Why Choose Public Transport for Your Mount Fuji Trip?
Before we left, my travel companion and I reached a simple consensus: we had to see Mount Fuji. We decided to dedicate three full days to staying at the foot of the mountain. Because our goal was focused and we weren’t trying to cover too much ground, we found that relying entirely on public transport was not only sufficient but actually incredibly stress-free.
As for our luck? Over those three days, Mount Fuji treated us to three completely different moods: a crystal-clear summit under cloudless skies, a shy peak playing peek-a-boo behind the clouds, and finally, disappearing from sight entirely.
Day 1｜Taiwan → Tokyo → Shinjuku: a travel buffer day
The only goal on day one was to arrive without pushing too hard.
After clearing immigration, we took the Narita Express from Narita Airport into Shinjuku. One lesson learned the hard way: buy food before you board — the N’EX has no dining car, and sitting there hungry for over an hour was one of our biggest regrets from this trip.
That night we stayed at Via Inn Shinjuku, which turned out to have a small living room area in the room — perfect for eating convenience store finds after a long day of travel.
Day 2｜Shinjuku → Kawaguchiko accommodation: the first glimpse of Fuji
The next morning we took the Fujikyu Railway straight to Kawaguchiko. A seating tip: sitting on the left side fills your window with Mount Fuji for most of the journey, though after Fujikyu Highland Station the right side gets a brief view too.
We were lucky — Mount Fuji was completely clear on arrival day. The view was there from the first afternoon. We dropped our bags at the hotel first (we were actually the first to check in and got a room with a Fuji-facing view), then headed out.
The afternoon itinerary:
Arakurayama Sengen Park viewing platform — morning light is better here; afternoon can be backlit
Fujiyoshida retro shopping street — the classic crosswalk shot; fewer people queuing as the sun starts to set
Kanadorii — a good walk from the shopping street, don’t underestimate the distance
Day 3｜staying in Kawaguchiko: the flexible backup day
Having already seen the mountain clearly on day two, the mood on day three was noticeably more relaxed — the main mission was done.
After breakfast, we walked to Kawaguchi Sengen Shrine Yohaisho and nearly had the place to ourselves — a very different feel from the day before, and a completely different view of Fuji.
In the afternoon we took the Kawaguchiko ropeway up to Tenjoyama Park. After queuing to go up, Mount Fuji was still hiding in the clouds. The mood was calmer than the day before — more of a “let’s just take a walk” visit than a photo mission.
Back in town, we finally had time to browse souvenirs properly. FUJIYAMA COOKIE and Fujisan Pudding are two of the most recommended Fuji-themed sweets — don’t leave them too late in the day, they go fast.
Day 4｜Kawaguchiko → Shinjuku: when clouds take over, leave early
We had originally planned to stay until the afternoon, but when Mount Fuji disappeared completely behind clouds and light rain started, we switched to the highway bus back to Shinjuku without hesitation.
The afternoon became a city day — we went to Odaiba to visit IMMERSIVE FORT TOKYO, billed as the world’s first fully immersive experience-themed facility. If you understand Japanese, it’s a genuinely worthwhile indoor programme.
Day 5｜Shinjuku → Tokyo → Taiwan: heading home
For the return stay in Shinjuku we switched to an APA Hotel — no living room, but better onsen facilities than the first place. Both have their strengths, so it depends what you prioritise.
We took the Narita Express to the airport and closed out a trip that was entirely built around Mount Fuji. Looking back, I still feel lucky. No regrets at all.
Read more: More Japan travel articles
FAQ
Yes — this entire trip was done by public transport. We took the Fujikyu Railway from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko, navigated the area primarily by local bus and on foot, with just a brief ropeway ride for the view. Not a single leg required a car.
If your goal is actually seeing Mount Fuji, budget at least two full days in the Kawaguchiko area and build in a backup day for weather.
Visibility changes dramatically — the mountain can look completely different in the same day between morning and afternoon. Staying lakeside lets you check out the window and adjust plans on the fly.
Doing a day trip from Tokyo means if the weather is bad, you’ve wasted the whole journey.
Travelling from Shinjuku, the left side has the best Fuji view before Fujikyu Highland Station — but after that stop, the right side also gets a brief glimpse.
Worth confirming your seat direction before boarding, especially on a clear day.
FUJIYAMA COOKIE and FUJISAN PUDDING are the two most recommended Fuji-themed sweets. The cookies have a cute shape and travel well back to Taiwan; the pudding is better eaten on-site.
Both sell out quickly — limited quantities are often gone by mid-afternoon. Work them into your morning or lunchtime plans rather than leaving them as an afterthought.
