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Where to Stay Near Mount Fuji: Lake Kawaguchiko or Fujiyoshida?

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Where to stay on the Mount Fuji side: Lake Kawaguchiko or the town of Fujiyoshida next door? This guide decides it with official fares, bus passes and walking distances rather than atmosphere. Written for families visiting Japan with kids of different ages, travelling from Shinjuku without a car.

Short answer

  • Stay at Lake Kawaguchiko if the lake and the mountain view are the main goal, if you want to reach Oishi Park on the north shore by the first sightseeing bus, or if you arrive in the evening and want to be on the lakeside first thing next morning.
  • Stay in Fujiyoshida if you want to see the Chureito Pagoda at Arakurayama Sengen Park and the Honcho street view of Mount Fuji early, before the crowds, if you plan to eat Yoshida udon, or if you have a Fuji-Q Highland day.
  • Undecided? Choose Kawaguchiko. The Fujikyu Railway fare from Fujisan Station to Kawaguchiko Station is 180 yen for adults, and from Shimoyoshida Station it is 650 yen. Whichever side you sleep on, the other is a short train ride away.

Comparison table

Item Lake Kawaguchiko (station area and north shore) Fujiyoshida (Fujisan Station and Shimoyoshida Station)
Getting there from Shinjuku Limited express Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko, fastest 1 h 54 min, 4,200 yen (2,580 yen base fare plus 1,620 yen express fee). Highway bus about 1 h 45 min, adult 2,200 to 2,650 yen, with a 2,000 yen web-booking price The Fuji Excursion also stops at Shimoyoshida and Fujisan Station. The highway bus stops at Shimoyoshida on the way and some services end at Fujisan Station
Moving between the two areas Kawaguchiko to Fujisan Station 180 yen, to Shimoyoshida 650 yen (adult, Fujikyu Railway) Fujisan Station to Kawaguchiko 180 yen. The sightseeing bus pass is also sold at Fujisan Station, 8:50 to 17:00
Views you can walk to in the morning The lakeside. Oishi Park on the north shore is about 30 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station by the sightseeing bus Honcho street is a 5-minute walk from Shimoyoshida Station. Arakurayama Sengen Park is about 25 minutes on foot, then 398 steps to the observation deck
Local food Lakeside restaurants (not checked individually for this article) Yoshida udon, a firm wheat noodle. 40 shops in the city as of 2026 according to the city tourist guide. Many noodle makers close on Sundays
Rainy day Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, 10:00 to 17:00 April to November, 10:00 to 16:30 December to March Fujisan Museum, 9:30 to 17:00, closed Tuesdays, adult 400 yen, school-age children 200 yen, preschoolers free, loaner strollers available
Bus passes Sightseeing bus pass for the Kawaguchiko, Saiko and Narusawa lines: 1-day 1,500 yen, 2-day 2,000 yen. Kawaguchiko Station counter 6:30 to 19:00 Mt. Fuji and Fuji Five Lakes Passport, bus-only version 3,300 yen, includes the train between Shimoyoshida and Kawaguchiko. Aimed at people also going to Oshino Hakkai and Lake Yamanakako

Calculation 1: staying in Fujiyoshida barely changes your transport cost

Suppose you sleep in Fujiyoshida and spend a day around the lake. The train from Fujisan Station to Kawaguchiko Station is 180 yen each way, so 360 yen return. Add the 2-day sightseeing bus pass at 2,000 yen and the total is 2,360 yen. Staying at the lake, you would pay only the 2,000 yen pass. The difference is 360 yen per adult, which is smaller than almost any difference in room rates.

The Mt. Fuji and Fuji Five Lakes Passport looks tempting at 3,300 yen for adults and 1,660 yen for children (bus-only version, valid 2 days). It covers the train between Shimoyoshida and Kawaguchiko, the lake sightseeing buses, and the buses to Oshino Hakkai and Lake Yamanakako. If you are not going to Oshino or Yamanakako, the 2-day pass plus ordinary train fares is cheaper. If you ride the Fujikyu Railway from Otsuki, compare the train-inclusive version at 4,700 yen, which includes the 1,170 yen Otsuki to Kawaguchiko fare.

Calculation 2: train or highway bus from Shinjuku

The Fuji Excursion runs four round trips a day, all seats reserved, at 4,200 yen one way to Kawaguchiko. The highway bus costs 2,200 to 2,650 yen depending on the destination, with reserved seats you can book from one month ahead until 30 minutes before departure. The gap is roughly 1,550 to 2,000 yen per adult, so for a family of four it exceeds 6,000 yen each way.

The important detail for Fujiyoshida is that both options stop there. The Fuji Excursion calls at Shimoyoshida and Fujisan Station, and the highway bus calls at Shimoyoshida. You do not need to change trains at Kawaguchiko to reach a Fujiyoshida hotel. For a one-night trip, a practical mix is the express outbound, so you gain the afternoon, and the bus home to save money.

Popular photo spots and what the official pages say

Two Fujiyoshida spots appear again and again in videos and photo posts: Honcho street, where a Showa-era shopping street lines up with Mount Fuji, and Arakurayama Sengen Park, where the five-storey Chureito Pagoda frames the mountain. We could not confirm view counts or posting dates, so we treat them as candidates and checked the facts on official pages.

  • Honcho street (Fuji-michi): the Fujiyoshida city tourist guide states that taking photos from the roadway is dangerous and prohibited, and that the street is a shopping and residential area. Stay on the pavement and use the pedestrian crossings. A tourist information office opened at Shimoyoshida on 30 March 2024.
  • Arakurayama Sengen Park: about 25 minutes on foot from Shimoyoshida Station, 398 steps to the deck, toilets in the park. The four car parks hold 182 cars at 1,000 to 1,500 yen for 6 hours, and the city advises against driving up to the pagoda square because of the crowds. The stairs make it unsuitable for a stroller; carry a baby in a carrier.

Only a Fujiyoshida hotel puts both within an early-morning walk. From a lake hotel, take the train from Kawaguchiko to Shimoyoshida for 650 yen and check the timetable for the journey time.

Sample plan (one night, staying in Fujiyoshida)

Time Plan Notes
Day 1 morning Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko on the Fuji Excursion Reserve seats on JR East’s Eki-net. No unreserved cars
Day 1 midday Buy the bus pass at the Kawaguchiko Station counter, ride to Oishi Park, about 30 minutes. Toilets and parking on site Kochia bushes start turning colour in late September and peak red mid to late October (Yamanashi Prefecture)
Day 1 evening Train Kawaguchiko to Fujisan Station, 180 yen, check in If it rains, swap Oishi Park for the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, last entry 16:30 (16:00 in winter)
Day 2 early Walk to Honcho street (5 minutes from Shimoyoshida) and Arakurayama Sengen Park (about 25 minutes plus 398 steps) Keep off the roadway
Day 2 lunch Yoshida udon Many shops keep short hours and close when the noodles run out; check each shop’s page
Day 2 afternoon Fujisan Museum if wet or tired (closed Tuesdays, open daily in July and August) Highway bus from Shimoyoshida or Fujisan Station, or the Fuji Excursion, back to Shinjuku

If you choose a lake hotel, reverse the days: get off at Shimoyoshida on the way in, see the pagoda and Honcho street, then continue to Kawaguchiko so that day 2 morning is free for the lakeside.

Travelling with kids of different ages

  • Baby or toddler: the 398 steps and the crowded pagoda square are hard with a stroller, so plan a carrier or let one adult stay below. Fujisan Museum lends strollers and has changing tables in the multipurpose toilet, and Oishi Park has toilets and step-free paths. Children’s fares on the Fujikyu Railway and highway bus are half price, rounded up.
  • Elementary-age child: the stairs to the pagoda are a good outlet for energy, and the sightseeing bus pass at 1,000 yen for children keeps lake-hopping cheap. Yoshida udon is very firm, so order a small size for younger eaters.
  • Teenager: Fuji-Q Highland is one or two stations from either area (Otsuki to Fuji-Q Highland is 1,100 yen), so a park day works from both. Teens also tend to enjoy the early photo walk in Fujiyoshida more than a second lake morning.
  • Japanese hotel rules to expect: many rooms count children sharing a futon or bed without extra bedding as “co-sleeping”, often free or discounted under a set age. Tatami rooms are shoes-off and can sleep more people than a twin room. Confirm the number of futons or beds and the child policy on the booking page before you rely on one room for a large family.

Transport notes

  • The 1-day bus pass can be bought on board, but the 2-day pass is sold only at counters or online.
  • Highway bus seats are reserved. Book the return leg together with the outbound leg, and keep the confirmation on your phone. A working data connection makes timetable checks and ticket changes far easier. Get a Japan eSIM for your trip
  • The Fuji Excursion has few departures, so secure the return seat early. Extra trains run in some seasons.
  • We could not confirm coin lockers or nursing rooms at Kawaguchiko, Fujisan or Shimoyoshida stations. Plan to leave luggage at your hotel.

Before you book a hotel

The editors have not stayed at these hotels. These are the points you can check on a booking page.

  • Kawaguchiko: station-area hotels are walkable at check-in. North-shore hotels give the classic lake-and-mountain view but need the sightseeing bus or a hotel shuttle, so check the shuttle times.
  • Fujiyoshida: the walk to the pagoda depends on whether the hotel is near Fujisan Station or Shimoyoshida Station. Measure the distance to Shimoyoshida on a map.
  • A mountain view depends on the weather. Check the surcharge for a “Fuji-side” room and whether anything changes if the mountain is hidden.
  • Rates change daily, so compare both areas for the same dates on the booking site.

Recheck on official pages before you go

  • Fuji Excursion fare of 4,200 yen and the number of daily trains
  • Highway bus fare range and whether the 2,000 yen web price is still offered
  • Sightseeing bus pass prices and the Fuji Five Lakes Passport coverage
  • Kochia and lavender seasons at Oishi Park, and the 2026 dates of the Kawaguchiko autumn leaves festival (announced by the tourism association on 10 July, dates not confirmed here)
  • Closing days and prices at Fujisan Museum and Kubota Itchiku Art Museum (the latter’s admission was not confirmed)
  • Crowd controls or photography rules at Arakurayama Sengen Park and Honcho street

FAQ

Is Fujiyoshida cheaper to stay in than Kawaguchiko?
We do not claim either way. Rates vary by date and property. Compare both on the same dates.

Can I reach Fujiyoshida without a car?
Yes. Both the Fuji Excursion and the highway bus stop at Shimoyoshida, and the express also stops at Fujisan Station. The pagoda and Honcho street are walkable from Shimoyoshida.

Which area is better for Fuji-Q Highland?
The park’s station sits between Fujisan Station and Kawaguchiko Station, so both areas work. Choose the hotel on other criteria.

Does the plan work in winter?
Kubota Itchiku Art Museum stays open December to March, 10:00 to 16:30. Check the winter sightseeing bus timetable, which may have fewer departures.

Sources and date checked

Information checked on 20 September 2026. Fares, timetables and closing days can change.

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