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

fuji kawaguchiko1 to 3 days
2016.09.25
View of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi
View of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi

I actually do not recommend to visit Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone in one day. There are many places to see. One way is not obviously enough to visit these places. But some of you have very tight schedule. You cannot choose which one you visit. You may be wondering if you have to visit one of Lake Kawaguchi or Hakone. This sample itinerary may be suitable for you. It is very very tight schedule and you have to give up many places. But you can visit most of highlights at both side of Fuji, Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi. You may be okay to see these places in Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi.

This itinerary has been created by timetable in September, 2016. If you try to do this plan, please check the updated timetable before you go.

If you look for the itinerary to Hakone only, please see the link below:

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

You also find 2-day itinerary of Fuji and Hakone in the link below:

Fuji and Hakone 2-day trip sample itinerary

Purchase Fuji Hakone Pass

This deal covers both Fuji and Hakone area. It is valid for 3 days. This is one day itinerary but this deal is cheaper than total fares anyway. Please get this pass day before departure day because you will leave Shinjuku in early morning.

Fuji Hakone Pass (official site)

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.

Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi

Fuji Kyuko Railway’s Kawaguchiko station. All bus services around Mt. Fuji depart / arrive in this station.

Shinjuku 06:05 (Express bus) 07:54 Kawaguchiko station (Lake Kawaguchi)
This is the earliest bus that runs in all season.

Shinjuku – Fuji Express Bus timetable

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

Option 1, Mt. KachiKachi Ropeway and Lake Kawaguchi Cruise

View from Mt. Kachikachi Ropeway (C) Ippukucho (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Kawaguchiko station 09:00 (walk 15 minutes) 09:15 Mt. Kachikachi (Kachikachiyama) Ropeway 10:05 (walk 15 minutes) 10:20 Lake Shore boarding pier 10:30 (Lake cruise) 10:50 (walk 10 minutes) 11:00 Kawaguchiko station

This option plan includes two popular attractions around Lake Kawwaguchi. You can view Lake Kawaguchi and Mt. Fuji from the view point by Kachikachiyama Ropeway. This gondola takes you to the observation deck at the mid mountain in 3 minutes.

Mt. Kachikachi Ropeway official site

After enjoy the view from the mountain, you board the ship on Lake Kawaguchi.

Kawaguchiko Lake Cruise “En Soleil”

These two attractions are not covered by Fuji Hakone Pass. But you can purchase discount combo ticket for gondola and cruise at Mt. Kachikachi Ropeway ticket booth. It is sold at 1,300 yen.

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

Option 2, Chureito Pagoda

One of most famous shot in Japan is taken at Chureito pagoda. (C) Fujiyoshida City / JNTO

Kawaguchiko station 09:35 (Fuji Kyuko railway local train) 09:49 Shimo-Yoshida 11:07 (Fuji Kyuko railway local train) 11:21 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 shrine is only 10 minutes away from Shimo-Yoshida station of Fuji Kyuko Railway. Unfortunately the train does not run very frequently between Kawaguchiko and Shimo-Yoshida. There is no earlier trains to get Shimo-Yoshida.

Option 3, Fuji Subaru line 5th station

This option is available during summer season only. Because the number ot trips is fewer in the winter time. You cannot complete the trip to 5th station in the morning during the winter time.

Kawaguchiko 08:30 (Fujikyu bus) 09:25 Fuji Subaru line 5th station 10:30 (Fujikyu bus) 11:15 Kawaguchiko

Fuji Subaru line 5th station is a popular place in Kawaguchiko area. But it is about one hour away from Kawaguchiko. If you go to 5th station, you cannot see any other places around Lake Kawaguchi.

Lake Kawaguchi to Gotemba Premium Outlet or Gotemba station

You can choose 1 hour at Kawaguchiko area or 1 hour at Gotemba Premium Outlet. You cannot get both because this trip schedule is very tight.

If you want 1 hour at Kawaguchiko, you can get a lunch time at Kawaguchiko and your schedule to Gotemba is the following:

Kawaguchiko station 12:30 (Fuji Kyuko bus) 14:00 Gotemba station

If you want to visit Gotemba Premium Outlet, your trip schedule is the following:

Kawaguchiko station 11:30 (Fuji Kyuko bus) 13:05 Gotemba Premium Outlet

Gotemba Premium Outlet is very popular spot for a shopping spree. You do not have enough time to eat lunch before you leave Kawaguchiko. Please try to eat something at Outlet mall.

Fuji Kyuko Bus between Kawaguchiko and Gotemba timetable

Gotemba Premium Outlet or Gotemba station to Owakudani via Togendai

Hakone Ropeway is one of the best way to see the mountains surrounding Hakone. (C) Odakyu Electric Railway / JNTO

If you arrive in Gotemba station, your schedule is the following:

Gotemba station 14:20 (Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus) 15:00 Togendai (16 minutes by Hakone Ropeway) Owakudani

If you arrive in Gotemba Premium Outlet, your schedule is the following:

Gotemba Premium Outlet 14:00 (Hakone Tozan Bus) 14:22 Sengoku 14:41 (Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus) 15:00 Togendai (16 minutes by Hakone Ropeway) Owakudani

There are lots of routes of the bus in Hakone. It is sometimes very hard to find the best route. You can check the route and schedule in the link below.

Hakone Navi – Transportation guide and the timetable

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 water is very famous food at Owakudani. You may try to eat this local food.

Owakudani is one of Must-See spots in Hakone. ©Odakyu Electric Railway/©JNTO

You can access there by gondola from Togendai where is located at the shore of Lake Ashi. Hakone Ropeway is operated until 17:00 during the summer season. But the operation hour is shorter and it is operated until 16:15 in the winter season. You have to leave Owakudani around 15:55. Your actual time to stay in Owakudani is approximately 30 minutes. Most of you spend usually 20 minutes to walk the trail.

Hakone Ropeway official site

Owakudani to Hakone-machi Port via Togendai

Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji (C) Odakyu Electric Railway / JNTO

Owakudani 15:50 (16 minutes by Hakone Ropeway) 16:10 Togendai 16:20 (Hakone Sightseeing Cruise) 17:00

You will take the sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi that is most famous lake in Hakone. You will enjoy one way trip from Togendai to Hakone-machi.

Hakone Checkpoint historical site is one of famous spots in Hakone and that is located near Hakone-machi port. But it is open until 17:00 (16:30 in winter time). You have to enter 30 minutes before closing. If you want to visit there, you have to give up Owakudani.

If you travel there between December and February, cruise ship leave at 16:10.

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise official site

Hakone-machi port to Hakone-Yumoto

Hakone-machi 17:38 (Hakone Tozan Bus) 18:00 Hakone-Yumoto

There are many more bus services available to Hakone-Yumoto. You can find some more route at Hakone Tozan Bus route finder.

Hakone Tozan Bus official site, Route search

Hakone-Yumoto is the biggest Onsen town in Hakone. 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.

Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku

Interior of Odakyu Romancecar 50000 series. (C) Sonic Rail Garden

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 1,110 yen for the 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 you can take a regular commute train to Shinjuku.

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

Comments

  1. Grace Najera says:
    February 17, 2017 at 7:39 am

    Hi, I have 7 days in Japan and I’m having a hard time deciding a most logic itinerary. I want to visit Kyoto and Hakone then spend my last 2-3 days in Tokyo for the Cherry Blossoms
    Festival. Is it better to visit Hakone first or Kyoto to Hakone to Tokyo. I will be buying the JR Pass. I was also thinking of going to Hakone as a day trip. Please advise. Thank you.

    Grace

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 17, 2017 at 3:08 pm

      Hi Grace,

      It doesn’t matter actually. Hakone is located on the way to Kyoto from Tokyo. You can drop by there either on the way or on the way back.
      If you have day trip to Hakone from Tokyo, you can use Shinkansen between Tokyo and Odawara both ways and save your cost more.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Trung C Nguyen says:
    February 5, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    We are a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children under 6. We will spend a week in Tokyo in July. We would like to know whether it’s possible time-wise to do a Tokyo-Lake Hakone-Mt Fuji-Kyoto in a day? We will be using Japan Rail Pass.

    Arigatou Gouzaimashita.

    Trung

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 5, 2017 at 3:51 pm

      Hi Trung,

      It’s not impossible but it’s very tight. And also JR pass does not help this trip very much.
      Basically you can follow this sample from Shinjuku to Hakone. At the end of the trip, you can catch Shinkansen at Odawara for Kyoto.

      JR pass covers the train from Shinjuku to Otsuki. But you need to take an express bus from Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi because it’s direct and faster. However this bus is not covered by JR pass. And also all transportation until you get Odawara is not covered by JR pass either. You should use Fuji Hakone Pass.

      Your children are very small. I think this trip is too busy for them and it makes them be tired.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Agus says:
    January 11, 2017 at 9:02 am

    Hi Takeshi..

    I plan to visit Japan in late march, including Tokyo Hakone Kyoto and Osaka. I also plan to do one day trip to mt.fuji (lake kawaguchi, Chureito pagoda and Gotemba outlet) from Hakone. Can you please suggest me the schedule and transportation from Hakone-mt.fuji-Hakone-Kyoto? For your information, i dont plan to buy JR pass since i will fly back home from Osaka..thank you for your kind reply..

    Regards,
    Agus

  4. Sara says:
    January 4, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Hi can I use Tokyo Wide Pass for the trip y share?

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      January 4, 2017 at 12:11 pm

      Hi Sara,

      It covers only Shinjuku to Otsuki and Odawara to Shinjuku. Other transportation in Fuji and Hakone are not covered. I don’t recommend you to use Tokyo Wide Pass for this trip.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Sara says:
        January 6, 2017 at 12:23 am

        Hi,

        Thanks for the prompt reply. I plan to use your trip itenary on this coming Jan 14. If I purchase Fuji Hakone Pass, all day trip follow of your itenary is covered up? I hope I can get all the view ontime follow yours itenary. Thanks for the share 🙂

        May I know wht time is the last train to back to shinjuku also?

        • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
          Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          January 6, 2017 at 6:26 am

          Hi Sara,

          Everything is covered by this pass except seat fee if you take Romancecar from Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku. Please see the chapter of “Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku” in the post above. You can find the link of Romancecar timetable there too.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. NobodyKnows
    Shafina says:
    December 26, 2016 at 6:50 am

    Hi, I have 2D1N to explore Hakone & Mt Fuji. I will be getting the JR pass. Which is the best route I can take from Tokyo & itinerary you would suggest.

  6. JenzteR
    Jenny says:
    December 20, 2016 at 3:56 am

    Hi there, can I purchase Fuji Hakone Pass on the day i want to use it?
    thanks 🙂

  7. Pauli says:
    December 12, 2016 at 12:11 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’m planning to take Narita Express 8 direct from Narita to Kawaguchiko on Saturday. I already checked the schedule, there is only one train running per day on weekend at 9.15AM from Narita.
    Since I’ll be using the JR Pass, my question is…how much do I need to top up for my trip? As I understand JR Pass not cover the part from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko.
    Thanks.

    cheers,
    Pauli

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 12, 2016 at 6:25 am

      Hi Paul,

      You have to pay base fare 1140 yen + express fee 400 yen for Otsuki to Kawaguchiko on top of JR pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Pauli says:
        December 12, 2016 at 5:23 pm

        Hi Takeshi,

        Thanks.
        Do you know where and when the additional payment are made? We will not be alighting at Otsuki right since it is a direct train…

        cheers,
        Pauli

  8. livingthecolorfullife
    Arie Wijayanti says:
    December 2, 2016 at 2:31 am

    Hello Takeshi,

    May I ask if all options would be available on the first day of the year (Jan 1st), or is there any that is not operating on that day?

    Thanks before!

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 2, 2016 at 6:35 am

      Hi Arie,

      Transportation is okay. But some restaurants and attractions will be closed on 1 Jan. And also Hakone will hold marathon event in 1 and 2 Jan. Some part of roads are closed due to this event. You can visit there but you sometimes wait for runners.

      This marathon race is very very popular in these days. I don’t recommend you to visit there on Jan 1 and 2.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. fenny says:
    November 15, 2016 at 11:40 pm

    Hi , can I visit the Gotemba and hakone in 1 day ? can you help to suggest me the timetable ? thank you

  10. Pucca says:
    November 10, 2016 at 9:50 pm

    Hi,

    I’m planning to visit 5th Station of Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, Hakone and Gotemba in a daytrip. Starting point from Shinjuku and back to Shinjuku as well. I have JR Pass. Kindly for your suggestion on maximized my JR pass for this plan. Should I purchase any additional pass to cover those places?

    Thank you.

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