Self-Drive to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo
Mt. Fuji is the most popular self-drive trip for our international guests. With a rental car you can reach Lake Kawaguchi from central Tokyo in about 2 hours, visit the five lakes, Oshino Hakkai and the Chureito Pagoda in one day, and stop wherever the view is best. Here is what to know before you go.
The route
- From Haneda Airport or central Tokyo: Shuto Expressway → Chuo Expressway (中央自動車道) westbound → Kawaguchiko IC. About 100 km, 1 h 45 min to 2 h 30 min depending on traffic.
- From our Hachioji base: Hachioji IC → Kawaguchiko IC is about 60 km, roughly 1 hour. Hachioji is the last big town before the mountains, which is why our cars are based here.
- Tolls from central Tokyo to Kawaguchiko are roughly ¥2,500–3,500 one way. All our cars carry an ETC card, so you use the ETC lanes and tolls are settled after the rental.
- Weekend and holiday mornings are busy outbound and the return in the late afternoon can queue at Kobotoke Tunnel. Leaving Tokyo before 7:00 makes a big difference.
Winter driving (December to March)
All NOVA cars are fitted with winter tyres from December 1 to March 31 (¥1,100 per day). This is not optional for Mt. Fuji: when it snows, the roads around the lakes, the Fuji Subaru Line and the passes toward Hakone and Nagano are closed to cars without winter tyres, and police check tyres at the roadside. Even without snow, early-morning roads above 1,000 m can be icy.
Which car to choose
Fit Hybrid or similar · 5 seats · 2-3 suitcases
Stepwgn / Serena or similar · 7-8 seats · 4-6 suitcases
Toyota Hiace Wagon Grand Cabin · 10 seats · 6-8 suitcases
A compact hybrid is the cheapest and easiest for two to four people. Families and groups with luggage should take a minivan; groups of up to ten the Hiace Wagon.
Suggested one-day loop
- Depart Tokyo 6:30, arrive Lake Kawaguchi 8:30. Oishi Park for the classic lake-and-mountain view.
- Chureito Pagoda (Arakurayama Sengen Park), 20 minutes' drive, 400 steps to the viewpoint.
- Oshino Hakkai spring ponds, then Lake Yamanaka for lunch.
- Optional: Fuji Subaru Line to the 5th Station (toll road, about 30 km, closed to private cars in parts of summer and in winter; check the day's status).
- Return via Kawaguchiko IC by 16:00 to avoid the evening queue.
Parking and practicalities
- Lakeside car parks are mostly free or ¥300–500; Chureito Pagoda has a paid car park.
- Fuel: return the car with the same fuel level; otherwise fuel is charged from the deposit at our cost price.
- In an emergency call 110 (police) or 119 (ambulance), then message us on WhatsApp.
Related questions
Yes. From December 1 to March 31 all our cars are fitted with winter tyres (¥1,100 per day). Around Mt. Fuji, Hakone and the mountain roads of Yamanashi and Nagano, some sections are closed to cars without winter tyres when it snows, and police check at the roadside.
Every car comes with an ETC toll card, so you drive through the purple ETC lanes without stopping. Tolls are added up after the rental and settled from your deposit.
Stop safely, help anyone injured, call the police (110), then contact us on WhatsApp. Never settle privately. Basic insurance is included and the required CDW/NOC cover limits your liability, but insurance does not apply to unregistered drivers, drink-driving or unreported accidents.
More guides
NOVA Car Rental, Hachioji, Tokyo. Email hachioji@novarentacar.co.jp. All prices include tax; final approval is subject to document verification and vehicle availability.