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
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
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
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
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.
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.
Owakudani to Hakone-machi Port via Togendai
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
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
Hi Takeshi-san 🙂
If we dont get the romancecAr, will there be any train transfer to/from shinjuku/odawara?
From odawara station, how do we get to gotemba outlet?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Patty san,
There are commute express trains running between Odawara and Shinjuku. In most of case, you can get Odawara from Shinjuku directly. Train has only long bench seat and you may have to stand up.
It’s very hard to get Gotemba from Odawara. There is no direct routes. You may take JR local train to Kouzu from Odawara, and then take another local train on JR Gotemba line to Gotemba. And then change the bus to outlet. Otherwise you have to go through Hakone.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san
I am going Tokyo in mid April but would like to do a day trip to Hakone to have a glimpse of Mount Fuji. I intend to take the Shinkansen from Shinagawa Station and to Odawara Station. Is this correct? From Odawara Station, how do I get to Lake Ashi? Can I take the romancecar from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto?
Hi Sarah san,
You can take an ordinary train from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto. You don’t need to ride romancecar because it’s a short ride.
There are two ways to get Lake Ashi. One is taking Hakone Tozan Railway, Hakone Cablecar and Hakone Ropeway. The other one is taking Hakone Tozan Bus. Please see the link below to find more info:
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, first of all thanks for the wonderful itinerary. May I ask for suggestion if it’s possible if I come early in the morning to kawaguchiko for lake ashi and chureito pagoda and go to hakone just for the tori and odawara castle? and if I go to odawara castle, is there a way to go back tokyo aside from romancecar from hakone yumoto? thanks!
Hi Nami,
You can do it. In this case, you can take romancecar from Odawra. You don’t need to go back to Hakone-Yumoto.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hello Mr. Takeshi,
We’re going to Japan this April 2. We’ll be staying in Tsurumi, Yokohama until Apr. 5. Then we’re proceeding to Osaka. We have the JRPass. Would it be feasible to visit Fuji on the last day, leaving early in the morning, then afterward head for Osaka in the afternoon or early evening? Can we leave our luggage in lockers in Odawara Station? Also, how cold is it around that time of year?
Domo Arigato.
Jose
Hi Jose,
You can drop by Hakone on the way to Osaka. As you think, you can leave your luggage at Odawara and enjoy trip to Hakone/Fuji.
Regarding climate in Hakone, please see the link below:
https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/kanto/hakone/weather/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi there! 🙂 Good day! My family are planning to visit Japan on April.
may I know how much is the fare from Kawaguchiko station to Shimo-Yoshida station (roundtrip)? 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Vanessa,
You can find it at Fuji Kyuko railway website:
http://e.fujikyu-railway.jp/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for your sample itinerary.
By referring your itinerary, do you think it is possible to skip the outlet after Lake Kawaguchi? As we will be travelling with our boys (3yo and 6yo) guess we can skip the shopping 🙂
Do you think the following draft itinerary works for us?
Shinjuku 07:15 (Express bus) 09:00 Kawaguchiko station (Lake Kawaguchi)
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
Lake Kawaguchi to Owakudani <== possible? How can we get to Owakudani from Lake Kawaguchi?
Owakudani 15:30-40 (16 minutes by Hakone Ropeway) 16:00 Togendai 16:20 (Hakone Sightseeing Cruise) 17:00
Hakone-machi 17:38 (Hakone Tozan Bus) 18:00 Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku by “Romancecar”.
Many thanks!
*we will be going on mid april 🙂
Hi Karen,
You can skip outlet. But even if you skip it, your route is same. There is no direct routes from Lake Kawaguchi to Hakone. You need to Gotemba outlet and then need to take a bus to Togendai. And you can take ropeway to Owakudani.
Even if you remove Gotemba, the schedule is tight. I recommend you to visit Hakone only. I think it’s way more comfortable for kids. Especially if you access to Owakudani from Hakone side, you will take train (Hakone Tozan railway), Cable car and then take ropeway. Most of boys like these transportation. It’s much more fun than long ride on the bus.
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/traffic/transportation/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks Takeshi!
Included Kawaguchiko station –> Mt. Kachikachi (Kachikachiyama) Ropeway as i thought it will have better view of Mt Fuji, as compared to Hakone Ropeway.
What do you think? Appreciate your advice. Thanks again 🙂
Hi Karen,
If you want just view of Fuji, Kachi Kachi yama is a good choice. But Hakone Ropeway is more attractive for me. Because Hakone Ropeway has other things, such as Owakudani.
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/basics/transportation/ropeway.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5203.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi ,
if I like to stay Three days in Hakone, do I get hakone free pass for three days? How do I travel down to Kawaguchi from hakone? how many days are best? Is the time of mid November for good view of my Fuji?
Hi Hazel,
Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
When you get Lake Kawaguchi, you have to get Gotemba first. You can access to Gotemba by bus from most places in Hakone. And then you need to take a bus again. Hakone Free Pass does not cover bus between Gotemba and Lake Kawaguchi.
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/route/detail/id/1
If you visit Lake Kawaguchi on the last day and go back to Shinjuku from Lake Kawaguchi, you can use Fuji Hakone Pass.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/fujihakone/
It’s hard to say to see the view of Fuji. But if you stay there for 3 days, you can see Fuji in one of three days.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi!
I will be traveling to Japan on April 4-10 with my 8 year old daughter.
I am planning to go to Kawaguchi to see mount Fuji and also the Chureito Pagoda.
Can we do day trip for these two sites?
I dont want to go to Gotemba anymore.
Thank you!
Hi Carmina,
Of course, you can. It’s much much easier.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San,
We will go to Tokyo this coming April and will be staying at Tokyo Plaza Hotel. We purchased 7 days JR Pass. We will go to Osaka on the 4th day. Which station should we take in going to Shin Osaka – is it Tokyo Station or Shinagawa? Also, are JR Chuo Line, JR Sobu Line and JR Keikyu Line included in JR Pass?
Thank you.
Mai
Hi Mai,
Shinagawa is better because you can get there by Yamanote line without any train changes. All JR local lines, like Yamanote line, Chuo line, Sobu line, Keihin Tohoku line are covered.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hi, thanks for info its very helpful
we’re planning to go to osaka then tokyo in december.
if i buy the fuji hakone 2 day pass while staying in tokyo, can i go to hakone for one day, then back to tokyo in the evening; and then go to fuji lake kawaguchi the next day then back again to tokyo in the evening?
is it too much going back and forth? because we will go from shinjuku and back every day for 2 days. (I’ll make both days daily trips)
and does the fuji hakone 2 days pass allow that?
thank you for your info
Hi imelda,
You cannot go back to Tokyo because this pass includes one way to/from Fuji and one way to/from Hakone. So if you go to Hakone by this pass, you have to stay in Hakone or Fuji and go back to Tokyo from Lake Kawaguchi area.
If you want to have day trips to each places, you have to pay separately. Hakone Free Pass is your choice for Hakone and express bus is your choice for Lake Kawaguchi.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
You can have two day trips. Many travelers do it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com