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Kawaguchiko Day Trip from Tokyo – The Complete Guide On What To See and Do In This Beautiful Region

December 26th, 2019 by | Tagged in: , , ,

Recently, I went on a fun Kawaguchiko day trip from Tokyo. I enjoyed exploring this gorgeous region very much, and below are the full details of my trip! This article was last updated on 06 May 2020.

Table of Contents

Kawaguchiko


Kawaguchiko is a large beautiful lake near Mount Fuji. “ko” means lake in Japanese, which is why sometimes people refer to this lake as “Lake Kawaguchi”.

It is the second largest lake of the Fuji Five Lakes (known in Japanese as “Fujigoko”), which are five lakes that were formed when Mount Fuji erupted in ancient times.

Among the five lakes, Kawaguchiko is the top tourist attraction because it is the most easily accessible. It is also the most developed area with plenty of fun things to see, do and eat.

Kawaguchiko or Hakone?


If you are looking to get the best views of Mount Fuji, Kawaguchiko is definitely the superior choice because you get to see the famous volcano from everywhere in the area. In addition, Hakone is a fog-prone area so visibility of Mount Fuji is often very poor.

With regards to food, Kawaguchiko also offers better and more affordable choices, such as the delicious Hoto noodles, tempura and pretty cafes.

However, if you are looking for an onsen getaway, Hakone is the better option because it is home to many popular hot springs resorts.

How To Go Kawaguchiko


There are four ways to get to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo:

1. Highway Bus
2. Express Train
3. Shuttle Bus Package
4. Private Car Charter

Personally, I feel that taking the Highway Bus is the best method because it is very efficient and affordable.

However, if you do not have time to plan, or are travelling with elderly and young children, you can consider booking a shuttle bus day tour package or private car charter.

The wife and I took the bus from Shinjuku and didn’t experience any problems at all. It is also possible to board at other locations like Shibuya and Tokyo Station.

Kawaguchiko One Day Itinerary

Time Activity
Morning Highway Bus to Kawaguchiko
Chureito Pagoda
Oishi Park
Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace
Afternoon Maple Corridor
Lunch at Momij Tei
North Coast Walking Trail
Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
Evening Highway Bus Back to Tokyo

6am – Highway Bus to Kawaguchiko (Fujisan Station)


On the day of our trip, we went to Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to catch our Highway Bus scheduled to leave at 6.05am. The tickets cost JPY2,000 each.

Initially, we had some difficulties locating the departure point because the bus station is very big, but we managed to find it eventually after following the signs.

After the bus conductor scanned the QR Code on our tickets, we boarded the bus and reached Fujisan Station (also known as Mount Fuji Station) after a comfortable 105 minutes ride!

Note that for the Highway Bus, it is possible to choose between three stations as your destination: Fuji Q Highland, Fujisan, and Kawaguchiko. We chose Fujisan Station because it was nearer to our first stop of the day: the Chureito Pagoda.

8.22am – Fujisan Station to Shimoyoshida Station (Train)


After reaching Fujisan Station, we walked into the train station and took the 8.22am Otsuki-bound train for two stops to Shimoyoshida Station. The ride took 6 minutes.


We used our Suica IC Card to buy train tickets at JPY220 each. It is possible to use cash too. You can use the official Fujisan Station train schedule to plan your time.

8.30am – Shimoyoshida Station to Chureito Pagoda (Walk)

Directions to Chureito Pagoda from Shimoyoshida Station (click to enlarge)

From Shimoyoshida Station, we began our long walk to the famous Chureito Pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park! There was a board outside the station with clear instructions on how to get to the pagoda (see picture above).

First, we passed through a village. I envy the villagers here because they get to enjoy an awesome view of Mount Fuji every day!

Many steps to reach Chureito Pagoda!

After that, we walked across a railroad crossing, and soon reached the start of the 397-steps ascent to Chureito Pagoda.

I took a deep breath and began the slow climb up the steps. The wife and I were breathless by around the halfway point.


Luckily, there were several spots along the way for resting and catching our breath. We sat on a bench under a beautiful tree for a while to enjoy the fantastic view of Mount Fuji (see above). After that, we pushed on and finally reached the iconic pagoda at 9.10am!

In total, it took us about 30 minutes to reach Chureito Pagoda from Shimoyoshida Station. Do not worry about losing your way because there will be many other tourists going to the pagoda.


Note that if you are unable to take the steps, there is a winding slope that goes up to the pagoda too.

9am – Chureito Pagoda


Chureito Pagoda is a five-storey pagoda that is part of the Arakura Sengen Shrine. It was built in 1963 as a peace memorial.

There is an observation deck beside the pagoda that offers stunning views of Mount Fuji and the entire Fujiyoshida City.

We walked up a gentle slope to the deck and spent about 15 minutes here revelling in the gorgeous scenery and taking plenty of beautiful pictures.

10.30am – Shimoyoshida Station to Kawaguchiko Station (Train)


After that, we walked back to Shimoyoshida Station to catch the 10.30am train for two stops (6 minutes) to Kawaguchiko Station.

10.45am – Kawaguchiko Station to Oishi Park (Sightseeing Bus)


Guide on taking the Sightseeing Bus (click to enlarge)

From Kawaguchiko Station, we took the 10.45am Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus for half an hour to the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center bus stop, which is beside Oishi Park.

The “Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus” is a shuttle service that serves popular attractions around Kawaguchiko. It is also known as the “Retro Bus” due to its vintage design. You can use the Sightseeing Bus timetable to plan your time. For more details, you can check out the “How to ride a bus?” picture above.


The bus fare depends on the distance you travel, and is displayed on a digital panel in the bus (see picture above). It ranges between JPY150 and JPY860. We paid using our Suica IC card, but it is possible to pay with cash too.

You can also buy a two day unlimited ride pass for JPY1,500. However, if you are only visiting Kawaguchiko for one day, it is not worth getting this pass.

FYI: Other than the Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus (Red Line), there are two other Sightseeing Bus lines. However, these lines do NOT serve Kawaguchiko. See below:

  • Saiko Sightseeing Bus (Green Line) – serves attractions around Lake Sai
  • Narusawa/Shojiko/Motosuko Sightseeing Bus (Blue Line) – serves attractions around Narusawa, Lake Shoji, and Lake Motosu.

11.15am – Oishi Park


The bus dropped us off at the “Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center”, which is a small tourist centre that sells various souvenirs and blueberry food products. However, we did not spend any time here because it looked like a typical souvenir shop.

Instead, we went to the adjacent Oishi Park immediately after alighting from the bus. This small beautiful park is famous for its fluffy-looking Kochia plants and lavender fields.

I saw a large board listing down the variety of flowers growing in the park. However, other than the Kochia plants and small clusters of flowers, most of the park appeared rather barren. I guess the flowers would only be in full bloom during summer.

We took many pretty pictures of the Kochia plants with Mount Fuji as the backdrop. This was also a good place for my drone to take off and capture wonderful aerial views of Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji. In total we spent around 30 minutes here.

11.45am – Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace


From Oishi Park, we walked for three minutes along the road to Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace. This garden-themed complex is home to several quaint cafes, artisanal shops, and artful outdoor spaces. It was nice to walk around this picturesque compound.

Gorgeous interior of HanaCafe Kikyou

The wife and I checked out HanaCafe Kikyou, a flower-themed cafe that specialises in “Shingen mochi”, a popular Yamanashi rice cake snack.

The wife loved this gorgeous cafe, which was decorated with many fresh and dried flowers, beautiful ornaments, and eclectic furnishings.


We ordered a Kikyou Shingen Mochi Matcha Soft Serve (JPY500), which came with several mochis on the side. It was a sweet and tasty treat.


We also passed by Brand New Day Coffee, a two-storey Western style cafe that sells artisan coffee and comfort foods. We didn’t have time to check it out, but the second-floor balcony looked like a wonderful spot to enjoy hot coffee while admiring the beauty of Mount Fuji.

Medetaya – artisan shop in Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace

I saw various artisan shops selling local products and souvenirs. We didn’t buy anything but it was a pleasant experience to browse through these quaint shops.

My favourite shop was Medetaya, a small space selling intricate handicrafts made using Japanese paper.

Time seemed to slow down for us as we walked around Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace, because it exudes a peaceful and calming vibe. I would have liked to spend more time here but due to our tight schedule we only spent about one hour exploring this place.

1pm – Oishi Park to Konohana Art Museum (Sightseeing Bus)


We walked back to the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center bus stop and took the 12.57pm Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus (Red-Line) for 6 minutes to the Konohana Art Museum bus stop.

This museum displays exhibits of Dayan the Cat living within the fantasy land Wachifield. We are not fans of cats so we didn’t check it out.

1.15pm – Maple Corridor


Instead, we walked for 5 minutes from the museum to the beautiful Maple Corridor (known in Japanese as “Momiji Kairou”). This place is famous for its gorgeous autumn leaves, and the best period to visit is usually from beginning to mid-November.

There is an annual “Momiji Matsuri” festival held here between end October and mid November, with many food stalls and charming night-time illuminations. Unfortunately, the festival was already over when we went on 26 November.

However, it was still a lovely experience to walk amidst the beautiful autumn foliage. It felt like someone had used a paintbrush to cover the entire area with an alluring orange-red hue.

The only downside was that when we arrived at 1.15pm, there were already plenty of tourists, which detracted slightly from the beauty of the place. And it was difficult to get a picture without someone accidentally walking into the shot. We left the area after about 15 minutes.

1.30pm – Lunch at Momij Tei


From Maple Corridor, we walked for 2 minutes to Momij Tei. This homely Japanese restaurant specialises in “Hoto Noodles”, a signature local noodles dish that consists of flat noodles and vegetables cooked in a miso based broth. Think of it as a flatter version of udon noodles.


The wife and I shared a Mushroom Hoto Meal Set (¥1,945). I’m glad we shared because the portion was huge! The Hoto noodles had a lovely smooth texture, and the hot miso broth was rich and flavourful. The generous amounts of mushrooms and vegetables were very fresh and went well with the noodles.

This steaming hot bowl of noodles was perfect for eating in the cold weather! After the meal we felt recharged and ready to continue our exploration of Kawaguchiko.

2.30pm – Kawaguchiko North Coast Walking Trail


Our next stop was the Kawaguchiko North Coast Walking Trail, a short scenic trail along Kawaguchiko that offers wonderful unobstructed views of Mount Fuji. It is just a few minutes’ walk from Momij Tei, and is a hidden gem that most tourists do not know about.

The wife and I slowly strolled along the trail, enjoying the tranquility and beautiful views. We spent about 20 minutes here.

Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum


We continued walking along the trail until we reached the well-known Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum. This beautiful European-inspired complex is home to a vintage museum, cafe, lush gardens, live musical performances, and sand art concerts.

The museum holds impressive exhibitions of antique mechanical musical instruments that play by themselves, and large vintage organs that were originally placed in dance halls.

At JPY1800, the admission fee is rather expensive but you can get a discount of JPY100 by taking a screenshot of the discount coupon on their website.

Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to tour the museum because it was getting late and we still had to visit two other Kawaguchiko attractions.

The museum opens daily from 10am to 5.30pm.

3.30pm – Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum to Fujiyama Cookie (Sightseeing Bus)


From Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum, we took the 3.34pm Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus (Red Line) to the “Sightseeing Boat/Ropeway Ent” stop. The ride took around 7 minutes.

After alighting, we walked for one minute to Fujiyama Cookie, a popular cookie shop that sells handmade cookies shaped like Mount Fuji. There is an open kitchen so you can see how the cookies are baked.


There are plenty of flavours to choose from, with samples available for trying. After looking around for a while, we bought two matcha and strawberry flavoured cookies.

They were delicious! I enjoyed their soft and crumbly texture, and the pleasant milky taste.

The shop opens daily from 10am to 5pm.

Kawaguchiko Cheesecake Garden


Kawaguchiko Cheesecake Garden is a cafe that supposedly sells the best cheesecakes in Kawaguchiko. They also offer free hot coffee with purchase of any cheesecake.

This cafe is just a one-minute walk from Fujiyama Cookie. However, because we were running late, we did not have time to check it out. Maybe next time!

The cafe opens daily from 9am to 5pm.

4.15pm – Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway


Next, we walked to the nearby Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (also known as the Tenjō-Yama Park Mt. Kachi Kachi Ropeway).

The “Ropeway” is basically a gondola that brings passengers up to the peak of Mt. Tenjo in 3 minutes. It runs every five to ten minutes from 9am to 5pm daily.

We bought tickets from a digital machine. An adult round trip ticket costs JPY800, while a child (7 to 12) ticket costs JPY400.


We enjoyed great views of Kawaguchiko during the pleasant 5-minute ride up. The staff were super polite and even bowed to us when we were entering / leaving the gondola.


Upon reaching the summit, we were treated to wonderful paranomic views of Mount Fuji and the surrounding town of Fujikawaguchiko!

Cafe and souvenir shop

I saw a cafe and souvenir shop but they were closed by the time we reached at 4.30pm.

Shrine

Start of hiking trail

I also saw a shrine, and a hiking trail that led off into the mountain.


The wife and I took several photos with the most popular feature on the mountain: the Bell of Tenjo. It’s said that if you ring the bell while looking at Mount Fuji through the heart-shaped frame, your wish will come true.

I’m still not a millionaire yet so I guess the Bell of Tenjo is probably busy with other wishes at the moment.


Walking around the summit, I saw various adorable statues of a white rabbit and raccoon dog (“tanuki”). I did some googling and learned that these characters are actually from a dark Japanese folktale titled “Kachi Kachi Yama”, with Mount Tenjo being the setting of the tale.

These statues may seem adorable, but in the folktale the rabbit exacts revenge on the killer tanuki by setting him on fire first before drowning him. After finding out the details of the story, I suddenly didn’t find the statues that cute anymore.

After spending around 20 minutes on the summit, we took the ropeway down the mountain.

Other than using the ropeway, it is also possible to reach the peak by hiking. The trail is suitable for beginner hikers and it should take around 45 minutes to reach the summit.

5.30pm – Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway to Kawaguchiko Station (Sightseeing Bus)

After coming down from the summit, we walked for a few minutes to the “Sightseeing Boat/Ropeway Ent” bus stop to catch the 5.41pm Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus (Red Line) to Kawaguchiko Station.

By now the winter sky was already completely dark. It was also very chilly and we felt quite cold while waiting at the bus stop. Luckily, the bus came shortly and we reached Kawaguchiko Station after around 15 minutes.

Note the Sightseeing Bus service ends at around 6.15pm. You can check out the official bus timetable to plan your time.

6pm – Kawaguchiko Station Souvenir Shop


While waiting for our bus to arrive at Kawaguchiko Station, we spent some time browsing around a large souvenir shop in the station. This is a good place to buy some Japanese snacks before leaving Kawaguchiko.


There were plenty of Kawaguchiko food products on sale, and we were pleasantly surprised to see Fujiyama Cookies on sale too!

Because the Fujiyama Cookies we bought earlier were so delicious, we decided to buy one whole box to bring back to Singapore.


If you are feeling hungry, there is a cafe in the station selling Japanese food like udon, hoto noodles, ramen, curry rice, etc. Prices range between JPY650 and JPY900.

6.25pm – Highway Bus to Shinjuku Station


We boarded the Highway Bus at 6.25pm and only reached Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal at 8.30pm. This was about 20 minutes longer than the morning ride due to peak hour traffic in Tokyo.

By now we were famished, and quickly filled our tummies with delicious The Alley bubble tea, before going for a late dinner at Omoide Yokocho.

Kawaguchiko Map

Click to enlarge

This map lists down all the attractions we visited in Kawaguchiko for your easy reference.

Conclusion


I hope you found the details of our Kawaguchiko day trip useful! The wife and I enjoyed exploring this gorgeous area very much. I highly recommend spending one full day here.

We explored Kawaguchiko mainly using the Sightseeing Bus, but it is also possible to get around with a bike. There are many bike rental shops outside Kawaguchiko Station and you can rent one from around JPY2,000 per day.

On busy days, there will be delays in the Sightseeing Bus schedule due to heavy traffic, so it may be a better idea to ride a bike instead. However, we did not experience any serious delays when we visited in late November.

Because we went during winter, the sky was completely dark by 5pm. Therefore, we had to start our day really early and explore the area before it got dark.

This article is part of our super awesome Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide For First Timers. Everything you need to know about Tokyo is just a click away!

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