In the meantime, travelers can go by disembarking at nearby train stations or bus terminals, and taking another bus to its gateway or “5th Station.”
There are countless reasons to visit the lovely country of Japan, and the majestic Mount Fuji is definitely at the peak of thousands of travel bucket lists worldwide.
With its imposing and captivating presence, Mount Fuji is easily one of the most iconic sites in Japan. It is the nation’s highest mountain, standing at 3,776 meters, and has a perfect symmetry that stands out when its peak is covered with snow.
In 2013, the stratovolcano was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its beauty, which has inspired the works of many artists and poets. It is also a pilgrimage site, with 200,000 to 300,000 people climbing the mountain every year.
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Despite the high influx of tourists, travelers who wish to climb or view the mountain can only do so by disembarking from nearby train stations or bus terminals, and riding another bus that will take them to the mountain’s gateway or “5th Station.”
However, experiencing the famed mountain up close may turn out easier for many tourists soon, as Yamanashi prefecture— one of the homes of Mount Fuji besides Yamanashi —has proposed a new rail line that will connect the foot of the mountain to its 5th station.
According to Japan Today, the prefecture is planning to construct a double-track line that will operate two-car trains every six minutes for 10 hours every day. The line will run along the Fuji Subaru Line, which is the toll road to Mount Fuji’s 5th station.
The proposed rail line aims to organize foot traffic in the tourist site “while reducing vehicle emissions.” Estimated project cost is Y148.8 billion, with the prefectural government constructing the tracks and a private company operating the trains.
It is projected to transport 3.36 million passengers annually, with a ticket fare of Y10,000 per person. With that, the rail line is expected to yield a profit of Y184.8 billion for Yamanashi prefecture and Y420.7 billion for the operator in 40 years.
Residents have been opposing the project, but Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki remains optimistic about its completion. “There are challenges, but it is achievable,” he told local media in October, noting that the prefecture is eyeing to outline the project’s future direction by the end of 2024.
How to get to Mount Fuji via public transportation
While plans for the new rail line are still up in the air, tourists planning to visit Mt. Fuji, whether to hike or just enjoy a view from Lake Kawaguchiko—can do so through the following:
Bus
- If you’re traveling from Tokyo, take the Express Highway Buses (Y2,000) to Kawaguchiko Station, which is a popular stop for exploring the area. Another viable option is the Limited Expresses buses which offer guaranteed seating and panoramic windows for approximately Y4,100.
- If you’re coming from Osaka, you can ride the Fujiyama Liner which offers overnight trips to Kawaguchiko or Fujisan stations from three terminals: Abeno Harukas building in Tennoji, OCAT bus terminal in Namba, and Higashi-Umeda bus stop in Umeda. “Normal Service” buses offers single seating in three rows and are approximately priced at Y8,900 (one-way) and Y16,100 (return ticket). There’s also the “Discount Service” bus which has paired seats in two rows, with a fare of Y6,900 for one-way trips and Y12,000 for roundtrip tickets.
All passengers getting off at the Kawaguchiko or Fujisan stations should then take a shuttle bus to Fuji-Subaru Line 5th Station where you can get a good view of Mount Fuji or start climbing the mountain.
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Train
- There are two ways to travel from Tokyo to Mount Fuji via train. The first one is by taking the Fuji Excursion train from Shinjuku station to Kawaguchiko. Fare costs approximately Y1,600. The other option is via the Tokaido Shinkansen/bullet train (Y6,000) from Tokyo Station to Kawaguchiko or Shin-Fuji Station, which is the closest bullet train terminal to Mount Fuji. A one-way ticket typically costs Y6,000.
- If you wish to get to Mount Fuji from Osaka via train, the most common route still starts in Tokyo. To get there, take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. Another possible route is through the JR Yokohama Line from any station in Osaka to Hachioji Station in Tokyo. Fare usually costs Y17,000. You can also opt to take the Shinkansen to as far as Mishima Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, which usually costs Y14,180.
Similar to traveling via bus, all passengers disembarking at Kawaguchiko, Shin-Fuji, and Mishima stations would have to take a local bus to the Fuji area.
Best time to visit Mount Fuji
To get the best experience of the iconic Mount Fuji, the ideal time to visit is during the summer season from July to mid-September. With the sunny weather, you can expect to get bright and clear views of the mountain and a less challenging trek to its peak.
Meanwhile, a trip in October or March may not give you the best view because of heavy rains or clouded mountain peaks. Despite that, many travelers still flock to Mount Fuji’s nearby viewing spots in October to take pictures of its snowy top. This year, though, snow started falling late—only in November instead of October.
Just this week, Mount Fujij made rounds on social media when tourists posted photos of its snowless cap. This year marked the latest that snow has ever appeared on the mountain, as its peak remained bare since Oct. 29, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
On Thursday, Nov. 7, the weather agency reported that the mountain finally regained its trademark snowcap, breaking previous records of the latest snow appearance on Oct. 26 in 1955 and 2016. According to JMA, the long absence of snow this year could be due to the extreme temperatures during summer in Japan this year. Some speculated that it could have been caused by climate change, but officials said it’s too early to make a definitive statement.
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