Japan trip Itinerary

Hi there!

That's an absolutely great plan! It's good to read that you've around done a good amount of research.

1 a&b) What I am wondering about though is why would you go to Odawara first and travel from there to Kawaguchiko? Do you plan to see both Hakone and Kawaguchiko in one day? If so, I would recommend picking one because travel time by rail is over 3 hours! There's also a route that involves a couple of transfers and a bus which may be a little shorter bus takes up a good amount of time nevertheless.

The best way to get to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo is to take the train from Tokyo to Otsuki station and from there take the Fujikyu line to Kawaguchiko itself, travel to Otsuki is covered by the JR Pass, from there it is an additional 1,100yen to Kawaguchiko.

c.) I don't have a list with ticket prices within Hakone, generally travel from one place to an other costs a couple hundred of yen, depending on the distance. There's no price quoted on the [Tozan Bus website either].
d.) There's no direct train in the morning between Kawaguchiko and Tokyo on Nov 2nd, so the best way is to travel back to Otsuki and from there back to Tokyo.

2.) Visiting either Nikko or Kamakura is a great idea, I would recommend a visit to Nikko fore sure. The temple structures are very impressive and the surrounding forests are very beautiful. Both places make for ideal day trips and are well worth the time.

3.) I would visit either Takayama or Kanazawa if you just have one day. Both towns offer enough to keep you busy for days. It's hard to say which is more interesting, my personal favorite is Kanazawa but this really depends on the person. I would recommend reading a little about both and see what appeals to you the most. If you do visit Kanazawa consider a visit to the Castle garden and Kenrokuen Gardenwhich one of the most beautiful in Japan.

Have a fantastic trip!
Daniel

Hi Daniel-San,

Thanks a lot for your answers.
Yes, i have plan to travel to Hakone and Lke Kawaguchiko in one day. My plan -->early morning from Tokyo to Hakone ( Odawara Station) and then visit the Hakone area. Upon finished, i would like to travel directly to lake Kawaguchiko from Hakone. if only choose one to visit, which placeis more interesting? Hakone or Fujigoko?

Any great recommendation places to visit in Kyushu which are reachable using JR?

Thanks a lots in advance.

Warm regards,
Balibali

Hi Balibali,

I think Hakone has more to offer by far, it's quite a large area with many different kinds of attractions. Most people actually visit Hakone for 2 days with a nights visit as a day simply is not enough to take it all in. Kawaguchiko is very beautiful as well, you can walk around the lakes and enjoy the view of Fuji, however a day is more than enough to see the area.

When you take the JR down to Kyushu, either go to Nagasaki or Beppu. Nagasaki is a very beautiful town with a lot of history and a warm and inviting city center, whilst Buppu is great if you want to try a natural Onsen or sand bath.

I hope this helps you with your decision,
Daniel