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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Gotemba
Spend a half‑day at Gotemba Premium Outlets or a 2‑hour bus to Fuji 5th Station; one night is enough.
Gotemba is a gateway to Mount Fuji’s south side and home to Japan’s largest outlet mall. It is reachable by train or highway bus from Tokyo and Haneda, and the town is compact enough for a single night stay, with free shuttle links between the station, the expressway interchange and the outlets.
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, rain)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–¥8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–¥13,000 excl. bed · High ¥13,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at outlet café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Bento box at station | ¥500–¥800 |
| Bus from Gotemba to 5th Station | ¥1,110 one‑way |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HND · Haneda Airport
- Direct Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus to Gotemba Station, about 2 h, ¥2,060 (check).
- NRT · Narita Airport
- Limited bus service, 2‑way ¥4,100, 3 h; better to travel via Tokyo first (check).
Typical fares
- Haneda → Gotemba (Odakyu bus)
- ≈¥2,060, 2 h (check)
- Shinjuku → Gotemba (Romancecar)
- ¥2,810, 2 h, seat‑reserved
- Gotemba → Fuji 5th Station (bus)
- ¥1,110 one‑way, 40 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Free shuttle buses run every 15 min between Gotemba Station, the Tomei Gotemba Interchange and the Premium Outlets; hourly highway buses connect to Tokyo, Haneda and Yokohama.
See and do
Known for
- Gotemba Premium Outlets
- Mount Fuji 5th Station access
- Kogen Brewery
- Peace Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Fuji 5th Station | Bus from Gotemba Station, 40 min | ≈1 h total |
| Fuji Safari Park | Bus or car, ~30 min | ≈1 h |
| Kawaguchi‑ko (Lake Kawaguchi) | Fujikyu bus from Gotemba Station, ~45 min | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Fujiyoshida (Fujikyu Highland) | Bus from Gotemba Station, ~45 min | ≈1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Gotemba Youth Hostel
- Cheapest lodging; call for rates.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the bus stop? | バス停はどこですか？basu tei wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited direct bus service from Narita Airport; consider Tokyo‑Shinjuku train then bus.
- Seat‑reserved Romancecar trains require extra fare even with a JR Pass.
- Outlet shuttle runs only during outlet opening hours.
Gotemba is generally safe; stay alert on busy bus routes and keep valuables secure in crowded outlet areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Gotemba yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gotemba Premium Outlets
- Mount Fuji 5th Station access
- Kogen Brewery
- Peace Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Gotemba tourist association: gotemba.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Gotemba, revision 5242028 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242028
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/gotemba). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.