi area and stay overnight

Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi

If you use Fuji Hakone Pass Shinjuku departure version, you will take the express bus from Shinjuku bus terminal.

Shinjuku 07:45 (Express bus) 09:30 Kawaguchiko station (Lake Kawaguchi)

This bus schedule is based on 2017-18 winter schedule. The schedule may be changed when you travel. Please confirm the bus timetable when you build your trip plan.

Shinjuku – Fuji Express Bus timetable

If you use JR Pass, JR East Pass or Tokyo Wide Pass, you may take the trains via Otsuki.

Shinjuku 07:30 (Limited Express Azusa 3) 08:30 Otsuki 08:35 (Fuji Kyuko Railway) 09:31 Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi)

Most of the trains from Otsuki depart from Fuji Kyuko Railway platform. But the train in this trip schedule is JR local train which goes from JR line to Fuji Kyuko line. This train is irregular and depart from JR train platform in Otsuki station. You do not need to enter Fuji Kyuko Railway Otsuki station. Please see the link below to find more information about Otsuki station.

Otsuki station guide. How to transfer from JR train to Fuji Kyuko train

This is based on 2017-18 winter schedule. Train schedule may be changed when you travel. Please confirm the train timetable when you build your trip plan.

After you arrive in Lake Kawaguchi, you have two options in the morning.

Option 1, Fuji Shibazakura Festival

This is very popular spring festival in Mt. Fuji area.

Kawaguchiko 9:40 (Shuttle bus “Fuji Shibazakura Liner”) 10:11 Shibazakura festival venue 11:30 (Shuttle bus “Fuji Shibazakura Liner”) 12:00 Kawaguchiko

This festival is very popular and very crowded. You should visit this at the beginning in your trip to minimize the congestion.

Option 2, Fuji Subaru Line 5th station

Kawaguchiko 9:50 (Fuji Kyuko route bus) 10:45 Fuji Subaru Line 5th station 11:40 (Fuji Kyuko route bus) 12:25 Kawaguchiko

In summer and autumn, you may visit 5th station at the halfway of the summit of Mt. Fuji. This is the highest point to visit without mountain climbing. You can visit 5th station in even spring season if you want.

Lunch time in Kawaguchiko and see Mt. KachiKachi Ropeway, Lake Kawaguchi Cruise and/or walk around Lake Kawaguchi

After Shibazakura Festival or 5th station sightseeing, you have a lunch time around Kawaguchiko station. You have two hours break at Kawaguchiko station. You can take Gondola on Mt. KachiKachi or short cruise on Lake Kawaguchi.

If you take the gondola to go up to Mt. Kachikachi, you may take the following schedule.

Kawaguchiko station 13:00 (walk 15 minutes) 13:15 Mt. Kachikachi (Kachikachiyama) Ropeway (3 minutes by godola) Observation spot (3 minutes by gondola) 14:05 (walk 15 minutes) 14:20 Kawaguchiko station

Mt. Kachikachi Ropeway official site

If you take the lake cruise, you may take the following route:

Kawaguchiko station 13:10 (walke 10 minutes) Lakeshore boarding pier 13:30 (20 minutes Lake cruise) 13:50 (walk 10 minutes) 14:00 Kawaguchiko station

Kawaguchiko Lake Cruise “En Soleil”

In this lunch break, you cannot do both. And also if you travel in summer time, you come back to Lake Kawaguchi around 16:30. You still have a time to take lake cruise if you like. Please remember that you will take ropeway and lake cruise in Hakone too. So you can skip these attractions and just walk around Lake Kawaguchi.

These two attractions are not covered by Fuji Hakone Pass. If you intend to take both, you can purchase discount combo ticket for gondola and cruise at Mt. Kachikachi Ropeway ticket booth. It is sold at 1,300 yen. You will take ropeway and sightseeing cruise in Hakone too. Especially sightseeing cruise is much longer and ship is much bigger in Hakone. You may consider which attraction you really want to take and compare with Hakone’s.

Hotels in Tokyo
Hotels in Hakone
Hotels in Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko)

Visit Chureito Pagoda

Kawaguchiko station 14:29 (Fuji Kyuko railway local train) 14:43 Shimo-Yoshida 15:58 (Fuji Kyuko railway local train) 16:12 Kawaguchiko station

You may have seen the photo of Chureito Pagoda. This is very famous spot especially in cherry blossom season. You can enjoy the view of cherry blossom, pagoda and Mt. Fuji at same time. It may be the best place to see cherry blossom in Japan.

Chureito is one of the building in the shrine. Official name of this place is Arakura Fuji Sengen shrine. This entrance of the shrine is only 10 minutes away from Shimo-Yoshida station of Fuji Kyuko Railway. But the pagoda is located about 15 to 20 minutes away from the station.

Unfortunately the train does not run very frequently between Kawaguchiko and Shimo-Yoshida. There is no earlier trains to get Shimo-Yoshida.

Day 2 Lake Kawaguchi – Gotemba – Hakone – Odawara – Shinjuku (or Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka)

Leaving from Lake Kawaguchi and proceed to Hakone area. You can drop by Oshino Hakkai or Gotemba Premium Outlet on the way.

Lake Kawaguchi to Oshino Hakkai

Kawaguchiko station 09:00 (Fuji Kyuko bus) 09:23 Oshino-Hakkai

Enjoy 1 hour walk in Oshino Hakkai.

Oshino Hakkai to Hakone Venetian Glass Museum via Gotemba and Sengoku

Oshino Hakkari 10:23 (Fuji Kyuko bus) 11:15 Gotemba station 11:45 (Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus) 12:05 Sengoku

Hakone Venetian Glass Museum is 1km away from Sengoku bus stop.

Actually you may take one earlier bus because the bus to Sengoku from Gotemba station at 11:15. It is exactly same time as arrival time in Gotemba. If you can catch this earlier bus, the bus stop at the museum. 1km walk is not required and you have extra 30 minutes at Sengoku

Anyway you have two hours at Sengoku. You can visit the museum and eat lunch. You can eat in the museum or around Sengoku bus stop.

How to put Gotemba outlet in the trip plan

Gotemba Premium Outlet is very popular spot for shopping spree. If you give up Oshino Hakkai, you can drop by outlet easily.

Kawaguchiko station 08:30 (Fuji Kyuko bus) 10:05 Gotemba Premium Outlet 11:40 (Hakone Tozan Bus) 12:02

You have 1.5 hours at outlet and catch up with the original schedule at Sengoku. However you have to leave Kawaguchiko 30 minutes earlier. And also you may carry lots of shopping bags while sightseeing. Even if you can find the lockers at each places, it may bother you.

Sengoku to Togendai and Lake Cruise

Sengoku 13:56 (Hakone Tozan Bus) 14:13 Togendai 14:20 (Hakone Sightseeing Cruise) 15:25 Togendai

Take a bus to get Togendai. Togendai is the hub of Hakone. This place is the departure point of lake cruise, ropeway, express bus and local bus.

After arrival at Togendai, hop on Hakone Sightseeing Cruise and enjoy the scenery around the lake.

Togendai to Owakudani

Togendai (16 minutes by Hakone Ropeway) Owakudani

Owakudani cannot be missed in Hakone. This is an active volcanic area. You can experience lots of steam and bubbling hot springs along the short trail. Boiled egg that is cooked in this hot spring water is very famous food at Owakudani. Just try to eat it.

Hakone Ropeway is operated until 16:15 in winter season. Please make sure how much you can stay in Owakudani. You take ropeway again to get Sounzan. Usually it takes 20 minutes to walk the trail. The operation time is extended to 17:00 in summer season (March to November).

Hakone Ropeway official site

Owakudani to Hakone-Yumoto via Sounzan and Gora

Owakudani 16:00 (16 minutes by Hakone Ropeway) 16:08 Sounzan 16:17 (Hakone Cable Car) 16:27 Gora 16:38 (Hakone Tozan Railway) 17:20 Hakone-Yumoto

There are many more bus services available to Hakone-Yumoto. But many buses take old road. In this sample, I picked the bus which takes new road. Trip time is 25 minutes to get Hakone-Yumoto. If you take a bus which run on old road, trip time is 45 minutes. Please make sure which bus you will take.

Hakone Tozan Bus official site, Route search

Hakone-Yumoto is the biggest hot springs town in Hakone. There are lots of restaurants and shops. You can eat and/or shop there. You can take just an Onsen bath without overnight stay. I have two recommended Onsen facilities. I put the links but these are unfortunately in Japanese. These two Onsen facilities are located within 5 minutes from Hakone-Yumoto station by walk.

Kappa Tengoku
It is located just behind Hakone-Yumoto station. It is open until 22:00. You can eat some light meals and drinks there too.

Yajikita no Yu
It is located in Hakone-Yumoto ryokan area. It is open until 21:00. This facility does not have a dining.

But if you move to Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya, you do not have time to drop by Hakone-Yumoto.

Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku

Hakone-Yumoto (Odakyu Railway 1.5 hours by Romancecar without transit, 2 hours with transit at Odawara) Shinjuku

Odakyu railway train runs until late night. I recommend you to take Odakyu Railway’s limited express train, “Romancecar”. It connects Hakone-Yumoto and Shinjuku directly and it offers very comfy accommodation. You have to pay extra 890 yen for seat fee but it is worth paying. Please see the timetable of Romancecar in the link below:

Odakyu Railway Romancecar timetable

If you do not want to pay any extra, you can take local train to Odawara from Hakone-Yumoto and change to a regular commute train to Shinjuku. There is no direct trains from Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku other than Romancecar.

Hakone-Yumoto to Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya

Hakone-Yumoto 17:33 (Odakyu Railway local train) 17:51 Odawara 18:08 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 523) 19:19 Nagoya, 20:13 Kyoto, 20:26 Shin-Osaka

You can get Odawara by Odakyu railway local train and catch Shinkansen at Odawara. This Shinkansen “Hikari 523” is the last train which you can get Nagoya, Kyoto or Shin-Osaka from Odawara without changing trains. If you do not mind to change trains, there are some more trains later than 18:08 departure.

Other later train connections

Hakone-Yumoto 18:44 (Odakyu Railway local train) 18:59 Odawara 19:13 (Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama 803) 19:28 Mishima 19:47 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 523) 21:08 Nagoya, 22:00 Kyoto, 22:13 Shin-Osaka

Hakone-Yumoto 19:33 (Odakyu Railway local train) 19:48 Odawara 20:05 (Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama 68) 20:56 Shizuoka 21:10 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 533) 22:09 Nagoya, 23:02 Kyoto, 23:16 Shin-Osaka

If you want more time in Hakone, you may use one of these above train connections.

Sample trip plan from Osaka, Kyoto, or Nagoya to Tokyo

If you want to squeeze this trip plan on the way to Tokyo from Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya, you may reverse this trip plan. But the location to stay overnight is different. It is hard to reach Lake Kawaguchi on day 1. In this case, your overnight place is Hakone. That means the time in Lake Kawaguchi is a bit shorter than the original plan above. If you skip Oshino Hakkai, you can have one more hour in Lake Kawaguchi area.

Day 1
Shin-Osaka 08:16, Kyoto 08:32, Nagoya 09:26 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 512) 10:36 Odawara
*Purchase Fuji Hakone Pass at Odawara station
Odawara 11:04 (Odakyu Railway) 11:19 Hakone-Yumoto 11:22 (Hakone Tozan Railway) 12:04 Gora
*Lunch time in Gora
Gora 13:17 (Hakone Cable Car) 13:27 Sounzan (8 Minutes by Hakone Ropeway) Owakudani
*Walk at Owakudani
Owakudani (16 minutes ride by Hakone Ropeway) Togendai 14:20 (Hakone Sightseeing Cruise) 15:05 Togendai 15:15 (Hakone Tozan Bus) 15:29 Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
Stay overnight in Sengoku (or Togendai)

Day 2
Sengoku 08:40 (Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus) 09:05 Gotemba 09:40 (Fuji Kyuko route bus) 10:31 Oshino Hakkai
*Walk at Oshino Hakkai
Oshino Hakkai 11:31 (Fuji Kyuko route bus) 11:55 Kawaguchiko
*Lunch at Kawaguchiko
Kawaguchiko 13:00 (Shuttle bus Fuji Shibazakura Liner) 13:35 Fuji Shibazakura venue 15:30 (Shuttle bus Fuji Shibazakura Liner) 16:05 Kawaguchiko
or Kawaguchiko 13:00 (FujiKyu bus) 13:55 Fuji 5th station 14:50 (Fujikyu bus) 15:35 Kawaguchiko

If you travel in summer time and visit 5th station, you still can drop by Chureito Pagoda

Kawaguchiko 15:54 (Fuji Kyuko Railway local train) 16:10 Shimo-Yoshida
*Visit Chureito Pagoda
Shimo-Yoshida 17:46 (Fuji Kyuko Railway local train) 18:29 Otsuki 19:05 (Limited Express Azusa 30) 20:09 Shinjuku

Hope this itinerary gives you some idea to make your trip plan!