Family Travelogue: Getting around Japan: Keio bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko / Familytravelogue 14 March 2016

Second day in Japan, 14 March 2016, we went to the Fuji area. Not at the Mt Fuji or at the 5th station. Latter is closed during winter, from November to March. Winter is nearing end, good or bad news (?), there was a snow fall on our visit. The prepared plan was not what we were able to do, neverthelss, we still enjoyed the snow fall and we managed to go to Lake Yamanaka area.

By 2pm, we thought of not much to do, we planned to go back to Kawaguchiko station and to request for reschedule of the travel back to Shinjuku. My reserved bus ticket scheduled at 8pm. Fortunately, I saw a Keio bus passed by, I asked the cashier if there is a bus direct to Shinjuku.... and it was yes!!!... saved as troublesome of transfers.

We had a late lunch at Keio Mall and back to hotel to leave our stuff. The night was still young, we went out again with few stuff in our bag. My daughter shopped again at the Animate store for I guess an hour or more then we went to Roppongi to buy Hard Rock shirts. Tokyo Tower is visible from Roppongi, It was so so cold and it was so so raining, yet we walked for like 15 minutes or more to Tokyo tower just to get a good pictures. I failed though, it was so dark, so raining, with me an umbrella... well, next time.

Nearly midnight, we were to find the nearest station from Tokyo tower that would take us to Akihabara station. Our phone batteries drained! we left our chargers! We had asked the youth passers the way to the nearest station, Kamiyacho station...turn left, turn right, turn right again... I politely cut them, "Could you please help us to hail a cab?" They gladly assisted us and even said good night when the cab was leaving. I thought there is a designated area where we could hail a cab. Apparently, anywhere.

Lake Yamanaka is the largest in surface and highest in elevation among the five lakes formed from ancient eruption of Mt. Fuji. Kawaguchiko is the most popular though. Motosolu is seen at the 1000 yen bill. Saiko, Shojiko and Motosoku have same surface elevation which confirms the three originally one lake and were just divided by another eruption.

Lake Yamanaka is popular of water recreational and on fine weather, you could have a very nice view of both Lake Yamanaka and Mt. Fuji at Hirano.

Getting to Lake Yamanaka via Kawaguchiko station.

Before the trip, I made a reservation at Mt.Fuji Highway-buses. No need to pay yet. I was checking direct to Yamanaka thru this site, it shows not available in winter. There is actually a direct bus, I suggest you ask the cashier when purchasing your ticket.

From the Hotel Mystays Ochanamizu, we went to the Ochanamizu station and waited for the Chuo line. All Chuo lines started from Tokyo are bound to several stations such as: Takao, Tachikawa, Ome... If you take the Rapid or Express, you would reach Shinjuku after 2 stops for 11 or 12 minutes. But if you take the local, it would stop to several stations and reach Shinjuku after a few stops in about 22 minutes. Check the from and to from Google Map followed by checking the train lines choices from and to at Hyperdia and choose the suitable train line for your travel.

Our reserved bus time was 7:40am with estimated time to arrive Kawaguchiko at 9:25am (105minutes). Shinjuku station is very big and we need enough time to find the west exit, the Keio bus terminal. Chuo Express train schedule: 6:34 and 6:54. We left hotel at 15 past 6 in the morning and walked to Ochanamizu station. Should we missed 6:34am, we had enough time even we took 6:54am schedule. Alighted at Shinjuku station, we right away find the West exit. We asked officials around the very busy big Shinjuku station the fastest way we would reach the West exit. Once out the station, we quickly find the terminal and queue to purchase the ticket.

Chuo line to Shinjuku station

The bus to leave was 7:20am, we still have 20minutes. It was very cold outside. I left my daughter with our stuff and went to the loo. It was 105minute travel. There was a toilet in the bus though. Behind the cashier, a stair down the basement with toilet. I managed to buy hot coco and bread for breakfast. My daughter was so worried I took so long. Our bus was there and we hopped on.

on board Keio bus to Kawaguchiko from Shinjuku, Japan

On board the Keio bus from Shinjuku station to Kawaguchiko station with stopovers in between. We were with many local teens, I believe to visit the Fuji Q Highland theme park. However, it was not just raining, there was a snowfall.

Keio bus: from Fuji Q Higlands to Kawaguchiko station, Japan

snowfall at Kawaguchiko station, Japan on 14Mar '16

snowfall at Kawaguchiko station, Japan n 14Mar'16

Temperature reading opposite Kawaguchiko station, Japan on 14Mar '16

Literally named Japanese Restaurant opposite Kawaguchiko station, Japan

snow fall at Kawaguchiko station on 14Mar '16

Despite the weather, we still headed to Lake Yamanaka.

To continue to next blog: Getting around Japan: from Kawaguchiko stn to Yamanakako Asahigaoka

Previous day wanderlust: From Akihabara to Odaiba City, Tokyo

Check out our trip to Lake Kawaguchiko in March 2014

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