Hi everyone,
I’m planning on visiting **Kawaguchiko** from **Kyoto**, and traveling to **Tokyo** afterwards in end of May 2024 (traveling on **Saturday** and leaving on **Sunday**). I wanted some advice in regards of the commute as I’ve found out that it’s quite a long journey on a weekend so I’m trying to avoid anything that will run into traffic as I’m prone to motion sickness.
My plans in Kawaguchiko are still flexible so I would love some advice!
**Saturday**
Do the commute, get off at Shimoyoshida Station to check out Chuerito Pagoda, Shimoyoshida Honcho Street, and hang around the Shimoyoshida area before checking into FuFu Kawaguchiko around 4PM.
**Sunday**
Wake up early, eat breakfast, rent e-bikes to bike along Lake Kawaguchiko, check out Oishi Park, bike back, check out, leave bags at hotel to check out Kubota Itchiku Art Museum since it’s next door, and start heading out to Tokyo.
I’m trying to figure out what’s the best method of getting to Kawaguchiko and leaving Kawaguchiko to Tokyo (I will be carrying a day bag just to make things a little easier to move around).
I’m just trying to pre-plan my commute, but I’m confused as to when I can use an IC card (I will not be using a JR pass), and when I need to do reserved seating etc. As for pre-booking tickets for the Fujisan Limited Express, I need to figure out whether my foreign Visa credit card will allow to me (probably not from what I have been reading). As I stated before, I get *motion sickness easily, so avoiding the bus is ideal for me.*
1. Shinkansen (Nozomi) from Kyoto -> Shin Yokohama(Yokohama Line) -> Hachiōji Station; Hachiōji Station(Limited Express from Chuo Line) -> Otsuki Station; Otsuki Station (Fujisan Limited Express) -> Shimoyoshida [Google Maps directions](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zcq7A89VzCgE4vcHA)
2. Shinkansen (Hikari) from Kyoto -> Mishima (Express Mishima Kawaguchiko Liner) -> Kawaguchiko Station -> Fujisan Limited Express to Shimoyoshida [Google Map directions](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JEbPsb6jGGoo2Eop7)
3. I really don’t want to take this route but if I must, I will suck it up. Shinkansen (Nozomi) from Kyoto -> Shinagawa (Yamanote Line) -> Shinjuku Station -> Shinjuku Bus Terminal -> Shimoyoshida [Google Map directions](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JeCHHDYHCYwAQQGz9)
As for the commute back home, I’m aware of the highway bus which seems ideal to use, but since we are travelling to Tokyo on a Sunday, I’m concerned about traffic as it’s the end of the weekend.
1. Take bus to Kawaguchiko Station to hop onto the highway bus and pray for no traffic on a Sunday afternoon so I don’t get sick.
2. Bus to Kawaguchiko Station -> Fujisan Limited Express to Shinjuku -> train to Shibuya [Google Map directions](https://maps.app.goo.gl/SRhPNmM6wsmaYSCm8)
TLDR:
1. What is the best route from Kyoto to Kawaguchiko and Kawaguchiko to Tokyo by train?
2. How does one get the Fujisan Limited Express tickets considering that they sell out, and I can’t use my foreign Visa CC to purchase? Is there a train that doesn’t require me to make prior reservations to and still get me into Tokyo?
3. Is there any alternate route that is less stressful, and less motion sickness inducing?
Thanks so much in advance! I’m hoping to get some advice to assuage my anxiety about getting lost or motion sickness lol
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3 comments
If you want to avoid buses altogether, only options #1 (to Shimoyoshida) and #2 (from Kawaguchiko) are viable.
You can look IC card for a base fare anywhere other than shinkansen and Mishima to Kawaguchiko bus. Fujisan Limited Express is reserved seats only, so limited express + seat surcharge apply.
Note that since they are packed beyond reasonable, taking Fujikyuko commuter train from/to Otsuki, and Azusa/Kaiji (limited express surcharge applies) to/from Tokyo can be more pleasant, though longer.
I just did the exact same commute from Kyoto to kawaguchiko, we opted for the Shinkansen to Mishima and then the express bus (make sure you book in advance, we didn’t and had to wait 1.5 hours 😅)
I am also prone to motion sickness and had a fair number of horrible bus rides in my time in Japan but I don’t recall the liner from Mishima to kawaguchiko making me unwell, most of the drive is on the highway so straight roads!
typing this reply from Haneda right now
we did the exact same thing last week
We had one big luggage + one rucksack
We mailed our luggage from our hotel in Kyoto to the hotel in Tokyo
Transport wise, we took a shinkansen (nozomi) from kyoto to Mishima, and then a fuji q coach from Mishima to kawaguchiko (need reservations)
afterwards we took the same return bus from Kawaguchiko to mishima, and then a shinkansen (kodama) from mishima to odawara, our hotel is in Hamamatsucho so we took the metro from odawara to there.
Notes: use smart ex for shinkansen reservation! they have English interface plus you can just download the ticket in the form of a qr code and just scan it in the gate. the tickets are quite flexible you can cancel or modify the tickets before you travel (but please cjeck the tandc yourself)
we did not get jr pass because we did the math and found out our transport cost is way less than the price of the jr pass.
overall impressions: the transport time is long but it doesn’t feel that long. we reserved the green car seats in shinkansen so the ride was comfy. the fuji q coach ride was also good, didn’t get car sick at all.
Hope you have a great trip!