Is it convenient to travel from Tokyo to Hakone carrying a luggage?
I did some research and found out the Hakone-Tozan Line Route covers Shinjuku to Hakone.

So at this point I'm guessing I need to travel to Shinjuku to take the train. Anyone have a better suggestion?

Also, the first page of this thread mentioned there is a free pass but when I click on that link, doesn't give much info. Hmm...

my plan is to spend 3 days 2 nights in Hakone. Then back to Tokyo.

That explains ! Thank u !

Hi !
Thank u for the kind suggestion. 3D2N can cover Kawaguchiko also? Won't be too rush and tiring right?
Looks like Kawaguchiko can get very nice view of Mt. Fuji.

2 hrs is still bearable. Heheh... I will take note of your recommendation

Oh ya.. if u guys use Instagram, follow this guy PHANTASTIC420. He lives near Mt Fuji and takes very nice photos of Mt Fuji and its surrounding.
Everyday kena poison by his photos.

Hi all,
I'm traveling to JPN in Oct via a tour company (first 7 days) and then I'm extending my stay for additional 5 days (DIY).
I plan to go back to Hakone on my additional 5 days to cover more ground there and also to take lots of Mt Fuji (UNESCO) pics.
The itinerary below is still work in progress. Feel free to give comments/feedbacks.

Also, on Day 7 and Day 8, should I get a Tokyo Metro pass or something? Need to do more research on this.

DAY 1, Saturday (12th Oct)
Arrival at Osaka Airport
Transfer to hotel for rest

DAY 2, Sunday (13th Oct)
- Universal Studio, Osaka
- Shopping at Shinsaibashi

DAY 3, Monday (14thOct)
- Visit Todaiji Temple in Nara (UNESCO), the oldest temple and largest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan
- Sightseeing at Nara Park (Deer Park)
- Visi the Kiyomizu Temple
- Visit Heian Jingu in Kyoto
- Enjoy Japan Bullet Train

DAY 4, Tuesday (15th Oct)
- Sightseeing at Oshino Hakkai
- Tour to Mt Fuji, if weather permits, drive up to the highest station (5th Station)
- Enjoy the Japanese Hot Spring baths

DAY 5, Wednesday (16th Oct)
- Visit Tokyo Asakusa Kannon Temple
- Enjoy shopping at Nakamise Arcade Street
- View Tokyo Sky Tree
- Imperial Palace and Nijyu Bridge (coach passby)
- Enjoy shopping at Ginza Area
- Ascend the Metropolitan Government Building to have a panaromic view of the Tokyo city
- Sightseeing at Shinjuku Red Light District
- Visit to Royal Garden, Gyoen Garden (Sakura season only)
- Visit to Toyota City Showcase (Except Sakura Season)
- Visit to Odaiba Park + Tokyo Statue of Liberty

DAY 6, Thursday (17th Oct)
- Full day at Tokyo Disneysea

DAY 7, Friday (18th Oct)
- Depart to Empire hotel at Shinjuku, Tokyo
- Head over to Shinjuku station to obtain Hakone Free Pass
- Visit Ueno shopping street. Sightseeing at Ueno park + dinner
- Back to hotel (if time allows, visit DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba)

DAY 8, Saturday (19th Oct)
- Depart to Harajuku Station. Sightseeing around the area
- Depart to Shibuya Station:
- Hachiko Statue
- Shibuya 109
- Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Starbucks Coffee at Shibuya to get the a view of the Shibuya crossing

DAY 9, Sunday (20th Oct)
Check out from Empire hotel.
Depart to Hakone via Romancecar at Shinjuku Station.
Overnight at Senkei Plaza Inn Hotel, Hakone

DAY 10, Monday (21st Oct)
Hakone Yumoto > Moto-Hakone (Hakone Shrine)
Moto-Hakone > Hakone-Machi
Hakone-machi > Togendai (Lake Ashi)
Togendai > Owakudani > Shouzan
Shouzan > Gora
Gora > Hakone Yumoto

DAY 11, Tuesday (22nd Oct)
Depart to Shinjuku station from Hakone-Yumoto station
Overnight at Narita Airport.

DAY 12, Wednesday (23rd Oct)
Flight depart in the morning
Transit at HK
Flight depart to Penang




Also, big thanks to stimix, e-jump, RegentCid, and the rest of u for sharing info on your stay/trip...


This post has been edited by teng_08: Aug 6 2013, 10:32 PM

Wah.. Got rating for my itinerary summore. Hahah...

Oh ya.. Would u recommend me getting a SUICA + N'EX card for my Day 7 - 9 travels around Tokyo?
Cos on last day which is Day 7, the tour group will be staying nearby Narita airport. So I was thinking of following them to Narita airport to get my SUICA + N'EX card which is also sold inside Narita airport.

The SUICA + N'EX (round trip) will cost me 5,500 Yen.



I will be going to Harajuku on a Saturday (I know Sunday is the best day to visit Harajuku, but.. oh well)
Will I be able to catch a glimpse of the cosplay culture on a Saturday morning/afternoon?

This post has been edited by teng_08: Aug 6 2013, 11:08 PM

Just exchanged some Yen yesterday. The rate I got was...
RM 332 = 10,000 Yen

Pretty good rate I guess?

Wah... that's a good rate u got there. Lucky you !
I've been asking around for the last couple days and RM 332 was the best rate I got in town.

I'm located in Penang. My trip is also in October. Haha..

My travel date is from 12th Oct - 23rd Oct. I'm only covering Osaka/Kyoto/Hakone/Tokyo.
I'm going by tour and then extending our stay so we can travel around by ourselves.

Good to know. Enjoy your travels there.

That is either the Lock-Up restaurant or Alcatraz Restaurant in Shibuya. I've seen some reviews on it. Google and u shall find the answer...
Seems pricey though but for the experience, why the heck not.

If u read back this thread, u will know why everyone is saying a BIG NO to taxi's in Japan.
Especially for budget travelers. I will be heading to Japan in Oct and I went through all 3 versions of the 'Travel to Japan' threads. U can find very very useful info. Some of them even posted their itineraries here which u can refer to and do more extensive research if u plan to follow their route. Good luck and pls try not to take a taxi in Japan unless really necessary

Hi guys,
I just booked my RomanceCar seats from Shinjuku > Hakone-Yumoto today. But for my return trip, I only plan to take the normal train which is included in my Hakone Free Pass.

Do I have to book my seats in advance or I can just go to Hakone-Yumoto station and hop on to the train back to Shinjuku?
Please advise.

Thanks in advance

Thanks for the info RegentCid.
My Hakone trip is on the 20th of Oct 2013. Exactly 1 month from now. The RomanceCar online reservation only open their seat reservation 30 days before the departure date.
Even with that, most of the good seats are taken already. Hahah...

The Hakone Course will take a few hours to complete. Maybe 4 hours or more if you're going to spend some time at each station + sightseeing + taking photos. So if you reach in the afternoon, u need to manage your time properly.

As for me, I allocate 1 full day for the Hakone Course cos I plan to visit the Open Air museum.
If I finish the tour before 4pm, I can go to Gotemba Premium Outlet also.

Hi guys,
On the last day of my 3D2N stay in Hakone, I plan to check-out at 10am (leave luggage at the hotel) and visit Lake Yamanakako. But the catch here is, I need to be back at Hakone-Yumoto station to board the train from Hakone > Shinjuku by 4pm.

Is it possible for me to travel to Lake Yamanakako from Hakone-Yumoto station and then back to Hakone-Yumoto station by 4pm?
My concern is Lake Yamanakako is quite some distance away and it might take a long travelling time (forth and back).

Based on my research, I will need to take the Hakone-Tozan bus to Sengoku > Take the Odakyu Hakone Highway bus to Gotemba Station > Take the Fujikyu Bus to Lake Yamanakako. (At least 1 hour 15 mins one way)

Is there a more convenient way to travel to Lake Yamanakako which requires lesser changing bus? Kindly advise... and thank u in advance.

Ah? Taxi? I thought taxis are super expensive in Japan so i didn't even bother to consider that option. Hahah..

I know there are luggage delivery service but its not convenient in my situation as I'm heading straight to Narita airport and spend the night there (my flight leaves at 9am next day)

Thanks for suggesting that we put our luggage in the Hakone-Yumota station. I'll consider that option.

To those who are currently in Japan. May I know what's the weather like over there now? I observed the weather forecast since last week. Looks like not much changes. I was expecting the weather to be much collet by now.

Traveling to Japan this coming Saturday. Maiden trip for me