Gotemba Premium Outlets Day Trip 2026: Getting There, the Last Bus, Lockers, Delivery and Tax Refunds
This Gotemba Premium Outlets day trip guide covers opening hours, 3 ways to get there from Shinjuku, how to get your shopping back to Tokyo, the new tax refund system, and 3 private car routes.
- Open 10:00–20:00 (varies by season); the once-a-year closing day is Thursday, February 25, 2027
- The direct highway bus from Shinjuku takes about 1 hour 50 minutes, adults JPY 2,000; the Romancecar Fujisan reaches Gotemba Station in about 95 minutes, then a free shuttle takes about 15 minutes
- The last bus back leaves the outlets at 19:20, 40 minutes before closing, and oversized items cannot go in the luggage hold
- The outlets have lockers and delivery, but no international or refrigerated shipping; from November 2026 tax-free became a refund system, so keep your purchases with you when you leave Japan
- If you buy a lot, want to shop until closing or add Hakone or Mt Fuji, a private car keeps your bags in the car; see the 3 private car routes below
How do you get from Tokyo to Gotemba Premium Outlets?
Gotemba Premium Outlets is open 10:00–20:00, varying by season, and some shops may keep different hours; the once-a-year closing day is Thursday, February 25, 2027. From Shinjuku there are 3 ways to go: the direct highway bus, the Romancecar plus a free shuttle, or a private car. You arrive empty-handed, so the trip home is what to plan for: how you will get all your shopping back to Tokyo.
| Option | From Shinjuku | Trip back |
|---|---|---|
| Highway bus | Direct from Busta Shinjuku about 1 h 50 min |
Last bus 19:20 40 min before closing |
| Romancecar Fujisan | About 95 min to Gotemba Station then shuttle about 15 min |
Shuttle until 40 min after closing then the Romancecar |
| Private car | From your Tokyo hotel straight to the outlets |
Shop until closing bags stay in the car |
If you buy a lot, travel with older parents or kids, or want to add Hakone or Mt Fuji, go straight to the 3 private car routes below.
How does the highway bus work, and when is the last bus back?
Odakyu Highway Bus's Shinjuku–Gotemba–Hakone line runs direct from Busta Shinjuku to the outlets in about 1 hour 50 minutes, adults JPY 2,000 and children JPY 1,000. All seats need a reservation: online booking opens at 10:00 one month before travel, phone booking runs until the day before, and if seats remain you can buy on the day at a counter or ticket machine. Paying online by credit card, d-barai or PayPay gives 3% off.
| Direction | Departures |
|---|---|
| Out (weekdays) Busta Shinjuku → outlets |
8:05 → 9:55 8:35 → 10:15 9:05 → 10:45 10:05 → 11:45 |
| Back (weekdays) outlets → Busta Shinjuku |
16:20 → 18:00 17:20 → 19:00 18:20 → 20:00 Last bus 19:20 → 21:20 |
| Last bus back (weekends and holidays) | 19:20 → 21:20 |
The last bus leaves 40 minutes before closing
The outlets stay open until 20:00, but the last bus leaves at 19:20, so you lose the final 40 minutes of shopping. It is boarding-only at the outlets, and you cannot get off at Gotemba Station, Tomei Gotemba or Tomei Ashigara; it runs straight back to Busta Shinjuku.
Oversized items cannot go on the bus
The hold is provided as storage space only, valuables and fragile items are not recommended, and the bus company is not liable for loss or damage unless its negligence is proven. Oversized items such as skis, snowboards, surfboards, bicycles and musical instruments cannot go in, even in the hold; the limit is roughly 30 cm cubed and 1 m long, and anything larger has to be sent by delivery.
How do you go by train, and when does the shuttle run?
The Odakyu Romancecar "Fujisan" runs direct from Shinjuku to Gotemba Station in about 95 minutes. The fare is JPY 1,310 plus a JPY 1,610 limited express fee, JPY 2,920 one way for adults; the ticketless limited express fee is JPY 1,560. IC cards such as PASMO cannot be used across the Odakyu Line and the JR Gotemba Line, so buy a ticket.
| Shuttle | Stop | Departures |
|---|---|---|
| Gotemba Station → outlets | Otome exit stop 2 |
:00, :15, :30, :45 past the hour 30 min before opening to 30 min before closing |
| Outlets → Gotemba Station | West zone bus terminal stop 1 |
:10, :25, :40, :55 past the hour 10 min after opening to 40 min after closing |
The shuttle is free and takes about 15 minutes.
The upside of the train is that the return shuttle runs until 40 minutes after closing, so you can shop to the end. The downside is one more change: carrying your bags onto a crowded shuttle and then the Romancecar. You cannot board when the shuttle is full, and departures become irregular when it is busy.
Is a private car easier if you buy a lot?
For big shoppers, the hard parts are the last bus leaving 40 minutes before closing and hauling bags from one vehicle to the next. With a private car you do not have to drag your shopping onto a bus: everything goes straight into the car, you can shop until closing, and there is no rush for the shuttle or the last bus. Families with older parents or kids also skip the queues at the station.
From Tokyo it is about 65 minutes on the Tomei Expressway to Gotemba IC, then about 10 minutes to the outlets. A private car picks you up at your Tokyo hotel, drops you at the outlets' entrance and takes you straight back to your hotel, with big purchases and strollers kept in the car.
Can you add Hakone or Mt Fuji to the day?
Gotemba sits between Hakone and Mt Fuji, which is why the Odakyu bus route is called the Shinjuku–Gotemba–Hakone line. Doing both in one day by public transport means more buses or mountain transport, and carrying your shopping bags around the sights.
With a private car you can see Hakone or Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi in the morning and shop at the outlets in the afternoon, with your purchases in the car all day. For Hakone's transport and sights, see Hakone Day Trip 2026.
Can you store or ship your shopping?
The West, East and Hill Side zones all have lockers, so you can drop off bags halfway through the day. There is also a delivery service (Mama no Reform, 2 paid locations; West behind Gap; East behind Swarovski), but no international or refrigerated shipping, so you cannot send purchases straight home from the outlets.
| Lockers | Location | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| West | Near Mama no Reform | Coin lockers JPY 400–1,200 per use Time-based up to JPY 400 or 800 (time-based are cashless only) |
| East | Behind Swarovski | Medium JPY 400 per use (cash only) |
| Hill Side | Near Tully's Coffee | Large 600, medium 500, small JPY 400 (per use) |
| To borrow | Where | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelchairs | West Information Center Hill Side Welcome Center |
Free WHILL electric wheelchair JPY 1,000 per use |
| Strollers | West, East, Hill Side | JPY 100 coin, refunded on return 4 months to under 48 months |
Strollers may run out on weekends, holidays and over New Year, so bringing your own is safer. The Hill Side Welcome Center is right by the bus terminal, with a lounge and power outlets, and there is free Wi-Fi throughout plus currency exchange machines and Seven Bank ATMs.
What does the 2026 tax refund system mean for outlet shopping?
From November 1, 2026, Japan's tax-free shopping became a refund system: you pay the tax-inclusive price, customs confirms the export when you leave Japan, and the shop then refunds the consumption tax. Customs confirmation must be done within 90 days of purchase, and you need the goods with you; once your bags are checked in, you cannot complete it at the kiosk.
So even if you send outlet purchases to your hotel first, pack them in your carry-on on departure day so customs can see them. Each shop handles the refund in its own way, so just ask the staff when you pay.
Which private car routes can you choose?
All 3 routes below use pick-up and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel, with the outlets open 10:00–20:00 as above. The order can be adjusted to your start time and the zones you want to spend longer in, together with your driver.
Route 1: Gotemba Premium Outlets until closing
Get a 1-on-1 itinerary quoteTokyo hotel → Gotemba Premium Outlets → Tokyo hotel
- Good forDedicated shoppers who do not want to rush for the 19:20 last bus or carry bags between vehicles.
- How to plan itLeave your hotel in the morning, arrive at opening and shop until closing at 20:00. Drop bags back at the car during the day instead of renting a locker.
- Short on timeStart with one zone (West, East or Hill Side), then add a second if time allows.
Route 2: Lake Ashi in Hakone and Gotemba Premium Outlets
Get a 1-on-1 itinerary quoteTokyo hotel → Lake Ashi, Hakone → Gotemba Premium Outlets → Tokyo hotel
- Good forFamilies or couples who want sightseeing and shopping in one day without carrying bags onto mountain transport.
- How to plan itLake Ashi in the morning, the outlets in the afternoon until early evening, with purchases in the car and a drive straight back to your Tokyo hotel.
- Short on timeSkip Lake Ashi and spend longer at the outlets.
Route 3: Mt Fuji views at Lake Kawaguchi and Gotemba Premium Outlets
Get a 1-on-1 itinerary quoteTokyo hotel → Lake Kawaguchi lakeside → Gotemba Premium Outlets → Tokyo hotel
- Good forFirst-timers who want to see Mt Fuji and do some shopping; easy with older parents and kids too.
- How to plan itMt Fuji and lake views at Lake Kawaguchi in the morning, the outlets in the afternoon, then back to Tokyo in the evening with no bus changes.
- Short on timeJust stop at the lakeside for photos and leave more time for the outlets.
Have this ready when you ask about a private car on LINE
- Your hotel (name or address)
- Date of travel
- Number of people and luggage (any strollers or large suitcases)
- Your plan for the day
For a faster, more accurate quote, please send all of the above in one message on LINE.
Where should you stay for a Gotemba day trip?
If you are taking public transport, Shinjuku is the easiest base: the highway bus leaves from Busta Shinjuku, the Romancecar Fujisan leaves from Shinjuku, and the last bus gets back to Shinjuku at 21:20, so there is no extra change at night with all your bags. A private car picks you up and drops you off at your Tokyo hotel, so you can stay in any area and be dropped right at the door.
Summary: what to watch for and how to plan a Gotemba outlets day trip
Things to watch for
By bus, the last bus leaves the outlets at 19:20, 40 minutes before closing, and oversized items cannot go in the hold. By train you change to the shuttle at Gotemba Station, one more change with your bags. Outlet delivery does not ship abroad, and from November 2026 you need to have your purchases with you when you leave Japan for the tax refund.
How to plan the day
For a shopping day, arrive at opening and stay until early evening or closing, dropping bags off along the way. To see more, put Lake Ashi or Lake Kawaguchi in the morning and the outlets in the afternoon, so neither half feels rushed.
Why we suggest a private car
The tiring part of an outlet day is hauling bags between vehicles and racing for the last bus. A private car picks you up at your Tokyo hotel, so you do not have to drag your shopping onto a bus, you can shop until closing and add Mt Fuji or Hakone, and older parents and kids can rest in the car. See the 3 private car routes above, or message us on LINE to plan your day.
Gotemba Premium Outlets day trip FAQ
What are the opening hours, and is there a closing day?＋
Open 10:00–20:00, varying by season, and some shops may keep different hours. The once-a-year closing day is Thursday, February 25, 2027.
When is the last bus back to Tokyo?＋
On weekdays and weekends it leaves the outlets at 19:20 and reaches Busta Shinjuku at 21:20. It is boarding-only at the outlets, and you cannot get off at Gotemba Station, Tomei Gotemba or Tomei Ashigara.
Can I put lots of shopping in the bus hold?＋
Ordinary bags, yes, but valuables and fragile items are not recommended, and skis, surfboards, bicycles, instruments and other oversized items cannot go in, even in the hold. If you buy a lot and do not want to carry it, a private car keeps everything in the car.
Can I ship my purchases straight home from the outlets?＋
No, the outlets' delivery service does not handle international or refrigerated shipping. From November 2026 you also need your purchases with you when you leave Japan for the tax refund, so it is best to take them home yourself.
Can I use PASMO all the way to Gotemba?＋
No, IC cards cannot be used across the Odakyu Line and the JR Gotemba Line. Buy a ticket for the Romancecar Fujisan; the adult fare plus limited express fee is JPY 2,920 one way.
