How to Travel from Kawaguchiko Lake Station to Mt. Fuji's 5th Station: Transportation Options and Tips
Mt. Fuji is a symbol of Japan, and many tourists always visit to catch a glimpse of its magnificent scenery. Because it's crowded with many people, one characteristic of the Mt. Fuji area is that there are numerous attractive tourist spots scattered around.
Standing at 3776m, Mt. Fuji is Japan's highest mountain, so when the climbing season opens, both domestic and international climbers visit. There are four climbing routes for Mt. Fuji ranging from beginner to advanced levels, so even those who aren't accustomed to mountain climbing can challenge themselves! Additionally, the Mt. Fuji 5th Station, which serves as the gateway to climbing and features restaurants and shops, is accessible by bus or private car, making it recommended for those who aren't good at climbing but want to easily experience the atmosphere of Mt. Fuji.
This time, we'll introduce recommended access methods to Mt. Fuji, focusing on how to get from Kawaguchiko Station to the Mt. Fuji 5th Station.
There are countless options for accessing Mt. Fuji 5th Station
There are many choices for accessing Mt. Fuji 5th Station. There are three main methods:
- Express bus
- Climbing bus
- Private car
When accessing the "Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station" on the most popular Yoshida Route from Tokyo or Kanagawa, the express bus that takes you there with just one ride is convenient. If you're accessing from the Fuji area, it would be good to go to Kawaguchiko Station or Mt. Fuji Station by train and then take a climbing bus.
For access by private car, regulations are implemented from mid-July to early September to ease congestion, so please check the official website in advance.
What is Mt. Fuji 5th Station?
Do you know the definition of Mt. Fuji 5th Station? Generally, in mountain climbing, a "station" (合目) is a unit when the climbing route from the foot to the summit is divided into 10 parts based on distance or time. Since the summit is counted as the 10th station, Mt. Fuji 5th Station marks the halfway point of climbing Mt. Fuji.
Mt. Fuji 5th Station is not only the gateway to each climbing route on Mt. Fuji but is also known as a tourist spot where you can enjoy spectacular views from the observation deck, dine at restaurants, shop at stores, and even enjoy horseback riding. With a parking lot available, you can drop by with a driving feel, making it perfect for casually enjoying the atmosphere of Mt. Fuji.
Kawaguchiko is an excellent tourist base with many tourist attractions nearby and good access to Mt. Fuji
Kawaguchiko is an excellent tourist base with many tourist attractions nearby and good access to Mt. Fuji. Using buses or taxis, you can reach Mt. Fuji 5th Station from Kawaguchiko Station in about an hour, and around Kawaguchiko, there are tourist spots that people of all ages can enjoy, such as a ropeway with spectacular views, sightseeing boats, and museums.
If you're considering climbing Mt. Fuji or sightseeing at the 5th Station, making Kawaguchiko your accommodation base will allow you to tour smoothly. Many accommodations offer views of Mt. Fuji from guest rooms, lobbies, and large public baths, ensuring you'll fully enjoy Mt. Fuji's charm!
Benefits of Making Kawaguchiko Your Base for Mt. Fuji Tourism
You Can Access Mt. Fuji in Just 1 Hour Using Buses or Taxis
There are three benefits to making Kawaguchiko your base for Mt. Fuji tourism. The first is that you can access Mt. Fuji in just 1 hour using buses or taxis.
From Kawaguchiko Station, the Fujikko-go climbing bus operated by Fuji Kyuko Bus departs for the 5th Station of Fuji Subaru Line. The fare is 2,800 yen round-trip (1,400 yen for children), with 3 services running daily in both directions.
Departures from Kawaguchiko: 9:40, 10:40, 13:00
Departures from Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station: 11:30, 12:30, 14:50
The bus operates daily during the summer season, but reservations are not available. During peak periods, crowding is expected, so it's recommended to line up early.
Many Hotels in the Area Offer Views of Mt. Fuji
The second benefit is that there are many hotels in the area with views of Mt. Fuji.
Not only from common facilities like lobbies and restaurants, but some hotels also offer views of Mt. Fuji from guest rooms and private open-air baths where you can leisurely admire the mountain without worrying about others. Many hotels provide panoramic views of Mt. Fuji along with Lake Kawaguchi and nature, allowing you to experience a special stay.
Looking at the majestic Mt. Fuji towering before you creates a feeling of being released from everyday life, promising a deeply relaxing stay.
Many Tourist Attractions in the Surrounding Area, Even Around the Station
The third benefit is that there are many tourist attractions in the surrounding area, and you can enjoy plenty just around the station.
Within a 15-minute walk, you'll find attractions that rival Mt. Fuji in appeal, such as the Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway, Lake Kawaguchi Cruise Ship "Appare," and the Yamanashi Jewelry Museum. The appealing point is that these can be visited on foot without taking trains or buses, making them easy to access.
Why not visit during gaps in your Mt. Fuji itinerary and enjoy the Kawaguchiko area as well?
Accessing from Kawaguchiko is Recommended for These People!
You can access Mt. Fuji from various places throughout Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka. However, traveling from distant locations takes time and can make your travel schedule hectic.
Therefore, accessing from Kawaguchiko is recommended as it reduces travel time and allows you to tour not only Mt. Fuji but also tourist spots around Kawaguchiko. When I climb Mt. Fuji, my standard course is to book a hotel around Kawaguchiko to enjoy staying with views of Mt. Fuji, and after completing the climb, I enjoy sightseeing in Kawaguchiko.
If you want to thoroughly explore the Fuji area, consider accessing from Kawaguchiko.
Disadvantages of Making Kawaguchiko Your Base for Mt. Fuji Tourism
When making Kawaguchiko your base for Mt. Fuji tourism, there are disadvantages as well as advantages.
Due to its ideal location for Mt. Fuji tourism, it gets crowded during peak seasons, and often buses and taxis may not be available. Especially on weekends and during the Festival of Souls (a Japanese custom of honoring ancestors, which is a holiday), people concentrate in the area, so you need to plan your schedule with extra time.
In fact, there are often cases where you end up waiting for hours because you can't get on either buses or taxis.
While you can kill time at the many tourist spots around Kawaguchiko, it's nearly impossible to stick to an ideal schedule. Therefore, if you're visiting Mt. Fuji for the first time or want to tour Mt. Fuji smoothly, I recommend joining a tour. With a guide familiar with the surrounding area, you can enjoy sightseeing without stress.
Tours with Transportation from Tokyo Allow You to Efficiently Visit Mt. Fuji Area While Avoiding Crowds
By using a tour with transportation from Tokyo, you can easily and efficiently visit the Mt. Fuji area while avoiding crowds.
My recommended tour "Mt. Fuji Full-day Day Trip Tour from Tokyo with a Private Car & Guide" allows you to enjoy Mt. Fuji on a day trip from Tokyo with a private car and guide. The attractive point of joining this tour is that you can leave the troublesome schedule coordination and procedures to the guide.
There are 4 main sightseeing spots:
- Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
- Wasabi Farm
- Mt. Fuji 5th Station
- Oshino Hakkai
You can see spectacular views of Mt. Fuji at Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine and Oshino Hakkai, experience wasabi harvesting and tasting at the Wasabi Farm. At the 5th Station of Mt. Fuji, you can easily get a taste of the Mt. Fuji climbing atmosphere and fully enjoy the charm of the Fuji area.
<Meeting point>
- Tour area: Fuji area
- Start time: 8:00
*Visiting locations may change depending on weather conditions
5 Recommended Sightseeing Spots Around Lake Kawaguchiko
Here are 5 recommended sightseeing spots around Lake Kawaguchiko for those using Kawaguchiko as their sightseeing base. When traveling northwest from Kawaguchiko Station, follow the directions along the lake shore to reach these famous viewpoints of Mt. Fuji, so be sure to capture various appearances of Mt. Fuji in your photos!
Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
Source:Official website
The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway was built on Mt. Tenjo, which towers over Lake Kawaguchiko, and from the summit at an elevation of 1,075m, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Kawaguchiko and Mt. Fuji in a 360-degree panorama.
Mt. Tenjo is also famous as the setting for "Mount Clicking," a masterpiece by Osamu Dazai, a renowned Japanese literary author, featuring rabbits and tanuki (raccoon dogs). Therefore, you can eat light meals at "Tanuki Teahouse," a restaurant inspired by tanuki, or worship at "Rabbit Shrine," which has a rabbit as its sacred object (an object in which a deity dwells).
I enjoyed the spectacular view from the observation deck while eating rabbit-themed soft serve ice cream that I bought for takeout from "Tanuki Teahouse." When I visited, the weather was good, so I could see all the way to the Southern Alps, and I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of nature.
<Store Information>
Address: 1163-1 Asakawa, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
Business Hours: 8:30-17:00 (Until 18:00 from July 20-August 31)
Closed: None (May be closed in case of bad weather)
Phone Number: 0555-72-0363
Official Website: https://www.mtfujiropeway.jp/
Lake Kawaguchi Sightseeing Boat "Appare"
Source:Official website
The Lake Kawaguchi Sightseeing Boat "Appare" is a pleasure cruise that takes about 20 minutes to tour around Lake Kawaguchi. From the boat, you can enjoy the lakeside scenery and Upside down Fuji (the reflection of Mt. Fuji on the water surface). You'll be captivated by the continuous views that can only be seen from here. I've also been aboard, and while admiring the spectacular views from the observation deck, the 20-minute cruise time passed in the blink of an eye!
The boat is modeled after the "Ataka ship" used during the Warring States period, and its retro design is popular with tourists. The main cabin has a Japanese-style design inspired by tatami (traditional Japanese floor material), giving you the feeling of time-traveling to the past. Inside the boat, there's a rental service for traditional Japanese clothing such as military uniform, so why not take photos while pretending to be a feudal warlord?
<Store Information>
Address: 4034 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
Business Hours: 9:00-16:30 (summer and winter operations available)
Closed: Irregular holidays
Phone Number: 0555-72-0029
Official Website: https://www.fujigokokisen.jp/contents/appare/
Yamanakako Lake
Yamanakako Lake is one of the Fuji Five Lakes along with Lake Kawaguchi, and is popular because of its close proximity to Mt. Fuji, allowing visitors to feel the mountain up close. Around the lake, you can enjoy nature while hiking or cycling, take a sightseeing boat ride, or experience canoeing and fishing.
I once tried a hiking course for beginners. Not only could I enjoy views of Mt. Fuji from start to finish, but I also felt the relaxing effects of forest bathing and bird songs, spending a refreshing time. The walkway is well-maintained and easy to walk on, and it's understandable why there are many repeat visitors who come to enjoy the scenery throughout the four seasons.
If you walk along the nature-surrounded hiking paths, you're guaranteed to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and feel refreshed.
<Store Information>
Address: Yamanakako Village, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
Business Hours: 24 hours
Closed: None
Phone Number: 0555-62-9977 (Yamanakako Village Tourism Division)
Official Website: https://lake-yamanakako.com/
Arakurayama Sengen Park
Source:Home of Fujisan Yamanashi
Arakurayama Sengen Park is located on the hillside of Mt. Arakura and is a popular viewpoint for seeing Mt. Fuji. The park has about 650 cherry trees planted, and in spring, a cherry blossom festival is held, filling the area with visitors from Japan and abroad.
After climbing the 398 stone steps in the park, there is an observation deck where you can view the elegant five-story pagoda that evokes Japanese tradition overlapping with the natural beauty of Mt. Fuji, creating a scenic landscape. Climbing the 398 stone steps is not easy, but the view from the observation deck is a must-see.
Please be sure to capture this artistic landscape in photos and share it with your friends.
<Store Information>
Address: 2-4-1 Asama, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Business Hours: 24 hours
Closed: None
Phone Number: 0555-23-2697
Official Website: https://www.arakurafujisengen.com/
Kawaguchi Asama Shrine
Kawaguchi Asama Shrine is a historic shrine established in 865 to quell the eruption of Mt. Fuji. Today, it is visited by many tourists as one of the components of Mt. Fuji World Cultural Heritage. The grounds feature seven giant cedars that are 1,200 years old, Torii in the Sky where you can take photos with Mt. Fuji in the background, and a waterfall that freezes solid in midwinter, among other attractions.
My recommendation is the Torii in the Sky. The majestic Mt. Fuji seen through the bright red torii gate is a breathtaking sight that you can only experience here. It takes about a 30-minute walk from Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, but the scenery is so wonderful that you'll instantly forget your walking fatigue.
If you have some extra time, try visiting with a hiking mindset while enjoying the lush natural surroundings.
<Store Information>
Address: 1 Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
Business Hours: 24 hours
Closed: None
Phone Number: 0555-76-7186
Official Website: https://asamajinja.or.jp/
