Kawaguchiko Station — Attraction in Fujikawaguchiko

This is the only place in Japan where I’ve been for two weeks that I felt that the people were kinda rude and I felt culture shock, I ate and visited like 100 stores in Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka and I’ve never got ignored and dismissed unlike here. So I got on the line to buy a Express bus ticket to Shinjuku and the employees just says all buses are sold out and I was… all buses like how it was a cloudy day and not so busy, then he offered me to take the local train transfer in 3 stations and then the take one for Tokyo and he said it takes 3 hours and standing, ok for you? But since he said the buses were all sold out i didn’t have other option… so I go with the lady at the first window and gave her a note that the first guy gave me and she says sorry 🙅🏻‍♀️ no bus no train and turned her eyes to the next costumer… I felt hopeless, I walked outside to think another strategy and I see a lot of buses and signs with lots of schedules for Shibuya, Tokyo and Shinjuku and also a QR code to buy yourself the ticket on the website, I tried that and there were seats available for the upcoming departing buses… I got one that was leaving in 50min, and when I got on the bus they scanned the QR code of the ticket and that was it! So easy and simple but the employees inside never explained me or had enough signs about the other options, I was scared to end up trapped in that town for one night.

If possible book and buy in advance the round...

First of all, they had a rule that no bicycles during golden week because the trains will be too crowded. So I only brought my bike this time coz I have to bring alot of stuff from the office to another station. But ONLY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE, the train drivers came up to me and SAID NO BIKES. And if only they told me in a nice way but they said with practically everyone listening GET OUT! ORITE! (And if you guys know a little bit of japanese, THIS IS NOT A POLITE WAY TO TALK TO CUSTOMERS)

I was panicking coz if i miss this train, I will be late for work (and as a foreign worker you don’t want that to happen in Japan)— and I explained this much AND THIS GUY SAID, sonnani shiranai (I don’t know that much)

This is not the first time that I have experienced this kind of rudeness from their staff. Also when boarding buses, drivers will also be so rude and yell at tourists. I even saw one swat a tourist’s hand for trying to pay with their suica card but they didn’t know it was not yet time to pay. (They’re in a foreign country so please explain!) don’t shout or embarrass them publicly!

Is this what you call Japanese Service? This is so...

Kawaguchiko Station is the gateway to the Fuji Five Lakes. Easy to reach from Tokyo (Shinjuku) by bus or train, it takes around 2 hours each way. I opted for the train.

There are limited services that directly go to and from Shinjuku per day named the Fuji Excursion. These are only 3 carriages but are always extremely crowded and very little room to manoeuvre. I cannot recommend enough to instead take the Azusa Limited express (9-cars that is connected to the Fuji Excursion from Shinjuku to Otsuki) then change trains at Otsuki to the local line service as it is much quieter with plenty of free seats on both trains and only takes an extra 15 minutes compared to the Fuji Excursion.

Once in Kawaguchiko, there are many bus services and plenty of visitor information areas for getting around the place. If you have luggage you don't wish to carry about all day, you can store it in a coin locker at the station, but be warned that these can fill up quickly. Especially if the weather is good. Mount Fuji is also visible the moment you step off the train or bus, so it makes a very...