No transfers needed: JR East’s “Narita Express” takes you directly to Mt. Fuji in just 2 hours

▲ From now until the end of September, you can go directly from central Tokyo to Mt. Fuji. (Photo / FromJapan Travel Campaign VISIT JAPAN NOW Facebook page)

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Comprehensive report

In the past, traveling to places like Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi always involved 4–5 hours of transit, but not anymore. Starting now, JR East is offering a limited-time “Narita Express (N’EX)” service that allows you to go directly from central Tokyo to Mt. Fuji without any transfers—and the journey takes less than 2 hours.

With Mt. Fuji being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year, the number of both domestic and international visitors to the area has been steadily increasing. Until September 28, on every weekend and holiday, JR East’s “Narita Express (N’EX)” will operate one round-trip daily, departing from Narita Airport and stopping at major stations such as Tokyo, Shibuya, and Shinjuku before heading straight to Mt. Fuji, Fuji-Q Highland, and Lake Kawaguchi. Only reserved seats are available on the train, and passengers must book their tickets one month prior to departure through the green ticket windows (みどりの窓口), View Plaza (びゅうプラザ), or designated seat ticket machines at JR stations.

For example, departing from Shinjuku Station at 10:47 AM, you’ll arrive at Mt. Fuji by 12:34 PM. If you depart from Tokyo Station, the trip takes just 2 hours and 15 minutes—very convenient. However, please note that due to the fixed schedule of the “Narita Express (N’EX)” round trips to and from the Mt. Fuji area (schedule shown below), the return times are quite similar, so you’ll need to plan your return trip to Tokyo in advance to avoid any disappointment.

% The fixed schedule and fares for each station of the “Narita Express (N’EX)” to and from the Mt. Fuji area. (Photo / All screenshots fromFuji-Q Highland Railway official website)