Fuji Excursion Train Guide: How to Book, Timetable and More

Direct Train from Tokyo to Mount Fuji:
The Fuji Excursion Limited Express

Main Features of the Fuji Excursion
How to Book Tickets for the Fuji Excursion
1. For Those Without a JR Tokyo Wide Pass
2. For Holders of the JR Tokyo Wide Pass
3. For Holders of Other JR Passes
What to Do If You Can't Reserve a Seat on the Fuji Excursion?
Fuji Excursion 2024 Timetable
Highlights of the Fuji Excursion Train Route

Main Features of the Fuji Excursion

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The Fuji Excursion Limited Express Train, or FUJI EXCURSION, is a direct train from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Mount Fuji.

Previously, to travel to the Lake Kawaguchi area, one had to transfer trains or take a highway bus. However, now you can reach it by boarding the Fuji Excursion train from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station, with a travel time of 1 hour and 55 minutes!

During the journey, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. If you want to explore the Lake Kawaguchi area, the Fuji Excursion train is the ideal mode of transportation.

Because the Lake Kawaguchi area is a very popular destination, it's essential to purchase JR Fuji Excursion train tickets in advance to secure your seat. Details on how to book tickets for the Fuji Excursion, the timetable, seating arrangements, and more will be explained in detail below.

How to Book Tickets for the Fuji Excursion

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There are three ways of booking and buying tickets for the Fuji Excursion Limited Express.

1. For Those Without a JR Tokyo Wide Pass

If you're not using a JR Tokyo Wide Pass, you can directly reserve your Fuji Excursion ticket on the booking site Klook.

While the JR official website allows booking 30 days in advance, Klook allows booking 90 days in advance, making it convenient for travelers to book early. The round-trip price for the Fuji Excursion ticket is around 8,000 yen.

Furthermore, tickets purchased on Klook include reserved Fuji Excursion seats, so there's no need to go through the seat reservation process separately!

After successfully purchasing the advance ticket, Klook will send a confirmation email and a QR Code. Simply present the QR Code at the green counter at JR Shinjuku Station or other JR stations in the Tokyo area to collect your Fuji Excursion tickets.

Quick reminder: Tickets purchased 30 days before the travel date are called "advance tickets" and will only be issued on the actual travel date 30 days in advance.

2. For Holders of the JR Tokyo Wide Pass

Holders of the JR Tokyo Wide Pass can reserve the Fuji Excursion limited express train for free by directly visiting the JR East Japan official website to make a reservation.

* The adult ticket price for the JR Tokyo Wide Pass is 15,000 yen.

When you access the JR website, if you purchased your JR Tokyo Wide Pass on the JR official website, select "Pass purchased on this website." If you bought it on platforms like Klook, choose "Pass purchased elsewhere than this website."

The following steps are straightforward:
- You enter your departure station, arrival station, travel date, departure time, and other basic information in sequence.
- Select the "Fuji-Excursion" limited express train and proceed to reserve your seat for the Fuji Excursion online.

After making the reservation, you can collect your Fuji Excursion tickets at the green counter at JR Shinjuku Station or other JR stations in the Tokyo area.

Can JR Tokyo Wide Pass holders board the train without a reservation?

Essentially, the Fuji Excursion trains operate with reserved seating.

However, if you haven't booked a seat on the JR website, you can still board the train directly on the day by presenting your pass. When you enter the train car, you will notice that each seat has a display with red, yellow, and green lights - red indicates an available seat, while yellow and green signify reserved seats.

Therefore, if you haven't reserved a seat in advance, you can choose to sit in a seat with a red light. However, given that the Kawaguchiko area is a highly popular tourist spot, it's advisable for everyone to make reservations early to ensure a more comfortable journey.

Can you see Mount Fuji from the window seats on Fuji Excursion?

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When riding the Fuji Excursion train, which side is better for selecting seats?

If you want to enjoy the beautiful view of Mount Fuji, both sides are actually good.

As you approach the station closest to Mount Fuji, you can see it on the left side, but for the remainder of the stations, it will be on the right side.

We actually recommend the seats on the right side for the best and most expansive view of the mountain!

The seat reservation window on Klook

Reserved seats need to be booked in advance, so you don't have to worry about not finding a seat.

If you have already decided on your travel date and departure time and want to board the train easily and stress-free, this method is highly recommended.

3. For Holders of Other JR Passes

If you do not have the JR Tokyo Wide Pass but possess another type of JR Pass, you can still ride the Fuji Excursion train.

However, because the Fuji Excursion train is operated jointly by JR East and Fujikyu Railway, passengers interested in boarding must pay an additional fee for the Limited Express between Otsuki and Kawaguchiko, which costs 1,770 yen for a one-way trip.

Passengers with a JR Pass can secure a reservation in advance at the JR Ticket Offices at JR train stations before boarding.

Note: Holders of the JR Pass All Japan Rail Pass, JR East Rail Pass (Tohoku area), JR East Rail Pass (Nagano, Niigata area), and JR East/North Hokkaido Rail Pass all need to pay the additional fee for the Limited Express between Otsuki and Kawaguchiko.

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What to Do If You Can't Reserve a Seat on the Fuji Excursion Train?

If you find yourself unable to reserve any seats, there's no need to worry. You have alternative options for reaching the Kawaguchiko area.

Firstly, from JR Shinjuku Station, you can take the Limited Express train Kaiji or Azusa to Otsuki Station, then transfer to the Fujikyu Railway line to reach the Kawaguchiko area.

Note: Not every train on the Limited Express Azusa route stops at Otsuki Station, so it's important to pay attention when making reservations.

Additionally, travelers can also utilize highway buses to reach Kawaguchiko. Direct highway bus services are available from the Shinjuku Bus Terminal, Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shibuya, and Yokohama to the Kawaguchiko area.

For detailed bus schedules, please refer to the official website of Fujikyu Express Bus (Japanese).

Fuji Excursion 2024 Timetable

Regardless of weekdays or holidays, there are a total of four round trips daily between Tokyo's Shinjuku Station and the Kawaguchiko area for the Fuji Excursion train. Below is the latest timetable.

The Fujikyuko Line platform at Shinjuku Station

On the day of departure, after arriving at Shinjuku Station, please proceed to platforms 9 and 10 of the station (Chuo Line Special Rapid Service platforms) for boarding.

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Points of Interest Along the Fuji Excursion Train Route

The Fuji Excursion train makes stops at various stations along its route, including Shimoyoshida Station, Mt. Fuji Station, Fuji-Q Highland Station, and Kawaguchiko Station. Let us now introduce the ways to enjoy each station along the route.

Shimoyoshida Station

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If you disembark at Shimoyoshida Station, you can take a leisurely walk to the Arakurayama Sengen Park to enjoy the picturesque view of the five-story pagoda against the backdrop of Mount Fuji.

During the cherry blossom season, it's also a great spot for cherry blossom viewing. For shopping, dining, and capturing stunning views of Mount Fuji, we recommend visiting the Fujiyoshida Honcho Shopping Street.

If you have enough time, it's also highly recommended to walk directly from Shimoyoshida Station to Mt. Fuji Station, which takes about 30 minutes or so.

Mt. Fuji Station

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Mt. Fuji Station serves as the central station of Fujiyoshida City, with a plethora of buses departing from here. You can catch buses from this station to the 5th Station (starting point for climbing Mt. Fuji), Gotemba, and Kofu.

Mt. Fuji is Japan's highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage site, standing at 3,776 meters above sea level, spanning Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. From mid-July to mid-September each year, Mt. Fuji is open to visitors for climbing. However, starting from July 1, 2024, all individuals heading to the "Mount Fuji Yoshida Trail" will be charged a 2,000 yen "pass fee," with a daily limit of 4,000 climbers.

It's recommended to make reservations in advance at the Mt. Fuji Climbing Reservation website before your visit to ensure you secure a spot and avoid disappointment!

Fuji-Q Highland Station

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Fuji-Q Highland offers a variety of thrilling amusement rides, including the world's steepest roller coaster, Takabisha, and the sky-high slide, Fujiyama.

For those who enjoy haunted houses, be sure to experience the Abandoned Hospital at Fuji-Q Highland for an extra thrill.

Kawaguchiko Station

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At the final destination, Kawaguchiko Station, you can enjoy the beauty of Lake Kawaguchi by taking a scenic cable car ride and cruising on the Tenkei-maru sightseeing boat.

Additionally, we recommend visiting the Fugaku Wind Cave and the Narusawa Ice Cave to admire their unique landscapes.

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Don't miss out on a visit to Oshino Hakkai as well. Oshino Hakkai comprises eight spring-fed ponds at the foot of Mount Fuji, with water sourced from the mountain's melted snow passing through underground lava layers, filtered for over 20 years to form pristine spring water.

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Travel to Mount Fuji with the Fuji Excursion Limited Express

The above information outlines how to purchase tickets for the Fuji Excursion train and highlights key attractions along the route. Secure your tickets now and embark on a memorable journey to Lake Kawaguchi aboard the comfortable and convenient Fuji Excursion train!

This article is based on information available as of May 2024.