Gotemba Premium Outlets: Mt Fuji Views While Bargain Shopping Near Tokyo

Eager for a bit of retail therapy during your Japan trip? The bargain boutiques of Gotemba Premium Outlets have got you well covered.

Located in Shizuoka, this enticing cluster of outlet stores is around a 2-hour bus ride from central Tokyo, so it’s great for a day trip. More than 200 shops provide a perfect opportunity to pick up some bargains, while Gotemba’s Mt Fuji view is enough to send your Instagram into overdrive!

Just a 90-minute drive – or a 2-hour journey by public transport – from the centre of tantalising Tokyo, hundreds of bargain boutiques await your visit. Gotemba Premium Outlets is Japan’s most popular shopping mall and it isn’t hard to see why. This sprawling selection of cut-price designer stores sits right at the foot of Mt Fuji, offering the simultaneous pleasures of shopping sight-seeing.

You really are getting two experiences in one with a trip to this marvel of a mall. First, there’s the chance to pick up some achingly cool Japanese clothes – something you can never have enough of. Second, you get to see one of the country’s most iconic sights from a superb vantage point. Before you set out to tackle this tantalisingly vast retail haven, you should make sure you’re fully prepared, which is where this handy guide comes in.

There are several ways to get to Gotemba Premium Malls, the easiest being by public transport.

Via bullet train: For Shinkansen (bullet train) travel, grab a JR Pass via Klook and jump on a service from Odakyu Shinjuku Station to Gotemba Station. From there, you can then pick up a free shuttle bus to the shops.

Via direct bus: There’s also a direct bus that goes from Shinjuku Station, dropping you right at the edge of the outlets. Alternatively, you might hire a car to travel under your own steam – and, of course, this option allows for any detours you might want to make on the way.

All in one guided tour: The easiest way to get to Gotemba Outlets with minimum fuss is through a guided tour from Tokyo. In addition to transportation there and back, a tour gets you interesting commentary from an English-speaking guide so you can learn more about the surrounding region as you travel.

Depending on the tour you opt for, you might also have the opportunity to make a few fascinating stops along the way, seeing places you might not otherwise have known about if you were travelling independently – definitely a plus if you're short on time and keen to soak up as much of Japan as possible!

Open daily from 10am, the mall’s closing times vary slightly depending on the season – expect 7pm between December and February and 8pm between March and November. It’s also worth remembering that the entire place closes every third Thursday in February, just for the day. As for how long to spend at Gotemba Premium Outlets, that’s entirely your call – though we’d certainly recommend at least a few hours, if not a full day.

One of the most important things to remember when visiting Gotemba Premium Outlets (apart from your credit card!) is your camera. If you’re as nuts about Instagram as we are, you’ll definitely want to upload a few sensational snaps of this visually stunning place to your Insta Story!

This really is no ordinary shopping mall: you’ll find yourself swooning over the iconic sights that surround the complex – specifically, Gotemba’s view of Mt Fuji, a magnificent snow-capped peak that dominates the dreamy horizon. Immortalise your visit with photos that will send your friends green with envy, then begin exploring the mall’s impressive labyrinth of shops.

Gotemba’s collection of stores resembles a miniature village, with shops laid out like a high street. Offering everything from designer clothing to lip-smacking local cuisine, this place has something to tempt pretty much everyone. There’s even a Ferris wheel, which is perfect for entertaining any little ones between bargain hunting – it’s also a great way to get some aerial snapshots of this famed shopping hub.

If you’re wondering what to buy at Gotemba Premium Outlets, then brace yourself – there are myriad stores with mind-blowing amounts of merchandise! We won’t list them all, but some of the highlights include:

You’ll also find quintessentially Japanese brands like Issey Miyaki and Sanrio, plus non-clothing stores such as LEGO and Le Creuset – glitzy new kitchenware, anyone?

Shopping tends to work up an appetite and there are plenty of places to refuel with delicious dishes from around the world. Feed your caffeine habit at Tully’s Coffee, feast on fusion cuisine at Pan-Asian legend Torafuku or sit down to platters of pasta and pizza at Trattoria Tavola.

If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the Godiva chocolate store, where you’ll find decadent treats practically begging to be bought. See if you can leave the store without devouring some of your purchases – we tried and failed!

One of the very best things about Gotemba Premium Outlets – aside from the enticing prices! – is the fact that you can easily combine a trip there with other sightseeing experiences. Japan is famous for its steamy onsens (hot springs) and what could be better than combining a busy shopping trip with time in a bubbling spa?

Klook yourself a Fuji Onsen & Gotemba Outlets tour to ease into your retail therapy with a soothing soak, hitting the shops before enjoying a chauffeured journey back to central Tokyo.

If this guide has whet your appetite for enjoying more of this charming East Asian country, visit Klook's dedicated Japan page for further travel inspiration.