Mt Fuji Day Trip & a Sushi Class in Asakusa

Seeing Mt Fuji is on almost every first-time visitor's list, and the most popular way to do it from Tokyo is a day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes on the mountain's north side. It is also one of the longest day trips most travellers take from the city, so it needs a little more planning if you also want to make sushi in Asakusa.

This guide covers how to get to Kawaguchiko, when the mountain is most likely to be visible, and how to fit our class either around the trip or on the same day.

Getting to Lake Kawaguchiko

Most trips start from Shinjuku in western Tokyo. From Asakusa, allow about 40 to 45 minutes to reach Shinjuku by subway, including the walk to the platform. Our guide to getting between Shibuya, Shinjuku and Asakusa shows the main routes.

Highway bus from Busta Shinjuku. Buses run frequently to Kawaguchiko Station, starting early in the morning. The scheduled journey is about 1 hour 45 minutes, but traffic on the expressway, especially at weekends and in holiday periods, can make it much longer. Seats must be reserved, and bookings open one month before the travel date. When we checked on 6 November 2026, the operator, Fujikyu, listed the adult one-way fare as ¥2,200, or ¥2,000 when booked online. Confirm the current fare when you book.

Fuji Excursion limited express. This train runs directly from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko in about two hours, with all seats reserved and only a few departures a day. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, note that it covers only the JR section from Shinjuku to Otsuki. The Fujikyu Railway section from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko is paid separately.

Train with a change at Otsuki. You can also take the JR Chuo Line to Otsuki and change to the Fujikyu local train. It usually takes two to three hours in total, but you do not depend on the few direct trains.

The bus is usually the cheapest and most frequent option. The train is less affected by road traffic, which matters if you need to be back in Tokyo at a fixed time.

When Mt Fuji is most visible

Mt Fuji is often hidden by cloud, even on days that are sunny in Tokyo. The clearest months are usually late autumn and winter, roughly November to February, when the air is drier. Early morning is the best time of day; clouds often build around the summit by late morning or early afternoon.

That has two practical consequences. First, leave Tokyo early if seeing the mountain matters most to you. Second, keep your plans flexible. If the forecast shows heavy cloud for your chosen day and you have more than one free day, swap the trip with another day. The class is indoors and goes ahead in any weather.

What to see around Kawaguchiko

Oishi Park on the north shore is a classic viewpoint with the lake in front of the mountain. The Red Line sightseeing bus loops around the north side of the lake from Kawaguchiko Station and stops near the main sights; day passes are sold at the station.

Chureito Pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park, near Shimoyoshida Station on the Fujikyu line, is the famous view of a five-storey pagoda with Mt Fuji behind it. Reaching the viewpoint means climbing about 400 steps, although a sloped path is also available. It gets very crowded, so arrive early and be considerate: local residents live right next to these sights, and stay off roads and private property when taking photos.

Winter around the lakes is much colder than Tokyo, often below freezing in the morning. Dress warmly, and check the bus operator's site on the day, because snow can disrupt road traffic.

Should you combine it with a class on the same day?

A Kawaguchiko day trip often means an early start from Asakusa, around 7:00 if you want the morning views, and a return to Tokyo in the late afternoon or evening, depending on your transport and stops. That leaves two realistic ways to include our class.

Option 1: the class on a different day (recommended)

Put the class on the day before or after the trip. You can leave as early as you like, stay at the lake as long as the view holds, and come back without watching the clock. A morning or midday class the day before also gives you a relaxed day in Asakusa, with Senso-ji a short walk from the studio.

Option 2: Fuji in the morning, the evening class

If you have only one day, take the earliest bus or train you can, aim to see the mountain in the morning, and choose a return that reaches Shinjuku by about 16:30 to 16:45. That leaves time for the subway to Asakusa before an 18:00 session, if that time is offered on your date. Check the booking calendar before you book your return journey. Choose the train for the return if you can, because traffic can delay the bus. Remember that cancellations within 24 hours are charged in full, so a tight return is a real risk.

A morning class before the trip does not work well. You would reach the lake too late in the day to have a good chance of seeing the mountain.

Choose your class time

Our signature sushi and matcha class lasts 90 minutes. You make nigiri and maki rolls with an English-speaking instructor, toast with sake, eat what you make and whisk your own matcha, so it doubles as a meal after a long day. Start times vary by date. On the mid-December dates we checked on 6 November 2026, sessions ran at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00. Check the booking calendar for current times, and please arrive 10 minutes early.

If you are planning other trips out of Tokyo, our guides to Nikko and a sushi class and Kamakura and a sushi class use the same approach.

Quick answers

Bus or train to Kawaguchiko? The bus is cheaper and more frequent; the train is more predictable on the way back.

Is the JR Pass enough for the Fuji Excursion? No. You also pay for the Fujikyu section from Otsuki.

What if Mt Fuji is covered by cloud? It happens often. Keep a spare day if you can, and swap the trip with your class day.

Once your Fuji day is fixed, pick your class date on the class page.