Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 metres, is one of the country’s most popular destinations. The Fuji Excursion train makes reaching the Mount Fuji area easier, via a direct service from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko without transfers.
This guide covers the Fuji Excursion limited express route, schedule, journey times, ticket prices, seat reservations, and JR Pass coverage.
Table of Contents
Fuji Excursion service
The Fuji Excursion is operated by E353 series trains. Between Shinjuku and Otsuki, cars 1 through 3 run coupled to a Kaiji or Azusa limited express.
The fastest services take 1 hour 54 minutes from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Stations. Four round trips operate daily, with additional seasonal services on selected dates.
Key stops include:
- Otsuki: Access point for the Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center
- Shimoyoshida: A convenient stop for the Mount Fuji area
- Mt. Fuji: A gateway station for Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes
- Fujikyu Highland: Serves the Fujikyu Highland amusement park
- Kawaguchiko: Located next to Lake Kawaguchi and serving the Fuji Five Lakes area
Route and stops
The Fuji Excursion is a regular limited express service which runs between Shinjuku on the Chuo Line and Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi) on the Fujikyuko Line.
Four round trips operate daily and stop at the following stations:
- Shinjuku
- Tachikawa
- Hachiōji
- Ōtsuki
- Tsuru-bunkadaigaku-mae
- Shimo-Yoshida
- Mount Fuji
- Fujikyu Highland
- Kawaguchiko
The last 3 stations (Mount Fuji, Fujikyu-Highland, and Kawaguchiko) serve as gateway stations for Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes.
Tickets and prices
Fuji Excursion tickets include a basic fare ticket and a limited express ticket. Current one-way fares are:
| Fuji Excursion ticket prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | Adult price | Child price |
| Shinjuku – Kawaguchiko | 4,200 yen | 2, 200 yen |
| Shinjuku – Fujikyu Highland | 4, 130 yen | 2, 160 yen |
| Shinjuku – Mt. Fuji (Fujisan) | 4, 070 yen | 2, 130 yen |
| Shinjuku – Tsuru-bunkadaigaku-mae | 3,400 yen | 1,800 yen |
| Otsuki – Mt. Fuji | 1,640 yen | 920 yen |
| Otsuki – Fujikyu Highland | 1,700 yen | 950 yen |
| Otsuki – Kawaguchiko | 1,770 yen | 990 yen |
The JR Pass gives you unlimited access to transportation all around Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days, including Shinkansen.
A single ticket, huge savings.
How to buy tickets
You can buy tickets for the Fuji Excursion service from JR ticket offices and machines.
If you have a Japan Rail Pass you can ride a part of the Fuji Excursion (Shinjuku – Otsuki) without needing an additional ticket. For travel from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko, you’ll need to pay the Fujikyu Railway basic fare and limited express fee:
- Basic fare: Otsuki – Kawaguchiko: 1170 yen (adult), 590 yen (child)
- Fuji Excursion limited express fee: 600 yen (adult); 400 yen (child)
- Total with paper tickets: 1770 yen for adults, 990 yen for children
Fuji Excursion timetable
Here’s the current weekday timetable for Fuji Excursion trains.
| Fuji Excursion timetable from Tokyo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | Fuji Excursion No. 3 | Fuji Excursion No. 7 | Fuji Excursion No. 11 | Fuji Excursion No. 15 |
| Chiba | 06:38 | – | – | – |
| Funabashi | 06:53 | – | – | – |
| Kinshicho | 07:07 | – | – | – |
| Shinjuku | 7:30 | 8:30 | 9:30 | 10:30 |
| Tachikawa | 7:53 | 9:00 | 9:59 | 10:54 |
| Hachioji | 8:03 | 9:09 | 10:09 | 11:02 |
| Otsuki | 8:40 | 9:42 | 10:42 | 11:36 |
| Tsuru Bunka University | 8:57 | 9:58 | 10:59 | 11:56 |
| Shimo-Yoshida | 9:13 | 10:13 | 11:14 | 12:12 |
| Mount Fuji (Fujisan) | 9:23 | 10:21 | 11:23 | 12:19 |
| Fujikyu Highland | 9:26 | 10:23 | 11:25 | 12:22 |
| Kawaguchiko | 9:28 | 10:26 | 11:28 | 12:24 |
Some intermediate departure times vary slightly on Saturdays and holidays, although the Shinjuku departures and Kawaguchiko arrival times remain the same. Additional Fuji Excursion trains may operate on selected dates.
Seat reservation
The Fuji Excursion has no dedicated non-reserved cars. You can reserve a specific seat or travel without an assigned seat.
With a reserved-seat ticket, you have a specific seat for your journey. If you travel without a seat reservation, you can use a currently vacant seat, but you must move if someone who reserved it boards.
The lamps above the seats show their reservation status:
- Red: The seat is currently vacant.
- Yellow: The seat will soon be occupied by someone with a reservation.
- Green: The seat is currently reserved.
If you have a Japan Rail Pass, the Shinjuku–Otsuki section is covered, and you can reserve a seat for that section at no extra cost.
To continue beyond Otsuki, you must pay the Fujikyu Railway basic fare and limited express fee, as this section is not covered by the pass.
Reserve your seat for the full Fuji Excursion journey if you want a guaranteed seat. Reservations generally open at 10:00 one month before the travel date.