Tokyo Itinerary – Day 5/8 - 7/8

I am sure you have heard of the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). It is an amazing pass where you can travel on unlimited rides with the JR trains. However, do take into account of your travel destinations because you just might not need to purchase this pass. Afterall, the price is not cheap at >¥29,000 per person (for the 7-day pass)! If you’re thinking of day trips out of Tokyo, you’ve come to the right place.

JR Tokyo Wide Pass

If you are travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto, without a doubt you must purchase the JR Pass as a one-way ticket is as expensive as the pass. If your intention is to travel within the Kanto region, try considering other passes available here.

Since travelling within Tokyo does not cost as high, I don’t need the full 7-day pass. I have chosen the JR Tokyo Wide Pass instead as it allows 3 consecutive days of unlimited rides for 1/3 of the price – ¥10,000. With this pass, you can choose 3 day trips out of Tokyo which is perfect if you want to visit places like the Fuji Mountain!

For my three-day trips, I have chosen to visit Nikko, Fuji Five Lakes, and Kamakura & Yokohama.
*I have avoided Hakone due to the alert for its volcanic eruption.

Day 1 out of 3 – Nikko in the Tochigi Prefecture

Nikko is a small quaint town in the Tochigi Prefecture well-known for its Toshogu shrine, Japan’s most extravagantly decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu (founder of Tokugawa Bakufu). The Nikko National Park is full of scenic mountainous landscapes, making it an easy full day trip.

With your JR Tokyo Wide Pass, take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya Station. Transfer to the JR Nikko Line to arrive at Nikko Station. The whole trip takes ~100 mins.

Walking around Nikko is easy and straightforward – exit the station and follow the signs all the way towards Nikko National Park. Take your time to explore the town and the shrine as it is really small.

Cross the Shinkyo Bridge towards Nikko's Toshogu Shrine

Day 2 out of 3 – Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko)

Fuji Five Lakes, aka Fujigoko, is a collection of five lakes along the northern foot of Fujisan. The five lakes are Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Yamanakako, Shojiko, and Motosuko.

Among the five, Lake Kawaguchiko is probably the easiest to get to from Tokyo, has the easiest orientations to explore around, and to view Fujisan.

Lake Kawaguchiko

With the Tokyo Wide Pass, take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station to Otsuki Station. It takes ~70 mins by the direct limited express. From Otsuki Station, take the Fujikyu Railway Line to arrive at Kawaguchiko Station (~55 mins).
From Kawaguchiko Station, walk to the nearby Tourist Information Centre for leaflets and directions to get around the place. There are regular bus services for visitors that runs along the lakeside to different places (museums and other touristic spots). Alternatively, you can also explore the place on foot or on bikes (bike rental shops can be found all around Lake Kawaguchiko).

Remember to try the famous local dish – Hoto noodles. It is a huge hot pot of noodles that look like XL sized udon in a miso-based broth with assorted vegetables. The serving size is so huge that one is good for sharing between two people!

If you’re visiting at the right time (usually from mid-April to May) to catch the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, aka the Pink Moss Phlox, you will witness more than 800,000 shibazakura bloom at the base of Fujisan. It is quite a magnificent view to see the contrast between Fujisan and the pink moss, especially if you love pink like I do!

A huge and hearty hot pot of Hoto noodles

Day 3 out of 3 – Kamakura and Yokohama in the Kanagawa Prefecture

Kamakura

Kamakura is a small coastal town less than an hour train ride away from Tokyo, making it an ideal location for a half-day trip. It is often referred to as the Kyoto of the Kanto region, offering many temples and shrines popular to the tourists.

With the Tokyo Wide Pass, take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to arrive direct at Kamakura Station. It is fairly easy to orientate around the town, follow the signs from one temples to another and you will not be lost. Even if you are, enjoy the moment in this beautiful, colourful town!

Be sure not to miss the Great Buddha of Kamakura, the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan.

Yokohama

If you’d like to combine two cities like I did, stop by Yokohama Station on your return trip via the same train. Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan, and house one of the world’s largest Chinatowns. If you’re a avid Ramen lover, you must visit the famed Ramen Museum where you can try nine different types of ‘mini Ramen’! Dinner = settled!

The Ramen Museum can be reached from Shin-Yokohama Station with ~5 min walk.

Remember to check out my other itineraries in Tokyo here!

Details of the places for today:

Nikko / Toshogu Shrine 日光東照宮

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00pm (8:00am – 4:00pm from November to March)
Last entry 30 mins before closure
Fees:
Shrine: ¥1300
Musuem: ¥1000
Shrine & Musuem: ¥2100