Japan Panoramic Tours · Shinjuku or Ginza
The same day as Japan Panoramic Tours' bullet train tour, from the 5th Station to the ropeway and the Lake Ashi cruise, without the Shinkansen ticket. Pick it if you hold a JR Pass, or if you travel on a weekday and don't mind two hours or more on the expressway back to Shinjuku.
Everything up to Odawara matches the bullet train version: the green and white flag at the LOVE statue (7:50) or Matsuya Ginza (7:20), 30 minutes at the Fuji 5th Station, a 40-minute lunch stop, 30 minutes on the Hakone Ropeway and a 30-minute pirate-ship crossing of Lake Ashi. Ropeway and cruise tickets are included. Up to 43 guests, Wi-Fi on board, an audio guide in seven languages.
The difference is the end of the day. On weekdays the coach drives back and drops you near the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Nishi-Shinjuku, usually two hours or more from Odawara in evening traffic. On weekends and Japanese public holidays the tour ends at Odawara Station and you make your own way to Tokyo. In 2026 that also covers extra dates such as 3 and 23 November. Several guests didn't read that line and found out on the coach.
Who's it for, then? JR Pass holders, first: the Hikari and Kodama Shinkansen from Odawara to Tokyo are covered by the national pass, and the operator itself tells pass holders to book this version. Weekday travellers who'd rather save $26 than an hour or two are the other group. Everyone else should book the bullet train tour. On a weekend it costs about the same once you buy a Shinkansen ticket at Odawara (about 3,370 yen unreserved, per Ekitan).
Matsuya Ginza, exit A13 (7:20), or the LOVE statue at 6-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku (7:50). On weekends and holidays the only departure is Shinjuku at 7:30.
West out of Tokyo and up the Fuji Subaru Line. A guest wrote they left at 8 and reached Fuji around 10.
Shops, restaurants, toilets and a small shrine behind the lodges. In winter the coach stops lower down; one February guest reached the 4th Station.
A buffet on the lunch option, or your own food. Guests report a mix of Japanese and Western dishes.
30 minutes on the Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani, then 30 minutes on a pirate-style ship across the lake.
Weekdays: the coach returns to Nishi-Shinjuku (near the Cocoon Tower). Weekends and holidays: it stops at Odawara Station and the tour ends.
★★★★★The tour bus left exactly at 8AM. We arrived around 10AM at Mount Fuji and blessed with a clear sky and amples amount of sunshine! [...] The 5th. Station has gift shops, restaurants, restrooms, beautiful vistas and a lovely Shinto shrine located behind the buildings.
★★★★★We got up to station 4 on Mt. Fuji. [...] Since it was February, it was very cold on the mountain and in the area so I'd suggest to wear layers to keep warm. But they kept the bus very temperate.
★★★★★Yuta was a fantastic guide and provided a lot of local and cultural knowledge. [...] I would highly recommend this tour as it offers a lot of cultural spots in one day, and the bus was very comfy.
★★★★★We weren't sure if we were going to cancel due to the rain. We are glad we didn't. [...] The day ended on a high note when for a brief minute the clouds parted and we got to see the tip of Mt Fuji.
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No. On weekends and Japanese public holidays the tour ends at Odawara Station because of traffic, and the operator's own FAQ says to book the bullet train version if you need a ride back to Tokyo. On weekdays the coach returns to Nishi-Shinjuku.
Yes, the national Japan Rail Pass covers the Hikari and Kodama Shinkansen from Odawara to Tokyo, about 30 to 45 minutes. The JR East pass doesn't cover the Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi trains don't stop at Odawara.
30 minutes at the 5th Station, then a 40-minute lunch stop near the mountain. That's the trade-off of covering Fuji and Hakone in one day; see our 5th Station guide for what fits in half an hour.
Hakone still works in cloud, and the ropeway and cruise run unless wind or gas stops them. But if seeing Fuji is the only reason you're going, pick your season: it's fully visible about 79% of the time in February and about 7% in June (Fuji City data). Our visibility guide has the month-by-month odds.
Ready to book
The classic Fuji and Hakone loop without a Shinkansen ticket, the right pick for JR Pass holders.
Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour, Bullet Train BackThe most-booked Fuji day: 5th Station, Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise, then the Shinkansen from Odawara past the traffic.★ 4.8 · 11 hours · from $159
Fuji & Hakone Day Trip, Train or Bus BackChoose your way home when you book: Shinkansen, coach to Shinjuku, or a drop at Odawara. 5th Station, Owakudani, cruise.★ 4.2 · 11 hours · from $120
Budget Fuji Lakes & Hakone Ropeway TourThe lowest price on the site: Hakone Shrine, ropeway, Lake Yamanaka and Oshino Hakkai. Cruise and lunch extra.★ 4.6 · 10 hours · from $78