An Analysis of the Mount Fuji - Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass

Coverage area :	Located mid-way between Tokyo and Nagoya, Shizuoka is a reprieve from the megacity and is a good base to explore Mount Fuji. While you may need to pay an arm and a leg for a Fuji-view hotel in Tokyo, the same can be had here at a fraction of the price here, and even at a budget hotel. This region is famous for its green tea, which has been grown since the 13th century. Roughly 40% of the country's supply comes from here. While the city has its own international airport, regional connections are very limited, so your best bet is to fly into Tokyo. Consider the Mount Fuji - Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass, which provides free access to JR trains, some private railways, and bus services in the area, including Lake Kawaguchi, a popular place to photograph and even climb Mount Fuji. This pass is a bit off-the-beaten track since it doesn't start from any major city such as Tokyo or Nagoya. If you want to see or get closer to Fuji and experience less-touristed coastal towns, this pass is a good choice for you. Price : 6500 yen for 3 consecutive calendar days Here is an analysis of using this pass on 2 different itineraries, both of which you will get your money's worth even though the rail pass has gotten significantly more expensive after a price increase from 5080 (4570 if bought outside Japan) to 6500 yen in 2023.
ITINERARY 1 : Fuji Five Lakes + Shizuoka (Jan 2020) This route primarily focuses on a long day trip to the Fuji Five Lakes and the Lake Kawaguchi area starting from my base in Numazu. I first took the JR Gotemba Line to connect to a Fujikyuko Bus from Gotemba to Oshino Hakkai and Kawaguchiko. With good weather, I had a lovely day seeing Mount Fuji up close. Other than the short train ride from Kawaguchiko station to the Chureito Pagoda on the Fujikyu Railway and back, the other bus and train journeys were covered by the pass. That one day alone was enough to recover the cost of the pass. After that busy day, I shifted base to Shizuoka, where I explored the city and did a side trip to nearby Kakegawa for the castle. ITINERARY 2 : Shizuoka + coastline (Dec 2025/Jan 2026) This route covers Shizuoka's coastline only, hitting the major towns and cities such as Atami, Numazu, and Hamamatsu, as well as Fujinomiya to visit the World Heritage Centre. You can see Mount Fuji from all of these places and get to savour the region's seafood and matcha specialties. In Hamamatsu, Numazu, and Shuzenji, I had to make use of local bus services, which were included in the pass (specific routes only) to reach a few attractions. My base was in Numazu for all nights. (Fares as of Jan 2026)