[Railway Travel Record] Going to see Mt. Fuji by riding the Gotemba Line (Kozu - Gotemba - Numazu)

The Gotemba Line is a fully electrified, single-track line that connects Kozu Station in Kanagawa Prefecture to Numazu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture via Gotemba Station.

Until the route via Atami Station and the Tanna Tunnel was opened, the route passing through the mountain-crossing section of this Gotemba Line was the Tokaido Main Line.

After it changed from the Tokaido Main Line to the Gotemba Line, the double-track line was converted to a single track during the war, and it now has an atmosphere that makes it hard to believe it was once a main line.

On the other hand, because the World Heritage site of Mt. Fuji is so close to the line,there is also tourist demand, such as the Odakyu Romancecar running through onto the line,giving it an atmosphere a bit different from a typical local line.

I have ridden the entire Gotemba Line from Numazu Station to Kozu Station in August 2008, passed through it on the Limited Express Asagiri in January 2010 and December 2011, and rode the entire line again from Kozu Station to Numazu Station in April 2012, butthinking 'I want to see Mt. Fuji for my first railway trip of the year,' I went and rode the entire line round-trip again on January 4, 2026,so I would like to introduce that record here.

Travel Record

Kozu Station (1)

I arrived at Kozu Station on a Tokaido Main Line train just before 7:00 AM.

I transferred to the Gotemba Line train bound for Numazu Station, which was parked on the opposite side of the same platform.

The 3-car313 seriestrain I boarded had longitudinal seating.

I remembered the Gotemba Line trains I had ridden in the past being crowded, but as expected for early morning (and just after the New Year holidays), the train departed Kozu Station with many empty seats.

The train left Kozu Station and crossed over the Tokaido Main Line's inbound tracks on a viaduct.

Then, Mt. Fuji, illuminated red by the morning sun, immediately came into view on the left side of the direction of travel.
This sight is unique to this time of day.

The Mt. Fuji I photographed around the same spot on the return trip was blue.

As we descended from the viaduct, I could see many trains parked.
This is the Kozu Rolling Stock Center.

Shimosoga Station - Sagami-Kaneko Station

Shimosoga Station

Kami-Oi Station

Sagami-Kaneko Station

Matsuda Station

The Odakyu tracks and Shin-Matsuda Station come into view below,

The connecting line with the Odakyu line approaches, and upon merging, we arrive at Matsuda Station.

The number of passengers increases significantly at Matsuda Station.
Perhaps they are passengers transferring from the Odakyu line.

In January 2010, I rode the Limited Express Asagiri 20000 series RSE train from Odakyu Shinjuku Station and got off at Matsuda Station.

At that time, I watched Mount Fuji from in front of the station building and from the platform,

I saw the Limited Express Asagiri 371 series heading toward Odakyu Shinjuku Station passing through the connecting line.

Higashi-Yamakita Station - Ashigara Station

Higashi-Yamakita Station

Yamakita Station

Near Yamakita Station, a Class D52 steam locomotive is preserved.

I once got off at Yamakita Station in April 2012 to go see this D52.

Back when this was the Tokaido Main Line, there was a Yamakita engine depot here, and it seems they would attach auxiliary locomotives to trains crossing the mountains toward Gotemba Station.

Yaga Station

Suruga-Oyama Station

After climbing the gradient, Mt. Fuji becomes visible on the right side of the direction of travel.

Ashigara Station

Ashigara Station is famous for the difficulty of transferring to the station of the same name on the Odakyu Line (lol).

Gotemba Station

Just as we are about to arrive at Gotemba Station, Mt. Fuji comes into view nearby.

The train I rode is bound for Numazu Station, but today I am getting off midway at Gotemba Station.

Mt. Fuji is clearly visible from the platform as well.

Wanting to see Mt. Fuji from even closer, I exit the station building from the 'Fujiyamaguchi' exit.

However, there are buildings in front of the station, making it difficult to see Mount Fuji.

I will try to see Mount Fuji from a spot about a five-minute walk from the station.

I'm sure there are places where it can be seen even better if I walk further, but I'll give up and head back to the station.

When I returned to the platform, the Limited Express Fuji-san had just arrived from Odakyu Shinjuku Station.

The next train I will board is the one bound for Numazu Station, starting from Gotemba Station.
This time, it is also a 313 series 3-car train with longitudinal seating.

I departed from Gotemba Station after a stay of about 30 minutes.

As I leave the urban area of Gotemba, the full view of Mount Fuji begins to appear.

Minami-Gotemba Station - Ooka Station

Minami-Gotemba Station

Fujioka Station

Iwanami Station

I am moving away from Mount Fuji, but it is still visible.

Susono Station

Nagaizumi-Nameri Station

Shimo-Togari Station

Mount Fuji is still visible.

Ooka Station

Numazu Station

I am approaching Numazu Station, the terminus of the Gotemba Line.
Only the snow-capped summit of Mount Fuji is visible.

Arrived at Numazu Station.

You can also see Mt. Fuji from the platform at Numazu Station.

In front of the Numazu Station building, there is a monument indicating that the Numazu Engine Depot once existed here.
It seems that auxiliary locomotives were also coupled to trains heading toward Gotemba Station at Numazu Station.

I returned to the platform and boarded a train bound for Kozu Station.
This time it was a 2-car train of 313 series cars with reversible cross seats.

In December 2011, I rode the Limited Express Asagiri 371 series from Numazu Station to Odakyu Shinjuku Station.
The Asagiri signage, the rolling stock used, and the fact that it departed from and arrived at Numazu Station are all sights that can no longer be seen today.

I departed from Numazu Station after a stay of about 40 minutes.
At the time of departure, the train was full with standing passengers, so it does get crowded with only two cars.

Parting ways with the Tokaido Main Line tracks, the train enters the mountain-crossing section of the Gotemba Line once again.

Kozu Station (2)

I arrived at Kozu Station about an hour and a half after leaving Numazu Station.
Although there was a turnover of passengers at Gotemba Station and Matsuda Station, it remained crowded from start to finish.

Since I have some time before the departure of the next Tokaido Main Line train I am taking, I decide to step out of the station building.
This is my first time exiting the station building at Kozu Station.

Other than the ticket gate, it seems to be used as offices, so there is nothing particular to see.

You can see Sagami Bay from in front of the station, but it seems impossible to go there and come back in a short time.

This concludes this trip to see Mt. Fuji by riding the Gotemba Line.

Notes on the travel record

This was a record of a trip to see Mt. Fuji while riding the entire Gotemba Line round trip.
Since it was a cloudless blue sky, I was able to see the most beautiful Mt. Fuji.

Thank you for reading until the end.