This post is continued from the previous post, Trip to Aizu, Nikko and Hakone in 2014 winter – Part 12, Takasaki to Hakone via Odawara.
I had to go back to Tokyo by noon. I did not have enough time to visit all places in Hakone. I supposed to go to Sounzan from Hakone-Yumoto by Hakone Tozan Railway and Hakone Tozan Cablecar.
But there were lots of snow. Cablecar was closed due to heavy snow. I asked station staff and he said even Hakone Tozan Railway was opened one day before.
Anyway I took the train and I went to Gora that is the end of Hakone Tozan Railway.
It was around 8:00 am and very quietly around the station. Of course Cable car stayed the station very quietly.
At Gora station, both train station and cablecar station are connected. You can transfer directly through the transfer gate.
I walked around the station but I could not find anything to do because of snow and early morning. So I went back to Hakone-Yumoto.
I took newer fleet on the way back.
From Hakone-Yumoto, I took Odakyu Romancecar to Shinjuku.
There are several kinds of fleets for Odakyu Romancecar train. I took EXE series. That is most common series. It was not bad but not super good. Odakyu has more attractive fleets that has panoramic window at both end. But I had no choice because I had an appointment in Tokyo around noon.
I had medium size suitcase. I could store my suitcase at upper luggage space.
And I arrived at Shinjuku. I completed my trip there.
It was very short trip. But my trip is always like this and I saw many places and took many kinds of trains. I really enjoyed this trip.
However I could not take my original flights because of overbook. 🙁
Narita airport was closed a few days ago due to heavy snow. I stayed in Shinagawa one more night and went back to my place, Canada. 🙂
Comments
Hi,
May I know which date and month from when to when during your whole travelling time?
I planning to had trip to Japan around end of February and I wonder Hakone or Nikko is it still snowing?
Thanks.
Hi Jack,
I had this trip from February 7th. You can rind the whole part of my trip in the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
When I had this trip, it was the record breaking snow. It’s very rare to see the snow in Nikko. In Hakone, hight mountain area, such as Owakudani, Souunzan area may have snow.
If you really want to see the snow, you should go to Gala Yuzawa.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7690.html
This is most accessible place from Tokyo to see snow with 100%.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi/JPRail.com,
Thank you for the reply.
I seen the whole part of your trip which stated Kansai Area, but the time I am travelling will from around middle of February to end of February at Kanto Area which nearby Tokyo such as Nikko, Hakone, Yuzawa, Karuizawa and etcs.
By the time of mid to end of February except Yuzawa, any other places still have snowing or snow festival?
I had search for some information stated that north west of Yuzawa at Tokamachi Snow Festival which need to sit a train at Yuzawa Station.
The first time I went, I only reach Yuzawa from Tokyo and I not very familiar how to travel from Yuzawa to Tokamachi.
Is there any advice for how to travel to Tokamachi for one day trip from Tokyo and any other places in Kanto Area near Tokyo that still snowing at the time?
Looking forward from your reply.
Regards,
Jack
Hi Jack,
I think you can see snow in Tokamachi. You can get Tokamachi by the following route:
Echigo-Yuzawa (JR local train) Muikamachi (Hokuetsu Kyuko railway train) Tokamachi
It takes about 30 to 40 minutes. It’s not hard to make day trip from Tokyo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi/JPRail.com,
Is there anymore place near Tokyo still snowing since it is rare to see show in Nikko during mid to end of February and Yuzawa is kinda far away?
Regards,
Jack.
Hi Jack,
Unfortunately not. If you really want to see snow, you have to go to Yuzawa or somewhere in Niigata prefecture. Yuzawa is one of the nearest spots in Niigata prefecture from Tokyo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com