Otsuki to Kawaguchiko Fujisan View Express

I am looking to go to Kawaguchiko on 5th October 2025 (which the schedule should open by today)

I would like pre-book the Car 1 seat as I will be traveling with my mum - our first mom daughter trip & our first time to Japan!

The plan is, we will travel from Setagaya to Otsuki, then take the Fujisan View Express train from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko.

However, it was shown fully booked upon midnight... (00:00 Japan time...)
I am checking from: https://express-reserve.fujikyu.co.jp/en/customer/reservation/list

Will it be available if anyone is cancelling their booking? Or was it not released yet and it's still on hold?

Or should I book seat in Car 2 instead?

I have been asking here and there, but everyone keep suggesting to book from Ekinet instead. However, I am not traveling from Shinjuku, so the suggestion does not work for me..

Can anyone help me on this please..
Thank youu

However, it was shown fully booked upon midnight... (00:00 Japan time...)

Car 1 of train 11 is still booked out as of now.
Train 13 has a small number of remaining seats.
Meanwhile car 2 on both trains has many vacancies.

I tried Ekinet (the English and Japanese versions), and it did not allow to make seat reservations even from Shinjuku (the English system would not even list the train).

I suspect car 1 is just popular and sells out very quickly.

@Uji - thanks for checking and reply

Yeah... I have been monitoring closely and it seems that it is really full..

I also found out that the "Sweets Plan" package is accepting reservation from on the 1st. of a month
before traveling to 3 days before.

So, I guess people might have reserved it since 1st September. That's why when it was released at midnight, it immediately shows fully booked...

I am just hoping some people will cancel their booking though... though I doubt it will ever happen/small chances.

I wonder if I should reserve the Car 2 from now or not.
Do you have any suggestion?

I have never taken the specific train and can't give any specific suggestions.
But I wish you a wonderful first mom daughter trip!