Mt Fuji Winter Day Trip 2026: 5th Station Access, Transport and Lake Kawaguchi Itinerary Guide

Last updated: 2026-11-04 · About 13 min read

This winter guide to Mt Fuji covers how cold Lake Kawaguchi gets, whether you can reach the 5th Station, how to get there from Shinjuku, and what to do at the foot of the mountain when the 5th Station is closed.

How cold is Lake Kawaguchi in winter, and what should you wear?

Most of a Mt Fuji day trip is spent around Lake Kawaguchi, where daily lows are below freezing from December to February. December averages 2.3°C, 5.4°C colder than Tokyo's 7.7°C, and January is the coldest month at just -0.4°C on average.

Snow picks up from January, so January and February are when you are most likely to see snow on the ground. Go in January or February for snowy scenery, or in December if you would rather avoid the worst of the cold.

Long-term averages for Lake Kawaguchi; the 5th Station is higher and colder.

Dress in layers with a windproof outer layer and non-slip shoes. Arakurayama means climbing steps and the lakeside paths involve some walking, so good shoes matter more than an extra coat.

Can you reach Mt Fuji's 5th Station in winter?

According to Yamanashi Prefecture, the Yoshida Trail 5th Station is open to visitors all year, but the Fuji Subaru Line closes in bad weather or when the road is icy. In winter the upper section often closes: in winter 2025–26, from 1/18 the road only ran to below the 1st Station or to the 4th Station Osawa car park, and fully reopened at 9:00 on 4/18/2026, compared with 4/23 the year before.

So if you want the 5th Station in winter, December to early January gives you the best chance, and from mid-January it is better to focus on the foot of the mountain. It takes about 40 minutes to drive up from Kawaguchiko IC, and with a private car you go up if the road is open and switch to sights below if it is not.

Taking the bus to the 5th Station

A local bus runs from Kawaguchiko Station to the 5th Station, taking about 55 minutes up and 45 minutes down. When the road only opens to the 4th Station, the bus turns back there; when it only opens to the 1st Station, the bus does not run. There are no direct highway buses from Shinjuku to the 5th Station from 11/1 to 12/31.

Timetable from 10/1/2026. One-way fares can be paid on board in cash or with an IC card such as PASMO; return tickets are sold at ticket counters, and the 5th Station counter only takes cash.

Reaching the 5th Station does not mean you can climb higher. The Yoshida Trail above the 5th Station is completely closed in winter. The climbing season runs roughly 7/1 to 9/10 each year, climbing outside it can be fined, and mountain huts and first-aid stations are closed.

How do you get from Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi: Fuji Excursion or highway bus?

There are two direct options from Shinjuku, and both take under 2 hours one way. The real difference is how early you arrive and how late you can leave: the highway bus arrives earlier and leaves later, while the last Fuji Excursion back leaves at 17:41.

Fuji Excursion timetable from 3/14/2026; highway bus timetable for 11/1–12/31/2026. Prices in yen, checked 2026-11-01.

Book the Fuji Excursion in advance

The Fuji Excursion has no unreserved cars, so you need a reserved-seat limited express ticket or a non-reserved seat ticket, on sale from 10:00 one month before travel. It normally runs 4 round trips a day, with extra seasonal trains in winter; 12/30 and 12/31 follow the weekend timetable.

In terms of time on the ground, the Fuji Excursion gives you up to 8 hr 13 min and the highway bus up to 11 hr 45 min. To save money you can change to the Fujikyu Line at Otsuki, taking about 2.5 to 3 hours for around ¥2,500, but that means one more wait on a cold platform.

Driving and private cars

Driving from Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi takes about 1 hr 30 min. In winter you need winter tyres and snow chains, driving on snow with normal tyres is against the rules, and it is stressful if you are not used to snow. With a private car the driver handles all of that, so there is no snowy driving and no waiting for buses in the cold, and no 17:41 train to catch.

What can you see at the foot of the mountain when the 5th Station is closed?

These 4 spots are all around Lake Kawaguchi and Fujiyoshida, so you can visit them whether or not the Fuji Subaru Line is open. When the 5th Station is closed, spend your time here instead.

Oishi Park

Stay: about 40 minutes

A lakeside park on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchi with views of Mt Fuji across the water. It is always open and free, with a 350 m flower path and benches. Flowers peak in early summer and autumn, while winter is all about the lake and the snowy mountain. Take the Red Line sightseeing bus from Kawaguchiko Station for about 30 minutes and get off at Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center; by car it is about 15 minutes from Kawaguchiko IC.

Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

Stay: about 1 hour

A 3-minute ride takes you up to an observation deck at 1,075 m, and on clear days you can see Mt Fuji and the whole of Lake Kawaguchi. There are two maintenance periods to avoid in winter, it may pause in strong wind, and the last ride down can be earlier in bad weather. There are lots of steps, so take it slowly with older parents.

Fares changed on 1 November 2026. It is about 15 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station on foot or by sightseeing bus; with a private car, the car parks at the prefectural lakeside car park and you walk over.

Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, Yamanashi

Stay: about 1 hour

An indoor option for snowy or cloudy days, and both the South and North Buildings are free. From December to February it opens 9:00–16:30, with last entry 15 minutes before closing. The North Building is open every day, while the South Building closes on the fourth Tuesday of each month (the next day if that is a holiday), which this winter means 12/22, 1/26 and 2/24.

The centre is about 300 m from Kawaguchiko IC, and the bus to the 5th Station stops here too, so it is right on the way up the mountain. Wheelchairs can be borrowed but are limited, so let the North Building know in advance if you are travelling with older parents.

Arakurayama Sengen Park

Stay: about 1.5 hours

This is where you get the famous shot of the Chureito Pagoda with Mt Fuji behind it, after climbing 398 steps to the viewing platform. From December to February the pagoda is lit up 16:00–21:50, so come in the late afternoon to see it illuminated.

By train, Fuji Excursion No. 3 leaves Shinjuku at 7:30 and reaches Shimoyoshida Station at 9:13 for ¥4,010 one way, and it is about 10 minutes on foot to the park and 25 minutes up to the pagoda. With a private car, the car parks at the park's car park and you walk up.

How should you plan a winter day trip to Mt Fuji?

In winter, it all depends on whether the 5th Station is open that day. Below are two plans by train and bus, with times from the official timetables.

5th Station open: mountain in the morning, World Heritage Centre after

Head back to Tokyo on the 14:58 or 16:48 Fuji Excursion, or by highway bus. The Fuji Excursion arriving at 9:28 leaves only 12 minutes to change, so take the 10:40 bus if you are not sure you will make it.

5th Station closed: Oishi Park, the ropeway and the World Heritage Centre

Spend the morning at Oishi Park and the afternoon at the ropeway and World Heritage Centre, remembering the centre closes at 16:30. From 12/7 to 12/18 the ropeway is closed, so spend that time by the lake and at the centre; on cloudy days go indoors first and come back to the lake for the mountain in the afternoon. The sightseeing bus 1Day Pass is ¥1,500 for adults and ¥750 for children.

Both plans revolve around bus times and the 17:41 last train. For a more relaxed day, or to see the Arakurayama illuminations in the evening, see the private car routes below.

Which private car routes can you choose?

All 3 routes below start and end at your hotel in Tokyo, with opening hours from the details above. If the 5th Station is closed that day, the private car can switch to sights at the foot of the mountain depending on what is open, and you can adjust the order with your driver.

Have this ready when you ask about a private car on LINE

• Your hotel (name or address)
• Date of use
• Number of people and luggage (strollers, large bags)
• Your planned itinerary

For a faster, more accurate quote, please send all of the above in one message on LINE.

Where should you stay?

If you are going by train or bus, Shinjuku is the easiest base: both the Fuji Excursion and the highway bus leave from Shinjuku at 6:45 or 7:30 in the morning, so a hotel close to the station helps. A private car picks you up and drops you off at your hotel in Tokyo, so you can start from any area.

For another chance at Mt Fuji, you can stay a night near Kawaguchiko Station, which gives you an extra day for the 5th Station to open or the clouds to clear.

Summary: what to watch for and how to plan a winter day trip to Mt Fuji

Things to watch for

Lake Kawaguchi is below freezing in the mornings and evenings from December to February, January and February bring the most snow, and you need non-slip shoes. The upper road to the 5th Station often closes in winter, and in past years it has only run to the 4th Station from mid-January; by train, the last Fuji Excursion leaves at 17:41 and the World Heritage Centre closes at 16:30.

How to plan the day

From December to early January you can try for the 5th Station, followed by the World Heritage Centre and Oishi Park. From mid-January focus on the foot of the mountain, combining Oishi Park, the ropeway and the World Heritage Centre in one day, then Arakurayama for the evening illuminations. The ropeway is closed from 12/7 to 12/18, so swap in a lakeside walk on those days.

Why we suggest a private car

The hardest part of winter is waiting at freezing bus stops, fitting around timetables and racing for the last train. A private car leaves from your Tokyo hotel, goes up to the 5th Station if it is open and switches to sights below if it is not, and older parents and kids can warm up in the car, with time for the evening illuminations too. See the 3 private car routes above, or message us on LINE to plan your day.

Mt Fuji winter day trip FAQ