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Transportation
Local train and bus
There are 5 train stations around Kawaguchiko and Fuji-Yoshida.
The main stations are switch station “Fujisan(富士山)” and last stop “Kawaguchiko(河口湖)”.
Many buses runs from each station, however some bus lines have only few buses in a day.
Also, some buses often very busy and get full, then there will be a case that you have to wait the next bus.
①Shimo-Yoshida - Nearest from Chureito Pagoda
②Gekkoji - In nostalgic Japanese town
③Fujisan - Main in FujiYoshida city (Switch back)
④Fujikyu Highland - Entrance of Amusement Park
⑤Kawaguchiko - Gate for Kawaguchiko Lake
They have some unique trains such as Fuji Tozan Densha (Climbing Train), Thomas train.
Trains(Fujikyu-line)
Trains run almost every 30 minutes, but please note that some Express and Rapid don’t stop at every station.
The last stop of Fujikyu-line and key
station of Fuji Five Lakes area. Many buses come and go one after another and it is often full of tourists.
Bus-Kawaguchiko station
The sightseeing bus “Retoro/Omuni bus” goes around Kawaguchiko lake and Saiko lake, and it is convenient to going around these area.
One point that must be kept in mind is, there will often be a long waiting line to purchase the day pass, and ride the bus.
You should also check some other options such as taxi, guided tour described below.
Some local route bus lines also run bound for Gotemba(via Oshino, Yamanaka lake), 5th station of Mt.Fuji, Shin-Fuji, Kofu.
Bus-Fujisan station
The switch back staion on Fujikyu-line. Most of local bus-lines start this station. It is the base point toward East of Fuji Five Lakes area such as Oshino, Yamanakako lake.
The sightseeing bus “Fujikko-go” might be useful if you go around East area.
Some local bus going toward to Gotemba through popular touristy such as Kitaguchi-Hongu Sengen Shrine, Oshino Hakkai.
You will take one of those when you go near there.
It is very complicated to take the bus, so you should ask bus driver or ticket window worker before the ride.
Taxi
There are some taxi companies, but most of them are not so big one. Also, some of them don’t answer the phone call in late night. Remember, this area is a small town. In the first place, not so many restaurants, bars open in late night!
In Japan, you can call a taxi company to be picked up at everywhere, but the charge to be picked up is required. It is normally 730 yen (however, there are some taxi companies which do not charge this fee).
The workers are almost not fluent in English, but they should be used to help the tourist from abroad.
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Retoro/Omuni Bus -depart from Kawaguchiko only (Not Fujisan)
Red and Green line are very popular so that you often have to wait in a line for purchasing the ticket and boarding. Blue line runs only few buses in a day, actually not so many people take it to Shojiko lake and Motosuko lake since there’s almost nothing around, only nature.
There are some kinds of 2-days pass(Unlimited ride available), and they are good deal to visiting many places. It is worth if you take the bus more than 4 or 5 times.
-3 lines (Red, Green, Blue) unlimited ride 2 days pass -1,500 yen
Red line -Kawaguchiko area ① (36 buses/day)
-Sight-seeing boat, Cable car, Kawaguchiko lake northern shore, Art museum, Kimono museum, Oishi park
Green line -Saiko, Aokigahara Jukai Forest area ② (16 buses/day)
-Yagisaki Park, Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba, Wind Cave, Bat Cave
Blue line -Shojiko, Motosuko area ③ (4 buses/day)
-Fuji Visitor Center, Narusawa, Ice cave, Wind Cave, Shoji, Motosuko lake
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Fujikko-go ④ (11 buses/day)
The line starts from Kawaguchiko station, and stops at Fujisan station, then goes around Oshino Hakkai area, Yamanakako lake. It is operated Clockwise direction and Counter-clockwise direction going around Yamanakako lake.
-Unlimited ride 2 days pass -1,500 yen
-Mt.Fuji Radar Dome, Ninja Village, Oshino Hakkai, Hana-no-Miyako Park, Yamanakako
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Mt. Fuji, World Cultural Heritage Site Loop Bus ⑤ (6 buses/day)
One-way route bus through some world heritage site. It will be worth getting the ticket if you want to visit them, but please note that the bus runs only 6 buses a day, you can’t miss the next one!
-Unlimited ride 2 days pass -1,030 yen
-Sight-seeing boat, Cable car, Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, Chureito Pagoda, Oshino Hakkai, Sengen Shrine Route map/Time table
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Local Bus
⑥Gotemba -(Sengen Shrine), (Oshino), Yamanakako lake Route map/Time table
This line has 4 different routes. You should check the route in advance when you go Oshino area.
⑦Mt.Fuji 5th station Time table *Until Sep.10. No time table after that on official
The time table changes depending on the season.
It doesn’t run when the Subaru Line(road to 5th station) is closed. It is often closed in winter due to snow, the road conditions.
⑧Shin-Fuji -Ice Cave, Wind Cave, Shoji, Asagiri, Siraito Waterfall, Fujinomiya Time table
The bus runs almost every 30 minutes - 1 hour until Motosuko lake, but only 4 buses run beyond there. You need to check the time table when you go around Asagiri, Fujinomiya area.
⑨Kofu -Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, Mitsutoge Ent, Isawa onsen Time table
It is often used to get the Kawaguchi shrine, one of world heritage assets, or Mitsutoge mountain trail entrance. It is out of Fuji Five Lakes area beyond that point.
Some buses take shortcut and do not stop at Kawaguchiko station.
Green Line
Red Line
Tour
Do you want to take a smart trip and save time?
If you don’t want to wait a bus every single time or you are more than 4 people, the private tour would be worth it.
As mentioned above, the buses are often busy and you have to wait in a line to get the ticket, ride a bus, and some lines don’t run many buses in a day so it will be limited to a small area to go around.
The tour goes by chartered car with an English speaking guide and will take you the touristy depending on your request, their recommendation, the weather, and so on!
Mt.Fuji Private English Guided Car Tour 2,800 yen/30 min./one group
Please refer to the fare list below as a information.
From Kawaguchiko station
Fujikyu-Highland 1,180 yen
Oishi Park 2,530 yen
Ice/Wind Cave 4,600 yen
Sengen Shrine
Oshino Hakkai
5th station of Mt.Fuji 11,170 yen
Mishima station 20,000 yen
Rental car
One of the problem of going around in local area is that many places are somewhat difficult to reach with public transportation alone. If you could take a rental car, it would be convenient because you will be able to get around to places more easily than buses, and activity range can be expanded.
There are several Car Rental Shops near the Kawaguchiko or Fujisan station, the listed below companies have their English website.
NIPPON RENT-A-CAR Kawaguchiko Station Brunch
In the building next to parking of Kawaguchiko station
TOYOTA Rent a Car Fujikawaguchiko Brunch
5 minutes walk from Kawaguchiko station
ORIX Rent-A-Car Fuji Yoshida Brunch
5 minutes walk from Fujisan station
NISSAN Rent a Car Fujiyoshida Brunch
20 minutes walk away from Fujisan station
If you have an international license and it was issued by a country affiliated with the Geneva Convention, then you will be able to drive in Japan with it. Many other countries are affiliated to the Vienna Convention to which Japan is not affiliated. Make sure you first find out whether your country issues an international permit recognized in Japan.
For drivers whose license was not issued by countries affiliated with the Geneva Convention, you will need your home country’s driver’s license, your passport, and an official Japanese translation of your driver’s license.
The translation can be procured through JAF (Japanese Automobile Association).
In order to rent a car you need to present all this documentation.
In Japan you will keep the left side of the road and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. For drivers visiting from the U.K., Australia, Honk Kong and a few other countries, this presents no change from their respective countries.
For people coming from most countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia this means that in Japan you will have to drive on the opposite side and everything within the car is a “mirror image” of what you are probably used to.
The speed limit in urban areas is 30-60km/h (depending on the roads), and typically 80km/h on the highway.
You should check
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7347-1 Funatsu Fuji-Kawaguchiko machi Minami-Tsuru gun Yamanashi 401-0301
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