Lake Kawaguchi E-Car Tour: Drive Tomica Mini Around Mt. Fuji

Drive a Japanese toy car around Lake Kawaguchi and stop at Yagisaki Park's floating temple.

A 3-hour guided tour around Lake Kawaguchi where you drive a full-size Tomica mini EV (a unique Japanese car inspired by toy designs) with a local guide leading you to scenic photo spots and Mount Fuji viewpoints. The tour includes pickup at Kawaguchiko Station, stops at Yagisaki Park and a local shrine, and passes under the iconic Kawaguchiko Bridge on the return. An International Driving Permit (booklet format) is required to drive. Passengers without a valid license can join for a reduced rate and still enjoy the same stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

E-Car tour around Lake Kawaguchiko

• Meet at Kawaguchiko Station Bus Stop #10
• Ride to base camp near Mt. Fuji
• Review driving instructions and check permits
• Put on fun accessories for photos
• Drive mini EV around Lake Kawaguchiko
• Stop at scenic spots for photos
• Visit Yagisaki Park and Kawaguchiko Muse Museum
• Enjoy peaceful moment at shrine or park
• Pass under Kawaguchiko Bridge
• Return to Kawaguchiko Station

The experience

Lake Kawaguchi sits at the base of Mount Fuji, and this tour puts you behind the wheel of a car you won't find anywhere else. The Tomica mini EV is a full-size version of a Japanese toy car: kawaii, easy to handle, and built for the narrow roads and scenic loops around the lake. You'll spend roughly 2 hours driving with a local guide who knows where the light hits best and where Mount Fuji rises clearest above the water. The guide takes professional photos and videos as you go, so you leave with images instead of just memories.

The route hits Yagisaki Park, where a tiny floating shrine appears only when the lake drops in the dry season: a detail most visitors miss. From there you see Mount Fuji, the lake, and seasonal lavender fields if you're traveling in August. You'll also stop at a quiet shrine or neighborhood park where the pace slows and you can breathe in the local landscape. On the final stretch, you pass under Kawaguchiko Bridge with Mount Fuji ahead, and locals sometimes wave from the roadside. The whole loop ends where it started: Kawaguchiko Station, just steps from the Tourist Information Center.

To drive, you need a valid International Driving Permit in booklet format, not a card, based on the Geneva Convention. A few countries (France, Germany, Taiwan, and others) allow you to use your national license plus an official Japanese translation instead. Check your eligibility before booking. If you don't have a valid license, you can still join as a passenger in the guide's car for a reduced rate and get a mini car photo session included. Either way, you're on the same tour hitting the same stops.

What’s included

• EV mini car for the drive.
• professional photos and videos taken by your guide at scenic stops.
• pickup and drop-off at Kawaguchiko Station.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 5

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Fuji Go Q tours

Is this one for you?You'll need a valid International Driving Permit in booklet format to drive the Tomica car. If you don't have one, you can ride as a passenger in the guide's car for a lower rate and still visit every stop on the lake.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What is the floating temple at Yagisaki Park?

Yagisaki Park holds a tiny shrine that sits in the lake and becomes visible only during the dry season when Lake Kawaguchi's water level drops. The park also offers views of Mount Fuji and seasonal lavender fields, and has public toilets on site.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to join this tour?

An International Driving Permit in booklet format (based on the Geneva Convention) is required if you want to drive the Tomica car. Some countries including France, Germany, and Taiwan allow you to use your national license with an official Japanese translation instead. If you don't have a valid license, you can join as a passenger in the guide's car for a lower price and still visit all the same spots.

What happens during the 3 hours? How much time is spent driving versus stopping?

You'll spend roughly 2 hours driving around Lake Kawaguchi with your guide, stopping at scenic photo spots along the way. Before the drive starts, there's time for safety instructions, license checks, and putting on fun accessories. The tour ends at Kawaguchiko Station where it began.

Will I get photos from this tour?

Your guide takes professional photos and videos throughout the tour at the best scenic spots around the lake and Mount Fuji. You'll have these to take home as a record of the day.

How do I get to the starting point?

Pickup is at Bus Stop #10 in front of the Tourist Information Center at Kawaguchiko Station. From there, a short scenic ride takes you to the base camp at the foot of Mount Fuji where the tour begins. The Fuji Excursion train and Highway Bus both serve the station. Book early as seats fill up fast.