Mount Fuji and Hakone from Tokyo: day trip or overnight, and how to book the bus or train
Checked against 23 official sources, most recently on . 10 minute read.
What to know first
Both work as day trips from Tokyo, but they suit different days. For Kawaguchiko and the Fuji Five Lakes, book the Fuji Excursion train or a highway bus from Shinjuku, and stay a night if seeing Fuji is the whole point. For Hakone, the Romancecar plus a Hakone Freepass covers a day on the loop; an onsen inn is the main reason to sleep there. Doing both in one day from Tokyo is the plan we'd cut first.
Next step: Pick a day trip or a night with the chooser below, then put the sale time in your calendar. Fuji Excursion and Romancecar seats go on sale at 10:00 Japan time one month before travel, and the Tokyo–Kawaguchiko highway buses open one month ahead.
- Fuji Excursion
- ¥4,200 one way Shinjuku–KawaguchikoSeats on sale at 10:00 Japan time one month before
- Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko bus
- ¥2,200
- Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku
- ¥7,100 for 2 daysRomancecar ticket ¥1,200 extra each way
On this page
Day trip or overnight?
A clear view of Fuji is the main goal: a night is better, because an evening and a morning give you more than one try. A day trip only works if you can choose the day late.
Hakone for the loop of train, cable car, ropeway and boat: a day trip is fine if you start early, and the Freepass covers the loop. Hakone for a ryokan and onsen: stay, because the evening bath and dinner are much of what you pay for.
Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone on one trip: only with a night in between, because the practical link is a bus via Gotemba Station, not a through train. Big suitcases: leave them in Tokyo on a day trip.
Busy dates: Hakone Navi lists the Hakone Ekiden (2 and 3 January), Golden Week, Obon (10 August to 16 August) and the November leaves as Hakone's busy periods, so book seats the day they go on sale. Hakone from 7 December 2026 to 24 December 2026, or from 12 January 2027 to 26 February 2027: expect replacement buses on part of the ropeway.
Sources for this section: Hakone Navi: crowd forecast · Hakone Ropeway: replacement buses during scheduled maintenance (PDF, September 2026) · Hakone Navi: Gotemba Station bus stops
Routes and how to reserve them
Fuji Excursion, Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko: book on JR-EAST Train Reservation (Eki-net) or at JR East ticket offices and machines, from 10:00 Japan time one month before. No unreserved cars. ¥4,200 one way (fare ¥2,580 plus limited express ¥1,620), just under two hours at best.
Highway bus, Busta Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station: ¥2,200, about 1 hour 45 minutes, traffic permitting. From Shibuya: ¥2,300, about 2 hours 30 minutes. From the Yaesu South side of Tokyo Station: ¥2,300, about 2 hours, all reserved. All open one month before.
Romancecar, Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto: book on EMot Online Tickets or at Odakyu stations and machines, from 10:00 Japan time one month before. All seats reserved; ¥1,200 limited express ticket on top of the fare or a pass; about 80 minutes.
Kawaguchiko Station to the Mt Fuji Fifth Station by bus: no reservation needed; ¥2,000 one way or ¥3,400 return (Keio route page). Fujikyu, which runs this bus, suspends it when the Fuji Subaru Line is closed or open only as far as the 1st Station, which Keio's FAQ says can happen in winter because of snow.
Sources for this section: Fujikyu Railway: Fuji Excursion · Keio: highway-buses.jp Kawaguchiko routes · Fujikyu Bus: Tokyo Station–Kawaguchiko route (Japanese) · Odakyu: Romancecar · Fujikyu Bus: Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station bus timetable and fares · Keio: highway-buses.jp FAQ
Kawaguchiko by train: the Fuji Excursion
The Fuji Excursion runs from Shinjuku via Otsuki onto the Fujikyu Railway, stopping at Mt. Fuji (Fujisan) and Fujikyu Highland before Kawaguchiko. Fujikyu lists four round trips a day, plus one more in some seasons. Fujikyu also sells a limited express ticket that fixes only the date and section, without a seat.
Book the return when you book the outward train. If the Fuji Excursion is full, the Azusa or Kaiji to Otsuki (changing to the Fujikyu line there) is the alternative, also reserved-only, but Fujikyu says limited express tickets for those trains are currently not sold at Kawaguchiko, Fujisan or Shimoyoshida stations, so buy them before you leave Tokyo.
Rail passes: Fujikyu says JR and Fujikyu fares are charged separately. The JR TOKYO Wide Pass (¥16,000 adult, ¥8,000 child, three consecutive days) covers the whole Fujikyu line and lets you reserve Fuji Excursion seats, but you must collect the seat ticket at a JR East machine or ticket office before boarding.
Sources for this section: Fujikyu Railway: Fuji Excursion · JR East: JR TOKYO Wide Pass
Kawaguchiko by highway bus
Buses from Busta Shinjuku are run jointly by Keio and Fujikyu. From 1 October 2026 the two operators sell online separately: Keio-run buses on highway-buses.jp and highwaybus.com, and Fujikyu-run buses on Fujikyu's own site, Fujiyama Connect. Cancel or change on the site where you booked; you can't switch a booking between the two sites without cancelling and rebooking.
Bookings open one month before departure, and you can buy at the terminal only if the bus isn't full. Our view: the bus is about half the train fare, but the train doesn't share the expressway with weekend traffic, so take it on busy days if you have a timed booking or a connection to make.
Sources for this section: Keio: highway-buses.jp Kawaguchiko routes · Fujikyu Bus: Busta Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko booking change from 1 October 2026 (Japanese) · Fujikyu Bus: Tokyo Station–Kawaguchiko route (Japanese)
Worked example: what a day costs two adults
Kawaguchiko by train, both ways: ¥4,200 × 2 people × 2 directions = ¥16,800. By the Shinjuku bus instead: ¥2,200 × 2 × 2 = ¥8,800. Add the Fifth Station bus return at ¥3,400 × 2 = ¥6,800 if you go up the mountain.
Hakone loop day: Odakyu's own example is a 2-day Freepass from Shinjuku at ¥7,100 plus two Romancecar tickets at ¥2,400, so ¥9,500 per adult and ¥19,000 for two. The Freepass covers the loop's train, cable car, ropeway, boat and buses, which would cost more bought one by one on a full loop day.
Sources for this section: Fujikyu Railway: Fuji Excursion · Keio: highway-buses.jp Kawaguchiko routes · Odakyu: Hakone Freepass
Travelling with children: what the fares add up to
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| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Fujikyu highway bus, Shinjuku – Kawaguchiko, one way | from ¥2,200 (¥2,000 when paid online) | from ¥1,100 |
| Kawaguchiko, Saiko and Motosuko sightseeing bus, 1-day ticket | ¥1,500 | ¥750 |
| Same sightseeing bus, 2-day ticket | ¥2,000 | ¥1,000 |
| Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku, 2 days | ¥7,100 | ¥1,600 (ages 6–11) |
| Romancecar, Shinjuku – Hakone-Yumoto, one way, on top of the pass | ¥1,200 | ¥600 |
Fujikyu's child bus fare is half the adult fare, rounded up to the nearest ¥10. Children below elementary-school age ride free, but pay the child fare if they occupy a seat. For the Hakone Freepass, children under 6 do not need a ticket. On the Romancecar, a child under 6 who takes a seat needs a child limited express ticket (¥600 from Shinjuku) and a child fare ticket; a child on an adult's lap needs neither.
Worked example: two adults and one child aged 6–11
Fujikyu lists the bus fares as starting fares ("from"). This example assumes your bus charges those fares, and that the child pays the child fare on every ticket.
Kawaguchiko by highway bus, with a 1-day sightseeing-bus ticket
- Bus out: 2 × ¥2,200 + ¥1,100 = ¥5,500; back the same, so ¥11,000.
- Sightseeing bus: 2 × ¥1,500 + ¥750 = ¥3,750.
- Transport total: ¥14,750, at the listed starting fares, without the online adult price.
Hakone with the 2-day Freepass from Shinjuku
- Passes: 2 × ¥7,100 + ¥1,600 = ¥15,800.
- Romancecar both ways: 2 × ¥1,200 × 2 + ¥600 × 2 = ¥6,000.
- Transport total: ¥21,800, or ¥15,800 if you take ordinary Odakyu trains instead of the Romancecar.
The two totals are not like for like: the Freepass runs for two days and covers eight kinds of transport in the Hakone area, while the Kawaguchiko figure is one day of buses.
Sources for this section: Fujikyu Bus: Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko starting fares and child rules · Fujikyu Travel: Kawaguchiko, Saiko and Motosuko sightseeing bus tickets · Odakyu: Hakone Freepass
Getting around Kawaguchiko by sightseeing bus
Fujikyu's sightseeing-bus tickets cover the Red Line (Kawaguchiko), Green Line (Saiko) and Blue Line (Motosuko) routes, with unlimited rides for one or two days. You buy them online after registering for a free Fujikyu Travel web account, and on the day you show the ticket on your phone screen when you board; a printout is not accepted. Before buying, add up the single fares for the rides you actually plan and compare the total with the ticket price (our judgement).
Sources for this section: Fujikyu Travel: Kawaguchiko, Saiko and Motosuko sightseeing bus tickets
With a stroller or step-free needs
This guide has not verified step-free access for the buses, sightseeing buses, ropeway or cruise. For what to plan around a stroller in general, see Japan with a stroller.
Hakone: Romancecar and the Hakone Freepass
You always need the Romancecar limited express ticket (¥1,200 adult) on top of a fare ticket, which can be a normal ticket or a Freepass. The ¥1,200 is the station price; an adult limited express ticket bought on EMot Online Tickets is ¥50 cheaper, so ¥1,150 from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto. Changes and refunds are possible only before departure; refunds cost ¥100. If the Romancecar is full, Rapid Express and Express trains take about two hours from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, with few seats and none guaranteed.
The Freepass gives unlimited rides on eight modes of transport: the Odakyu Line, Hakone Tozan train and cable car, Hakone Ropeway, the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise, and Hakone Tozan, Odakyu Highway and Tokai buses within set areas. From Shinjuku it costs ¥7,100 for 2 days or ¥7,500 for 3 days (children ¥1,600 or ¥1,850); from Odawara, ¥6,000 or ¥6,400. The Freepass comes as a paper ticket from Odakyu stations and machines or as a digital ticket on EMot Online Tickets. Each digital pass is for one person, but the 'For Group' option lets you buy and show up to four passes, adults and children combined, on one smartphone, as long as the group stays together.
Validity ends with the last service of the final day: in Odakyu's words, "2 days does not mean 48 hours". Our recommendation: the Freepass is built for a full loop day. If you are only going to an inn near Hakone-Yumoto and back, price single tickets first.
Sources for this section: Odakyu: Romancecar · Odakyu: Hakone Freepass
The Hakone loop and its weak points
The usual loop: Tozan train from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora, cable car to Sounzan, ropeway over Owakudani to Togendai, boat across Lake Ashi, bus back. Each leg depends on the one before, and the ropeway is the weakest: it stops for winds of 30 m/s or more, extreme weather, mechanical trouble and annual inspections.
Scheduled works: Owakudani–Sounzan closes from 7 December 2026 to 24 December 2026, and Togendai–Ubako–Owakudani from 12 January 2027 to 26 February 2027. Freepass holders can use the replacement buses, which the operator expects to be very crowded. The ropeway runs 9:00–17:00 from February to November and 9:00–16:15 in December and January.
Our view: check Hakone Navi's operating status before you leave Tokyo, be on the Tozan train by mid-morning, and keep a fallback that needs no ropeway, such as the Open-Air Museum on the Tozan line or an onsen in Yumoto.
Sources for this section: Hakone Navi: Hakone Ropeway · Hakone Ropeway: replacement buses during scheduled maintenance (PDF, September 2026) · Hakone Navi: operating status
Crowds and local rules around the Fuji Five Lakes
The "Lawson Fuji" spot: in May 2024 Fujikawaguchiko town put up a black screen in front of the Lawson near Kawaguchiko Station to protect residents and tourists from traffic accidents. The town page doesn't say whether it is still up. Either way, don't step into the road for a photo. The town's English page also says drone flying is prohibited in Fujikawaguchiko.
Chureito Pagoda (Arakurayama Sengen Park, Fujiyoshida): the city cancelled the park's cherry-blossom festival for spring 2026, citing more than 10,000 visitors a day at peak bloom and one- to three-hour queues for the viewing deck, but still ran crowd controls from 1 April 2026 to 17 April 2026, with timed entry to the deck and no tripods there. The city hadn't announced 2027 plans when we checked.
New accommodation taxes: Fujikawaguchiko and Fujiyoshida both plan to charge ¥200 per person per night at hotels, ryokan, guesthouses and other licensed lodgings, and at registered minpaku (private lodgings) from 1 April 2027, after national approval on 30 June 2026.
The Mt Fuji Fifth Station: on the Yamanashi side, the gate on the Yoshida Trail applies to climbers only. Yamanashi says there is no fee for strolling the Ochudo trail or sightseeing at the Fifth Station outside the gate.
Sources for this section: Fujikawaguchiko Town: black screen, drones and photo spots · Fujiyoshida City: spring 2026 safety measures (PDF, Japanese) · Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: accommodation tax consents (30 June 2026, Japanese) · Mt. Fuji Climbing: Yamanashi 2026 notice · Fujiyoshida City: press release on not holding the 2026 cherry-blossom festival (PDF, 3 February 2026, Japanese)
Climbing Mount Fuji: the short version
In 2026 the Yoshida and Subashiri trails opened on 1 July 2026 and the Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails on 10 July 2026, all closing on 10 September 2026. The Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi) charged ¥4,000 per person, capped passage at 4,000 climbers a day and closed its gate from 14:00 to 03:00 except for hut guests; booking a passage slot online was optional.
The Shizuoka trails (Subashiri, Fujinomiya, Gotemba) also charged ¥4,000 and required registration and an online rules test through the FUJI NAVI app or on site. The official Mt. Fuji Climbing site hadn't published 2027 rules when we checked on 9 October 2026.
Sources for this section: Mt. Fuji Climbing: Yamanashi 2026 notice · Mt. Fuji Climbing: Shizuoka 2026 notice
Luggage
Fuji Five Lakes: Keio's FAQ says its buses usually have hold space for suitcases, though bulky items such as bicycles or skis may be refused. Fujikyu's Kawaguchiko Station page and its Q&A don't list lockers or bag storage, so on a day trip leave big bags at your Tokyo hotel, and if you're staying, ask your Kawaguchiko hotel whether it will hold bags before check-in.
Hakone: the Hakone Luggage Transport Service counter in Hakone-Yumoto Station takes bags from 8:30 to 12:00 and delivers to covered hotels for pickup after 15:00, for ¥1,500 per bag (up to 140 cm, 15 kg) or ¥2,500 for large bags (up to 200 cm, 30 kg). For the return, ask at the hotel desk by 10:00.
Sources for this section: Keio: highway-buses.jp Kawaguchiko routes · Hakone Navi: Hakone Luggage Transport Service · Keio: highway-buses.jp FAQ
Common mistakes
Booking only the outward train: return seats on busy days go just as fast.
Assuming the Freepass covers the Romancecar: it never does.
Starting the Hakone loop after lunch: the ropeway stops at 17:00, or 16:15 in December and January.
Planning Fuji and Hakone in one day from Tokyo: you will spend it on buses between them.
Key facts, checked 9 October 2026
Fuji Excursion: ¥4,200 one way Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko; seats on sale at 10:00 Japan time one month before.
Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko bus: ¥2,200; Keio and Fujikyu sell separately from 1 October 2026.
Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku: ¥7,100 for 2 days; Romancecar ticket ¥1,200 extra each way.
Hakone Ropeway works: 7 December 2026 to 24 December 2026 and 12 January 2027 to 26 February 2027.
Sources for this section: Fujikyu Railway: Fuji Excursion · Fujikyu Bus: Busta Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko booking change from 1 October 2026 (Japanese) · Odakyu: Hakone Freepass · Hakone Ropeway: replacement buses during scheduled maintenance (PDF, September 2026)
Questions about this guide
Train or bus from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko?
The bus from Shinjuku costs ¥2,200 against ¥4,200 for the Fuji Excursion and runs more often. The train has no unreserved cars and avoids road traffic, so on weekends and holidays we'd take it if timing matters. Either way, book both directions as soon as sales open one month before.
Do I need to book the Romancecar to Hakone?
Yes. Every seat is reserved, and tickets go on sale at 10:00 Japan time one month before. If it's full, the Hakone Freepass covers ordinary Odakyu Line trains: Odakyu says Rapid Express and Express trains take about two hours from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, with few seats.
Can I do Mount Fuji and Hakone together?
Yes, with a night in between. Take a bus between Kawaguchiko and Gotemba Station, then a bus from Gotemba into Hakone; Hakone Navi lists the Gotemba buses to Sengokuhara, Gora and Togendai. In one day from Tokyo, most of it would be spent on buses, in our view.
Is one night at Kawaguchiko enough to see Mount Fuji?
For most first trips, yes, in our view. You get an evening and a morning at the view and can leave the next afternoon. Nobody can promise a clear view, so check live cameras and the forecast on the day and keep a plan that works without the mountain.
Official pages for this guide
The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.
- Fujikyu Railway: Fuji Excursion
- JR East: JR TOKYO Wide Pass
- Keio: highway-buses.jp Kawaguchiko routes
- Fujikyu Bus: Busta Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko booking change from 1 October 2026 (Japanese)
- Fujikyu Bus: Tokyo Station–Kawaguchiko route (Japanese)
- Odakyu: Romancecar
- Odakyu: Hakone Freepass
- Hakone Navi: Hakone Ropeway
- Hakone Ropeway: replacement buses during scheduled maintenance (PDF, September 2026)
- Hakone Navi: crowd forecast
- Hakone Navi: operating status
- Hakone Navi: Hakone Luggage Transport Service
- Fujikawaguchiko Town: black screen, drones and photo spots
- Fujiyoshida City: spring 2026 safety measures (PDF, Japanese)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: accommodation tax consents (30 June 2026, Japanese)
- Mt. Fuji Climbing: Yamanashi 2026 notice
- Mt. Fuji Climbing: Shizuoka 2026 notice
- Fujikyu Bus: Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko starting fares and child rules
- Fujikyu Travel: Kawaguchiko, Saiko and Motosuko sightseeing bus tickets
- Hakone Navi: Gotemba Station bus stops
- Keio: highway-buses.jp FAQ
- Fujiyoshida City: press release on not holding the 2026 cherry-blossom festival (PDF, 3 February 2026, Japanese)
- Fujikyu Bus: Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station bus timetable and fares
Read next
- Planning a Mount Fuji view: what to check for your dayUse past trends, live webcams, and regional forecasts for different steps of your planning—and always keep a solid backup plan ready.
- Travel lighter in JapanCompare luggage delivery against station lockers.
- JR Pass or individual tickets?Check your eligibility, routes, and required journeys.
- Find an onsen that suits your visitExplore private-bath options, tattoo policies and bathing etiquette to choose an experience that fits your group.
- Enjoy Japan with fewer crowdsFind a better time to visit, group nearby sights and build a flexible day, with Kyoto as a practical example.
Sources and how this guide was checked
Published · Based on official sources · no affiliate links
Official sources
These official sources explain the rules and conditions used in this guide. Live availability and your own booking, admission or service outcome still need to be confirmed for your trip.
- Fujikyu Railway: Fuji Excursion
What this confirms: Gives the stops, trains per day, fares, sale time, seat-unspecified tickets and the suspended Azusa and Kaiji ticket sales.
Last checked - JR East: JR TOKYO Wide Pass
What this confirms: Gives the pass price, area and seat-reservation rules.
Last checked - Keio: highway-buses.jp Kawaguchiko routes
What this confirms: Gives the Shinjuku and Shibuya bus fares and times, the Fifth Station bus fares.
Last checked - Fujikyu Bus: Busta Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko booking change from 1 October 2026 (Japanese)
What this confirms: Explains that Keio and Fujikyu sell their own buses separately from 1 October 2026.
Last checked - Fujikyu Bus: Tokyo Station–Kawaguchiko route (Japanese)
What this confirms: Gives the fare, journey time and one-month booking window from Tokyo Station.
Last checked - Odakyu: Romancecar
What this confirms: Gives the limited express fee, journey time, sale time, refund fee and slower alternatives.
Last checked - Odakyu: Hakone Freepass
What this confirms: Gives prices, the eight modes covered, the validity rule and a worked example. The child fare age notes and separate adult and child Romancecar fees were rechecked on 13 October 2026.
Last checked - Hakone Navi: Hakone Ropeway
What this confirms: Gives operating hours and the conditions that stop the ropeway.
Last checked - Hakone Ropeway: replacement buses during scheduled maintenance (PDF, September 2026)
What this confirms: Gives the closed sections and dates and the replacement bus arrangements.
Last checked - Hakone Navi: crowd forecast
What this confirms: Lists Hakone's busy periods.
Last checked - Hakone Navi: operating status
What this confirms: Shows the live operating status of Hakone transport.
Last checked - Hakone Navi: Hakone Luggage Transport Service
What this confirms: Gives the counter hours, prices, size limits and return rules.
Last checked - Fujikawaguchiko Town: black screen, drones and photo spots
What this confirms: Explains the screen near Kawaguchiko Station and the drone rule.
Last checked - Fujiyoshida City: spring 2026 safety measures (PDF, Japanese)
What this confirms: Gives the 2026 crowd controls, road closures and viewing-deck rules at Chureito Pagoda.
Last checked - Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: accommodation tax consents (30 June 2026, Japanese)
What this confirms: Records national approval of the Fujikawaguchiko and Fujiyoshida accommodation taxes.
Last checked - Mt. Fuji Climbing: Yamanashi 2026 notice
What this confirms: Gives the Yoshida Trail fee, cap, gate hours and the no-fee rule for Fifth Station sightseeing.
Last checked - Mt. Fuji Climbing: Shizuoka 2026 notice
What this confirms: Gives the Shizuoka trail fee, registration and rules test.
Last checked - Fujikyu Bus: Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko starting fares and child rules
What this confirms: Lists starting fares, the online adult price, and preschool and occupied-seat fare conditions; the family example assumes these starting fares apply.
Last checked - Fujikyu Travel: Kawaguchiko, Saiko and Motosuko sightseeing bus tickets
What this confirms: Lists the one-day and two-day ticket prices, covered sightseeing-bus routes, free web registration and smartphone-screen boarding; the child age range is not defined on this page.
Last checked - Hakone Navi: Gotemba Station bus stops
What this confirms: Lists the buses from Gotemba Station to Sengoku, Gora and Togendai.
Last checked - Keio: highway-buses.jp FAQ
What this confirms: Says the buses usually have hold space for suitcases and that the road to the Fifth Station can be closed by snow in winter; bulky items such as bicycles or skis may be refused.
Last checked - Fujiyoshida City: press release on not holding the 2026 cherry-blossom festival (PDF, 3 February 2026, Japanese)
What this confirms: Gives the decision not to hold the 2026 festival, the figure of more than 10,000 visitors a day at peak bloom and the one-to-three-hour queues for the viewing deck.
Last checked - Fujikyu Bus: Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station bus timetable and fares
What this confirms: Gives the Fifth Station bus timetable and fares; service is suspended when the Fuji Subaru Line is closed or open only as far as the 1st Station.
Last checked
About this guide
Fuji Excursion train, Shinjuku buses or the Romancecar: when seats go on sale, what the Hakone Freepass covers, and why we'd skip doing both in one day.
Checked against railway, bus, prefectural, city and town pages on 8 October 2026, with fares, the ropeway works and Mount Fuji's trail rules re-checked on 9 October 2026. Whether you'll actually see the mountain is a separate question. Japan, Booked. is independent and this page has no affiliate links.
How we checked this
Sources and limits of this guide
These dated notes clarify what is confirmed by official sources—and what you still need to verify yourself.
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Question | What we found | Where it comes from | What this means for your trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| When do Fuji Excursion seats go on sale? | At 10:00 Japan time one month before travel; there are no unreserved cars. | Fujikyu Railway: Fuji Excursion | Book both directions at once. |
| Does the Hakone Freepass cover the Romancecar? | No: the ¥1,200 limited express ticket is always extra. | Odakyu: Hakone Freepass | Budget ¥9,500 per adult for a Shinjuku round trip with the 2-day pass. |
| Will the Hakone ropeway run on my day? | Not on sections under scheduled works from 7 December 2026 to 24 December 2026 and 12 January 2027 to 26 February 2027, nor in high wind. | Hakone Ropeway: replacement buses during scheduled maintenance (PDF, September 2026) | Check the operating status before you leave Tokyo. |
| How do I book the Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko bus? | It costs ¥2,200, and Keio and Fujikyu sell their seats separately from 1 October 2026. | Fujikyu Bus: Busta Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko booking change from 1 October 2026 (Japanese) | Book each bus with the operator that runs it, outward and return. |
Based on official sources, linked below.
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- Fujikyu Railway and Fujikyu Bus, JR East, Keio highway-buses.jp, Odakyu, Hakone Navi and the Hakone Ropeway, Fujikawaguchiko Town, Fujiyoshida City, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the official Mt. Fuji Climbing site, checked 8 October 2026 and 9 October 2026.
- Latest update
- : Added Hakone Ekiden busy dates, the adult EMot discount, the under-6 Romancecar seat rule and Freepass paper/digital group options; added Gotemba bus stops. Fuji side: added Fifth Station winter bus suspension, clarified accommodation-tax scope, and added sources for luggage and Chureito figures. The guide was not fully rechecked, so the review date is unchanged.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
Who edits this guide
One editor looks after this guide
Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- Scoped article update
Added Hakone Ekiden busy dates, the adult EMot discount, the under-6 Romancecar seat rule and Freepass paper/digital group options; added Gotemba bus stops. Fuji side: added Fifth Station winter bus suspension, clarified accommodation-tax scope, and added sources for luggage and Chureito figures. The guide was not fully rechecked, so the review date is unchanged.
- Correction
Chureito Pagoda: the city's figure is more than 10,000 visitors a day at peak bloom. Checked on 11 October 2026. The guide was not fully rechecked, so the review date is unchanged.
- First published
First published: day trip or overnight for Kawaguchiko and Hakone, how and when to book the Fuji Excursion, highway buses and the Romancecar, a cost example for two adults, what the Hakone Freepass covers, the ropeway works, local rules and Mount Fuji trail rules, checked against official pages on 8 October 2026 and 9 October 2026.
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.