~2 h
Limited express bus
Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko station. Direct, one seat, runs every 30-60 min. Cheapest comfortable option.
Distance
How far is Fuji from Tokyo?
About 100 km in a straight line. Two hours door to door if you pick the right train. Here is every option, ranked.
Routes
Five ways to get there
~2 h 15
JR train + Fujikyu Line
JR Chuo line to Otsuki, change to Fujikyu line. Covered partly by the JR Pass.
~1 h 50
Shinkansen + bus
Tokyo to Mishima on the Tokaido Shinkansen, then bus to Lake Kawaguchiko or Gotemba. Fast, fully covered by JR Pass to Mishima.
~1 h 45
Private car
Chuo expressway. Beware weekend traffic out of Tokyo from 7-10 AM.
~1 h 30
Hakone route
Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto. Closest Fuji-view base from Tokyo.
Numbers
The distances that matter
Straight line distance
Tokyo Station to Fuji summit is approximately 100 km west-southwest.
Road distance
Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchiko is about 120 km by expressway.
Tokyo to Hakone
Around 90 km. Hakone is the closest Fuji-view region to Tokyo.
Tokyo to fifth station
2 h 30 by Shinjuku-Subaru line bus, the trailhead for the Yoshida climbing trail.
Save
Should you buy a JR Pass?
If you also plan to visit Kyoto, Osaka or Hiroshima the same trip, a 7-day JR Pass usually pays for itself. Order in advance from getjrpass.com so you have it on arrival.
FAQ
Common questions
Can you do Mount Fuji as a day trip from Tokyo?
Yes. The most popular plan is a 6-7 AM departure, lake Kawaguchiko or Chureito Pagoda for views, back to Tokyo by dinner.
What's the fastest way?
Shinkansen to Mishima then bus is fastest on paper but the direct Shinjuku-Kawaguchiko bus is usually simpler and similar in time.
Is Hakone closer to Fuji than Kawaguchiko?
Hakone is closer to Tokyo, Kawaguchiko is closer to Fuji. For climbing or postcard reflection shots, choose Kawaguchiko.
Plan