Sample itinerary of Kyoto, Hakone, Fuji and Tokyo classic route

7 to 9 days
Mt. Fuji from the shore of Lake Ashi in Hakone ©JNTO
2013.07.22
Mt. Fuji from the shore of Lake Ashi in Hakone ©JNTO

Mt. Fuji from the shore of Lake Ashi in Hakone ©JNTO

I have received many inquiries about Osaka-Tokyo one way trip plus Hakone and Fuji. In this case, Japan Rail Pass is too expensive for Osaka-Tokyo one way trip. So I would like to show you a classic itinerary for this trip. I want to share with you about how to combine several deals and single tickets.

What kind of ticket you need

From Kansai to Narita

ICOCA and Haruka one way ticket / 3000 yen
Base fare ticket from Kyoto to Shinjuku/ 7980 yen
Shinkansen Nozomi reserved seat supplement ticket from Kyoto to Shinagawa / 5540 yen
Base fare ticket from Shinjuku to Narta Airport / 1450 yen
Narita Express reserved seat supplement ticket from Shinjuku to Narita Airport / 1660 yen
Fuji Hakone Pass / 7000 yen
Limited Express surcharge for Odakyu Romance car from Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku / 870 yen

Total 27500 yen

From Kansai to Haneda

ICOCA and Haruka one way ticket / 3000 yen
Base fare ticket from Kyoto to Shinjuku / 7980 yen
Shinkansen Nozomi reserved seat supplement ticket from Kyoto to Shinagawa / 5540 yen
Base fare ticket from Shinjuku to Shinagawa (JR) / 190 yen
Base fare ticket from Shinagawa to Haneda Airport International Terminal (Keihin Kyuko) / 400 yen
Fuji Hakone Pass / 7000 yen
Limited Express surcharge for Odakyu Romancecar from Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku / 870 yen

Total 24980 yen

Itinerary

Day 1 / Kansai (KIX) – Kyoto

Kansai Airport is the gateway to this itinerary. ©Kansai International Airport Co.,Ltd/©JNTO

Kansai Airport is the gateway to this itinerary. ©Kansai International Airport Co.,Ltd/©JNTO

Ticket : ICOCA and Haruka

After arrival at KIX, go to JR Kansai Airport station and purchase ICOCA and Haruka one way ticket.
Limited Express Haruka is only direct train service from KIX to Kyoto. This is the best and the fastest. It runs almost every hour. It takes about 1.5 hour to get Kyoto from KIX.

If you are not hurry, try to complete all JR train bookings at Kansai Airport station. If you can’t, you can do it at JR Kyoto station. You have to purchase and book all ticket except Fuji Hakone Pass and Limited Express surcharge for Odakyu Romancecar.

Overnight in Kyoto

Day 2 / Kyoto

Togetsukyo bridge is the highlight in Arashiyama. ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

Togetsukyo bridge is the highlight in Arashiyama. ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

Use ICOCA for your sightseeing in Kyoto. I think 1500 yen e-money cover most of your trip in Kyoto.

Overnight in Kyoto

Day 3 / Kyoto – Tokyo – Shinjuku – Hakone

Ticket : Base fare ticket from Kyoto to Shinjuku, Shinkansen Nozomi supplement ticket, Fuji Hakone Pass

Kyoto 08:02 departure by Shinkansen Nozomi 306
Shinagawa 10:13
Take local train (Yamamote line) to get Shinjuku. It takes abut 20 minutes.
Shinjku 11:40 (Chuo Highway Bus)
Kawaguchiko station 13:32
After arrival at Kawaguchiko station, enjoy sightseeing around Lake Kawaguchi.

When you depart from Kyoto, you can take any Shinkansen train to Tokyo or Shinagawa. Please see JR Central Shinkansen timetable (PDF).

After arrival at Shinjuku station, go to Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center at Odakyu Shinjku station to get Fuji Hakone Pass.
*Please see Odakyu website to get more detail about Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center at Shijuku station.

By the way, Hakone and Fuji are located between Kyoto and Tokyo. Especially Odawara is the nearest station to Hakone and there is Shinkansen station. But I have two reasons why I skip Odawara and go to Tokyo. First of all, Fuji Hakone Pass is only unlimited ride ticket that covers both Hakone and Fuji can be purchased at Odakyu Shinjuku station only. We cannot purchase it at Odawara and any other stations other than Shinjuku. Second reason is luggage storage. In the trip to Fuji and Hakone, you will take lots of transportation and stay at different hotels for this 3 days trip. If you have a bit luggage, like full size suitcase, the luggage will be a big problem. So why don’t you leave your luggage in Shinjuku? This Fuji and Hakone trip is starting from Shinjuku and finish in Shinjuku. You can pack small luggage for just two nights trip to Fuji and Hakone. If you book hotel near Shinjuku station, you may be able to leave your luggage at the hotel. If you can’t you can use coin locker or storage service in the station.

In Fuji and Hakone, Odakyu Railway’s website provide nice itinerary and information about this trip. Please see Fuji-Hakone model course. But in this itinerary, recommended accommodations are a bit pricey. You can make an arrangement whatever you want.

Overnight in Lake Kawaguchi

Day 4 / Lake Kawaguchi – Gotemba – Hakone

Hakone Ropeway is one of the best way to see the mountains surrounding Hakone. ©Odakyu Electric Railway/©JNTO

Hakone Ropeway is one of the best way to see the mountains surrounding Hakone. ©Odakyu Electric Railway/©JNTO

Ticket : Fuji Hakone Pass

From Lake Kawaguchi to Gotemba, you can take Fuji Kyuko Bus by Fuji Hakone Free Pass. Unfortunately English timetable is not available, but you can check it at Japanese website. Please check Fuji Kyuko Bus website. There are two tables. Lower table is to Gotemba from Lake Kawaguchi. Lake Kawaguchi is shown as “河口湖駅” at the top of the table. Gotemba is shown as 御殿場駅（着）at the 4th row from the bottom. If you want to go to Gotemba Premium Outlet, you see “御殿場プレミアムアウトレット” at 2nd row from the bottom. If you click “11時～15時”, timetable shows timetable between 11:00 and 15:00. If you click “16時～19時”, you will see the bus between 16:00 and 19:00.

From Gotemba to Hakone-Togendai, take Odakyu highway bus. Timetable is shown on this PDF.

After arrival in Hakone-Togendai, you can enjoy cruise on Lake Ashi, Gondola ride or Hakone Tozan bus. All transportation guide in Hakone can be seen at Hakobe Navi.

Overnight in Hakone

Day 5 / Hakone – Tokyo

Ticket : Fuji Hakone Pass, Supplement ticket for Odakyu Romancecar

First of all, access to Hakone-Yumoto station. You can access there by Hakone Tozan Bus or Hakone Tozan Railway.

After arrival in Hakone-Yumoto station, you can take Odakyu Limited Express train “Romancecar” to Shinjuku directly. You have to pay additional 870 yen on Fuji Hakone Pass. But it is fast and more comfortable than local train. I strongly recommend to take this train.

If you leave your luggage in Shinjuku, don’t forget to pick up. Lots of shops and restaurant open until late in Shinjuku. You can enjoy Tokyo even after come back from Hakone.

Overnight in Tokyo

Day 6 / Tokyo

Ticket : Maybe subway pass (not included in total cost)

If you visit several places in one day, you may think about purchasing subway pass. Please see the post, Fast, economical and convenient for sightseeing in Tokyo. Learn about Tokyo Subways.

Overnight in Tokyo

Day 7 / Tokyo – Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND)

Ticket : Single ticket to Narita from Shinjuku and Supplement ticket for Narita Express (to Narita)
Single ticket to Shinagawa from Shinjuku (JR) and Shinagawa to Haneda Airport International Terminal (Keihin Kyuko)

If you go to Narita, Narita Express is the best option from Shinjuku. It is direct service and on time. You may be able to take direct limousine bus to Narita from the door of your hotel. Please see the post, Compare many rail services and shuttle bus. How to get downtown Tokyo from Narita airport.

If you go to Haneda, it is simple. Just purchase the ticket at the vending machine in the station. You don’t need to prepare in advance.

You can extend as you like

I tried to put everything in 7 day. So I skipped Osaka and Nara. Of course you can add anywhere between Osaka and Tokyo if you have extra time. If you want to stop at Osaka, you can still use ICOCA and Haruka. ICOCA can be used for Osaka subway as well. If your ICOCA is empty before you go to Kyoto, you can add Kyoto city pass for your sightseeing in Kyoto.

Of course you can complete this itinerary in reverse. Total cost is a bit higher but not much different.

Comments

  1. CJ LIM says:
    March 18, 2018 at 8:07 pm

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I will be visiting Japan from 05th April to 15th April. But only 9 full days will be there as we fly at night and leave early morning.
    My itinerary is as below:

    05- night flight
    06- arrive Narita airport early morning. (full day in Tokyo)
    07- Full day in Tokyo
    08- Half day in Tokyo then noon after lunch will transfer to Hakone. stay Hakone one night.
    09- Hakone hall day then evening to Osaka. and overnight Osaka.
    10- will make a day trip to Kyoto. and night back to Osaka. Overnight Osaka
    11- Kyoto again half day, then half day Nara for deer park? Evening back to Osaka. Overnight Osaka
    12-Universal Studio Japan, else just do Osaka full day without USJ. Overnight Osaka
    13- Osaka half day and transfer back to Tokyo and overnight in Tokyo.
    14- Tokyo free and easy.
    15- early morning will leave to Narita (10am flight)

    Will it be too rush or just nice? Any better option or suggestion?
    We are a young couple and plan to get a JR pass 7 days. We will activate it on 8th April.

    Thank you Takeshi San

  2. Grace Lim says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    Hi Takeshi

    Given to choose only 1, would Hakone-Kamakura be more interesting than Hakone-Kawaguchiko? I would be traveling from Osaka to Hakone area and then head to Tokyo.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 5, 2017 at 9:35 pm

      Hi Grace,

      For me, Hakone and Kawaguchiko is more interesting than Hakone and Kamakura. But you can see Mt. Fuji from Hakone too. If you want to see something different, you can go for Hakone and Kamakura. The choice is yours.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Tracy says:
    November 16, 2017 at 7:24 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Please advise what pass should i get for below itinerary:

    Osaka to Kawaguchiko
    Kawaguchiko to Tokyo
    5 days stay in Tokyo

    Thank you

  4. Cynthia says:
    October 22, 2017 at 1:26 am

    Hello,

    I see that your plan is from Kyoto – Tokyo – Hakone. Is it possible to go to Hakone direct from Kyoto.

    My plan is Kyoto – Hakone, overnight in Hakone.
    Day 2 Hakone – Gotemba-Tokyo (shinjuku).

    Can you advise me of the train route.

    Thanks

  5. Cindy says:
    August 28, 2017 at 6:35 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    How bout from fuji to kyoto, I will be using jr pass, could you help me info the route?

    Thanks

  6. David Lim says:
    July 16, 2017 at 2:30 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thank you very much for providing so much information! I have doubled the duration of your sample itinerary.

    Could you take a look and see if it’s ok? Especially with regards to transport passes and whether I need JR Pass or not…

    Day 1: Arrival at Kansai Airport KIX (early morning)
    Day 2: Osaka Kaiyukan (not sure if should get Osaka Kaiyu Ticket)
    Day 4: Day trip from Osaka to Nara (activate JR Pass?)
    Day 5: Day trip from Osaka to Kobe + Himeji
    Day 6: Travel to Kyoto in the morning
    Day 8: Travel to Shinjuku then Kawaguchi (Fuji Hakone Free Pass)
    Day 9: Travel to Hakone area
    Day 10: Back to Shinjuku in evening
    Day 11-15: Explore Tokyo (wanted to do more day trips, but 7-day JR pass would’ve expired)
    Day 15: Haneda Airport to go home

    Another question: Is going to Fuji Hakone area on Saturday and Sunday less ideal? More crowds and more expensive hotel stay?

    Thanks for your time.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      July 16, 2017 at 8:44 am

      Hi David,

      You may use JR pass. But before choosing the deal, you should make sure where you go from Tokyo as day trip.
      And also if you use JR pass, you should go to Fuji/Hakone area after JR Pass expires. You will use Fuji Hakone Pass. If you go there in 7 days period of JR pass, it’s just wasting your budget.

      So please make sure where you go from Tokyo first, and then let’s think about choosing the deal.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • David Lim says:
        July 17, 2017 at 7:16 am

        Ok, I haven’t quite finalised the Tokyo part of the trip yet, but I would very much like to visit Nikko and Enoshima, likely one day each. Considering DisneySea as well, but this is not so important for us. So maybe I can go to Nikko and Enoshima before I visit Hakone.

        I am also interested in adding Tateyama Alpine Route into my itinerary (I saw your one-day trip from Tokyo), but I was thinking if it might be better to go Tateyama from Osaka instead, before I go to Kyoto.

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          July 17, 2017 at 12:56 pm

          Hi David,

          You can use JR pass from day 3 to day 9. As I mentioned, you should make trip to Fuji/Hakone after day 10. You should visit Nikko and Enoshima in JR pass coverage period. If you visit Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route, you will get more saving. But you have to make it in 7 days JR pass coverage period. If 7 days is not enough, you don’t need to include Nara and/or Enoshima. These places are not far from Osaka and Tokyo. Even if you pay single fare, it costs around 2000 to 3000 yen. Try to include Himeji/Kobe, Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo, trip to Nikko and trip to Alpine route in 7 days period. And then you still have days of JR pass, put in Nara and/or Enoshima. Disneyland is near Tokyo. It’s not an issue.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Novelyne says:
    May 13, 2017 at 12:44 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’d like to visit Hakone (Lake Ashi – Hakone Sightseing Cruise) and Gotemba from Osaka, and I’ll be staying at Shinjuku that night. I have a JR Pass and I’d like to ask your advise if this would route would be possible/efficient:

    Shin Osaka – Mishima (covered by JR?)
    Mishima – Hakonemachiko cruise to Togendai (Hakone Free Pass?)
    Togendai – Gora Station (Hakone Free Pass?)
    Gora – Gotemba (Hakone Free Pass)
    Gotemba – Shinjuku (JR Pass)

    Thank you!

  8. Uke linggianasari says:
    May 7, 2017 at 1:16 am

    Hai Takeshi, my name uk from jakarta – Indonesia.
    I have plan to go to Japan for the first time but in japan is quiete expens for transportation.

    I will arrive at
    1. Day 1-2 Osaka and plan to stay for 2 night,
    2. Day 3 go to Kyoto for 1 night
    3. Day 4 Kawaguchi lake – gotemba outlet at hakome — at the night go to tokyo (i dont have plan to stay a night at kawaguchi)
    4. Day 4 tokyo and plan to stay 4 night.

    Actually i plan not buying JRpass because my budget only for backpakers Budget. Do you think its worthed if i take a bus or local train to traveling at japan for 8days?

    Do you kan give advice for the best itenery, transportation dan hotels for me?
    Thanks before Takeshi

  9. Bianca says:
    May 3, 2017 at 8:09 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Can you please advise what train passes should I buy for our itinerary:

    Day 1: KIX-OSAKA
    DAY 2: OSAKA (USJ and KAIYUKAN)
    DAY 3: OSAKA-NARA-OSAKA
    DAY 4:OSAKA-KYOTO-OSAKA
    DAY 5: OSAKA-TOKYO
    DAY 6: TOKYO
    DAY 7: TOKYO-NARITA AIRPORT

  10. Jennifer says:
    April 13, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    Hi Takeshi

    Can u advise if I should get the 7 days jr pass for the following itinerary:
    Day 1: Tokyo narita airport to Osaka
    Day 2: Osaka – Nara – Osaka
    Day 3: Osaka- Kyoto
    Day 4 to 5: Kyoto
    Day 6: Kyoto – Hakone
    Day 7: hakone- gotemba outlet-hakone
    Day 8: Hakone – Tokyo
    Day 9 to 15: Tokyo
    Day 16: Tokyo to Narita Airport
    Day

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