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Help Please! Tokyo-Nikko-Hakone-Fuji(Lake Kawaguchiko)

nklsn
nklsn
almost 12 years ago
2 answers

Hi,

I will be visiting Japan for a few days in the first week of April.
May trip is short so I am planning on staying only within Kanto region. I
Should I get the JR Kanto Area Pass? If so, what is the most efficient way of getting from one place to the next?
I have searched online for a while but can't find the best way of getting from Shinanoki, Hakone to Lake Kawaguchiko. Should I skip Kawaguchiko? I was thinking to visit that area to get a nice view of Mt. Fuji as I don't plan on hiking it. I'll be traveling with two others. What is the best way to get around Nikko, Hakone, and Kawaguchiko? I am interested in nature, photography, so I am hoping the cherry blossoms will be out during my trip.

Here is my itinerary:
3/31/13 Arrive Narita, stay in Tokyo
4/1/13 Depart Tokyo for Nikko in the morning, explore Nikko during the day, spend the night in Nikko
4/2/13 Depart Nikko for Hakone in the afternooon, Spend the night in Shinanoki in Hakone.
4/3/13 Explore Hakone in the morning, Take train or bus to Lake Kawaguchiko from Gora, Hakone(?) and spend the night to catch sunrise the following morning
4/4 Return to Tokyo in the evening

Even with the pass I'm sure I'll have to purchase additional tickets? I've already booked all my accomodations accept for 4/3 since I'm most confused about that portion.

Please help ! Thank you in advance!

avatar
Daniel-san
18919 posts
almost 12 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Yes I think the Kanto pass is a great option for you, it also allows travel on the Fuji Kyuko line.

You can reach Shinanoki in 25minutes by bus from the Train station: Hakone Yumoto. From there you can also travel to Kawaguchiko by train but it involves several transfers and takes over 230minutes.
It seems that you can also take the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus from Hakone Yumoto to Gotemba and from there take the Fujikyu Bus to Kawaguchiko. However the busses won't be covered by the Kanto Pass but you can use it on your first 3 days from Narita to Tokyo and to Nikko.

If you find Kawaguchiko to hard to reach you can also visit Gotemba. From there you can have a great view on Fuji-san too and combine it with some shopping in one of the many outlets if you like.

Hope this clears things up somewhat, I know it can be very confusing the travel around in Hakone as most information is only available in Japanese.

Let me know if you have further questions, I would be more than happy to answer them if I can!
-Daniel

nklsn
nklsn
2 posts
almost 12 years ago

Hi Daniel, Thanks for your response!

I think I will go with the second option! Gotemba to Kawaguchiko. I am planning to get the Hakone Free Pass anyway, so it should cover the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus if I'm not wrong?

I'm not very interested in the shopping outlet, so I think I will skip that but thanks for the suggestion.
From from Gotemba to Kawaguchiko, I'm not clear which line I should take on the Fujikyu Bus. Is it a direct line?
Can I take the train from Gotemba station to Kawaguchiko station? Is it faster and/or cheaper?

Thank you!

avatar
Daniel-san
18919 posts
almost 12 years ago
Expert

Hi again,
Yes the Hakone pass covers the Odakyu Highway Bus!

Sorry I linked the wrong bus time table. I just read 5th station so assumed it was the same.
To make things right here is the right time table, sorry it is only available in Japanese.

The Characters for Gotemba station are 御殿場駅(4th in the time table) and lake Kawaguchi is 河口湖駅(last in the time table). To give you an idea: Buses leave at least once per hour and take about 70 minutes / 1,470 Yen.

There is no viable train option between Kawachiko and Gotemba. For reference, the train route would look like this.

Hope it is clear now. Please let me know if it is not!
-Daniel


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