Best use advice and Kawaguchiko with a JR Pass?

Hi there!

Here are some answers to your questions:

1. Yes, the Japan Rail Pass will cover all of the route you list above - it would be a good choice and you would certainly make savings over buying standard JR tickets.

2. To get to Kawaguchiko you'll need to use the JR Pass to get to JR Otsuki station. From here you'll need to take the non-JR Fujikyu express to Kawaguchiko which will cost ¥1110 each way. Here's a sample itinerary from Tokyo for you.

3. Yes, JR does actually run a train to Kawaguchiko from Shinjuku on weekends and public holidays that is free of charge for JR Pass holders, however they only run very few trains. As train timetables for december 2012 are not yet available I have checked the 2011 timetable (which is unlikely to differ) and can tell you that there was a JR Holiday Rapid Kawaguchiko train that left Shinjuku at 8:14am on the 23rd of Dec 2011. Assuming the timetable will hold for this year I'd say that you can assume one will indeed run on the 23rd of 2012, however it will be worth checking on this nearer the time. Also, as this is a holiday period and the only JR train departing to Kawaguchiko that day you should make sure you reserve a seat on this train in advance of travel.

Hope this helps!