How can I get from Kawaguchiko Station or Mt. Fuji Station to Hakone?
There are several ways to travel from Kawaguchiko to Hakone. In short, the best route depends on what time you leave and where in Hakone you want to go.
If you are going to the Hakone-Yumoto or Gora area, it may be convenient to return to Shinjuku first and transfer to the Odakyu Line. On the other hand, if you are going to the Sengokuhara, Lake Ashi, or Moto-Hakone area, routes via Gotemba or Mishima can also be good options.
The main access routes from Kawaguchiko to Hakone are the following five routes.
| Route | Best for | Approximate travel time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Local bus via Gotemba | Sengokuhara, Gotemba Premium Outlets, Togendai area | About 2 hr 30 min–3 hr 30 min |
| 2. Local bus via Mishima | Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi Port, Lake Ashi area | About 2 hr 30 min–3 hr 30 min |
| 3. Highway bus & train via Shinjuku | Hakone-Yumoto, Gora area | About 3 hr 30 min–4 hr 30 min |
| 4. Train only via Hachioji | Hakone-Yumoto, Gora area; for those who want to avoid buses | About 4–5 hr |
| 5. Highway bus & train via Hon-Atsugi | Hakone-Yumoto, Gora area; a convenient alternative route if the timing works | About 3 hr or more |
Travel times vary greatly depending on transfer times, traffic conditions, and service frequency. Please always check the latest timetables before departure.
1. Route via Gotemba by local bus
Approximate travel time: about 2 hr 30 min–3 hr 30 min
This route takes you from Kawaguchiko Station or Mt. Fuji Station toward Gotemba, then transfers at Gotemba Station or Gotemba Premium Outlets to a bus bound for Hakone.
It is also ideal for travelers who want to enjoy shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlets.
Main route:
Kawaguchiko Station / Mt. Fuji Station
↓
Bus
Google Map (Gotemba Station ・ Gotemba Premium Outlets)
↓
Gotemba Station or Gotemba Premium Outlets
↓
Bus
Google Map (Sengokuhara・Togendai)
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Sengokuhara / Togendai / Hakone area
This route is suitable for travelers going to the Sengokuhara area, Pola Museum of Art, Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, or Togendai area.
Between Kawaguchiko and Gotemba, the regular local bus takes about 70–105 minutes. The limited express bus “G Liner” takes about 53 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station to Gotemba Station, and about 60–70 minutes to Gotemba Premium Outlets, depending on the service.
From Gotemba Station to the Sengokuhara or Togendai area, you can use Odakyu Highway Bus or Hakone Tozan Bus. From Gotemba Station to the Sengokuhara area, the travel time is generally around 30 minutes. The section between Gotemba Station, Sengoku, Togendai, and Hotel de Yama is listed as a non-reserved section.
However, buses from Kawaguchiko toward Gotemba are limited in number.
If the connection is poor, the waiting time can be long.
Before departure, we recommend checking both the “Kawaguchiko → Gotemba(Gotemba Station ・ Gotemba Premium Outlets” timetable and the “Gotemba → Hakone area(Sengokuhara・Togendai)” timetable.
2. Route via Mishima to Lake Ashi and Moto-Hakone
Approximate travel time: about 2 hr 30 min–3 hr 30 min
If you are going to Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi Port, Hakone Shrine, or Lake Ashi, the route via Mishima is also convenient.
Main route:
Kawaguchiko Station
↓
Bus: Mishima-Kawaguchiko Liner
Google Map
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Mishima Station
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Tokai Bus
Google Map
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Hakone-machi Port / Moto-Hakone Port
From Kawaguchiko Station to Mishima Station, use the Mishima-Kawaguchiko Liner. Services departing from Kawaguchiko Station take about 1 hr 20 min–1 hr 30 min to Mishima Station North Exit or South Exit. The Mishima-Kawaguchiko Liner can be crowded, so the operating company also recommends advance reservation and online payment.
From Mishima Station, the Tokai Bus takes about 42 minutes to Hakone-machi Port and about 53 minutes to Moto-Hakone Port.
This route is better for travelers who want to visit Lake Ashi, Moto-Hakone, or Hakone Shrine first, rather than going directly to Hakone-Yumoto. It is not a direct route from Mishima Station to Hakone-Yumoto, so if you are heading to a hotel in Hakone-Yumoto or Gora, you will need to transfer locally by bus, boat, Hakone Tozan Railway, or another means of transport.
3. Route returning to Shinjuku by highway bus, then taking the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto
Approximate travel time: about 3 hr 30 min–4 hr 30 min
At first glance, this route may look like a detour. However, because there are far more services, going via Shinjuku can be easier to understand and ultimately more convenient when traveling to Hakone-Yumoto or Gora.
Main route:
Kawaguchiko Station
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Highway bus: timetable and reservation
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Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
↓ Walk to Odakyu Line Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku Station
↓ Odakyu Line / Limited Express Romancecar
Hakone-Yumoto Station
From Kawaguchiko Station to Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, the highway bus takes about 1 hr 45 min. The Shinjuku–Fuji Five Lakes Line operates every 10 minutes to 1 hour, and there are many services to and from Kawaguchiko Station.
From Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station, the Odakyu Romancecar takes as little as 75 minutes. The Romancecar is all reserved seating, and some services run directly from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto without transfers.
The advantages of this route are that transfers are easy to understand, many transport options can be reserved, and it is easy to enter Hakone directly via Hakone-Yumoto. It is especially recommended for travelers with large luggage, first-time visitors to Japan, and those heading to a ryokan in Hakone-Yumoto or Gora.
The highway bus from Kawaguchiko to Shinjuku is a popular route, so we recommend booking early on highwaybus.com.
4. Route to Hakone-Yumoto by train transfers
Approximate travel time: about 4–5 hours
If you want to avoid using buses as much as possible, it is also possible to travel by train only.
Main route:
Kawaguchiko Station / Mt. Fuji Station
↓ Fujikyuko Line
Otsuki Station
↓ JR Chuo Main Line
Hachioji Station
↓ JR Yokohama Line
Machida Station
↓ Odakyu Line・Limited Express Romancecar, etc.
Hakone-Yumoto Station
From Kawaguchiko Station to Otsuki Station, the Fujikyuko Line generally takes about 50 minutes to around 1 hour. From Mt. Fuji Station to Otsuki Station, the travel time is about 40 minutes to around 1 hour, depending on the service.
However, this route involves many transfers and is not recommended for travelers with a lot of luggage. While it is less affected by road traffic, the number of transfers can make it feel a little difficult for travelers who are not used to Japan’s railway system.
5. Highway bus + Odakyu Line route via Hon-Atsugi
Approximate travel time: about 3 hours or more
If the timing works, another alternative route is to take a highway bus from Kawaguchiko Station to Hon-Atsugi Station.
Main route:
Kawaguchiko Station dep. 15:50
↓ Highway bus
Hon-Atsugi Station arr. 17:40
↓ Odakyu Line・Limited Express Romancecar, etc.
Hakone-Yumoto Station
From Hon-Atsugi Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station, if you can use a Romancecar service, the journey takes about 45–55 minutes.
The appeal of this route is that you can connect to the Odakyu Line without returning all the way to Shinjuku. However, highway buses from Kawaguchiko to Hon-Atsugi are extremely limited in number, so this route is not convenient for everyone. It is suitable for travelers who can check operating dates, seat availability, and connections with the Romancecar in advance.
Which route should you choose?
If you are going to a ryokan in Hakone-Yumoto or Gora, the Shinjuku route is easy to understand and recommended. Although it may look like a detour because you return toward Tokyo, combining the highway bus and Romancecar makes it easier to reserve seats and keeps transfers relatively simple.
If you are going to Sengokuhara or Togendai, the Gotemba route is a good option. It is also convenient for travelers who want to stop at Gotemba Premium Outlets.
If you are going to Moto-Hakone, Hakone Shrine, or Lake Ashi, the Mishima route is convenient. You can travel from Kawaguchiko to Mishima, then take a bus from Mishima Station to Hakone-machi Port or Moto-Hakone Port.
Points to note
Kawaguchiko and Hakone may look close on the map, but because this route crosses mountainous areas, transfers are often necessary. Buses may also be delayed due to road traffic and congestion during the tourist season.
In particular, highway buses and limited express buses on the Kawaguchiko–Mishima, Kawaguchiko–Gotemba, and Kawaguchiko–Shinjuku routes may become fully booked. If your travel date is fixed, we recommend checking timetables early and booking in advance for services that accept reservations.