Around Tokyo&Mt.Fuji 12 Days Itinerary-B

９：００

The mileage is not very long, about 130-155km, but there are so many attractions such as Kamakura and Enoshima. And roads around Kamakura and Enoshima area are especially congested on weekends, so we recommend that you depart as early as possible.

１０：１５

The first destination is the ancient city [Kamakura city & Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine]. This shrine is known as a shrine related to Minamoto no Yoritomo (the shogun who established the first samurai government) and is a majestic shrine that boasts 5th place in the worship ranking.
Also, between Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Kamakura Station, there is [Komachi Street], which is full of 250 shops. It is crowded with many worshipers and tourists, and you can enjoy eating while walking.

１１：３０

About 3km west of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, there is [Kamakura Great Buddha], which is a symbol of Kamakura. There is also a [Hase Dera Temple], which is known for its hydrangea and Japan’s largest wood carving Kannon in walking distance, so please visit them as a set.

１２：５０

After leaving Kamakura, head to Enoshima. There are cafes with a nice atmosphere and restaurants that are typical of the Shonan area, so it is recommended for lunch. Speaking of Enoshima, you can’t miss the famous raw shirasu-don (raw whitebait bowl).

１５：５０

After leaving Enoshima, you will drive further west along the sea.
If you have time, please head to Hakone’s [Owakudani]. It is a powerful observatory where you can witness an active volcano. Black eggs, which are said to extend your lifespan by 7 years when you eat one, are very popular.

１７：１０

On this day you will stay in Hakone or Atami. Both are super famous hot spring areas. Please relax and heal from the active first day.

９：００

The mileage is about 130-180km and there are many sightseeing spots. There are also many places to go for a walk. Especially for those staying in Hakone, we recommend that you leave by 8-9 o’clock.

１０：２０

First, head south along the sea to [Jogasaki Cape]. The Kadowaki Suspension Bridge over the cliff is impressive.

１２：００

After that, you will drive further along the sea to [Kawazu Nanadaru (Seven Waterfalls)]. As the name suggests, there are seven beautiful waterfalls scattered around and you can enjoy a pleasant walk.

Kawazu is also famous for its early blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms. Be sure to go see Kawazu cherry blossoms when you go in February.

１４：１０

From there you will cross the Amagi Pass and head north. If you have time, stop by Shuzenji. Although it is a hot spring area, the bamboo grove is also famous. There are footbaths and teahouses, so please enjoy going for a walk.

１６：１５

The last highlight of the day is the longest suspension bridge for pedestrians in Japan [Mishima Skywalk].
If the weather is nice, you can worship Mt. Fuji, which is illuminated by the setting sun and dyes red.

１７：３０

On this day, you will be staying at Hakone or Atami inn again. Please enjoy the atmosphere of a Japanese onsen Ryokan.

Also, if you want to take a leisurely trip on this day, you can enjoy the area around Hakone and Numazu without going to Kawazu, so please consult with your time and physical strength to decide.

９：００

The mileage is about 130km, which is short, but there are many sightseeing spots, so please start according to the places you want to go.

９：１０

You will drive comfortably on the [Ashinoko Skyline] first thing in the morning. It may be a little detour, but you can enjoy the real pleasure of a driving trip while seeing the beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi.

１１：１０

After that, you will head to [Mt. Fuji Hongu Sengen Taisya Shrine]. Using the expressway (E1A) will save you time.
At [Omiya Yokocho] opposite the shrine, you can compare the taste of Fujinomiya Yakisoba, which is synonymous with Fujinomiya, so it is ideal for lunch.

１３：００

After lunch, you will head to Shiraito Waterfalls (Fuji), the biggest highlight of the day, with Mt. Fuji on your side. They are must-see waterfalls with a height of 20m and a width of 200m.

１５：００

After leaving Shiraito Falls, you will finally be approaching the Fuji Five Lakes area.
From the east, there are five lakes, Lake Motosuko, Lake Shojiko, Lake Saiko, Lake Kawaguchiko, and Lake Yamanakako. Especially, we recommend [Mt.Arakura Sengen Park] near Lake Kawaguchiko. It is a popular spot where you can see Mt. Fuji and the five-storied pagoda as a set.

１６：１０

The area around Lake Kawaguchiko is a famous hot spring resort. It will be a long-distance drive tomorrow, so please take a rest and save your energy at the hot springs of Lake Kawaguchiko. Yamanashi’s specialty [hoto] is also recommended for dinner.

９：００

The mileage is long, about 180km. Please use the expressway if the car navigation system recommends it to save time.

９：１０

First of all, if you haven’t visited yet, please visit [Mt.Arakurayama Sengen Park] near Lake Kawaguchiko. It is a popular spot where you can see Mt. Fuji and the five-storied pagoda as a set, so the first visit in the morning is recommended.

１１：３０

After that, you will head to [Shosenkyo Gorge]. Here you can enjoy a stroll through the valley of strange rocks and rivers.

１４：２０

Then you will head north to Yatsugatake. Please use the expressway (E20) to reduce travel time.

Around Kiyosato, there is soft serve ice cream made from rich jersey milk and nice restaurants making it a perfect spot for lunch.

１５：３０

After that, you will head to the highlight of the day, [Lake Suwa Observatory (Tateishi Park)]. Please use the expressway (E20) to reduce travel time.
It is a place that became famous as a sacred place for the animated movie “Your Name”, and you can enjoy a wonderful sight, especially at dusk.

１６：５０

The final destination of the day is [Matsumoto Castle], which is synonymous with Matsumoto. Please use the expressway (E19) to reduce travel time.

You can see the inside of the castle tower, which is one of the few original castle towers in Japan. However, please note that the final admission time is 16:30 – 17:30 depending on the seasons.

１８：００

Matsumoto, the largest city in Nagano prefecture. Many restaurants are open until night, so you don’t have to worry about dinner.
If you have time, we recommend taking a walk along “Nakamachi-Dori street”, which is lined with buildings with Namako walls.

９：００

The mileage is as short as 100km, but it’s better to leave early to enjoy Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route fully.

１０：１５

Today’s first destination is Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, the biggest highlight today. First, please aim for Ogizawa, which has the entrance on the Nagano side.

After parking the car in the Ogizawa parking lot, take a trolley bus and head to Kurobe Dam. The bus goes through a narrow and dark tunnel.

At Kurobe Dam, please enjoy the huge Kurobe Dam, which is known as the highest dam in Japan. Especially powerful water discharge is great. If you are confident in your legs, we recommend to go to an observatory located in a high place.

After that, please walk on the dam and head to Kurobe Lake Station of the Kurobe cable car on the other side. And you will take the cable car to Kurobeidaira Station.

At Kurobedaira Station, you will change to Tateyama Ropeway and head to Daikanbo. This ropeway is 1700m long and has no pillars on the way, and the longest ropeway in Japan. And Lake Kurobe and the surrounding mountains are so beautiful that you will feel like you are flying in the air of the alpine route.

At Daikanbo, please change to a trolley bus. At that time, please don’t forget to go to the rooftop observatory at the station. Lake Kurobe and the large panoramic view of the Alpen Route are one of the best beauties.

The trolleybus then arrives at Murodo, the highest point of the Tateyama Alpine Route. In Murodo, please enjoy the Yuki-no-Otani (mid-April to mid-June), Mikurigaike Pond walk, and more.

After enjoying Murodo, please return to Ogizawa the way you just came, without going further in the direction of Tateyama.

１６：００

Next, you will head to the Daio Wasabi Farm. This is known as the best wasabi garden in Japan, and many tourists visit. After walking around, please try wasabi soft-serve ice cream.

１７：３０

It takes about 15km to Matsumoto. Please go back to the same inn. Please spend a relaxing time.

９：００

The mileage is short, about 130km, but about 50km of it is a mountain road. There are also many attractions and places to go for a walk, so it is recommended that you start early.

９：５５

When you leave Matsumoto, you first go up the mountain road called Azalea Line to [Utsukushigahara Open Air Museum]. The museum itself is wonderful and the amazing view is a must-see.

１１：２０

After that, you will finally be on the [Venus Line] drive.
Please drop in at [Mitsumine Viewing Platform]. You can take a break while gazing at the superb view.

１２：４０

You then head to [Yashima Wetlands]. You can take a walk in the marshland, which stretches over a plateau at an altitude of 1600 m, and is full of rare plants and flowers.

１３：５０

After Yashima wetlands, you will enter the most beautiful section of the Venus Line. There are some shops to take a rest and observatories along the way, so stop by and enjoy a drive.
After that, it is the biggest highlight of the day [Kurumayama Highland]. A truly awesome 360-degree view spreads out. You need to take a lift to the top of the mountain, but you will never regret it. Highly recommended.

１６：５５

There are many nice restaurants in Karuizawa where you will stay on this day, but all of them are closed from 8 to 9 pm due to regulations. The convenience stores also close at 23:00. Please make sure you arrive at the inn by about 6 pm so you don’t miss your dinner.
A walk in the town of Karuizawa will be tomorrow.

１０：００

The mileage is as short as about 60km, so you can travel comfortably even if you depart late.

１０：１０

The first destination is [Karuizawa Lake Garden]. Especially the rose season in spring and autumn and the season of autumn leaves are breathtaking.

１１：２５

After that, you will return to the town of Karuizawa and walk on [Kyukaruizawa Ginza Street]. It is the main street of Karuizawa, a historic summer resort. You can enjoy walking around the cute church and the bakery where John Lennon attended. It is also recommended for lunch.

１２：５０

Departing from Karuizawa, there is [Shiraito Waterfalls(Karuizawa)] along the Shiraito Highland Way on the toll road. There is no river upstream, and it is a mysterious waterfall where the water seeps out from the mountain surface and flows down.

１４：００

We also recommend [Mt. Asama magma stone park (Onioshidashi Volcanic Park)]. You can take a walk for about 30 minutes in the desolate scenery of the cold and solidified lava of Mt. Asama. In autumn, you can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves from here.

１６：００

On this day, you will stay at Kusatsu Onsen, one of the most famous Onsen town in all over Japan.
Kusatsu is full of highlights such as walking around the symbols [Yubatake] and [Sainokawara Park], and a hot spring fir show at [Netsunoyu]. Arrive at the inn around 16:00 and enjoy walking around the city after checking in at the inn.

The next day you will be traveling a long distance, so take a rest in the hot springs to save energy.

９：３０

The mileage is about 125km, but about 80km of this is a mountain road, so it takes time. There are some spots such as Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park that also take time, so we recommend to leave a bit early.

１０：３０

When you go further, you will arrive at [Highest point of Japan National Route]. At the best viewpoint on the Shiga Kusatsu Road, you can enjoy a magnificent view.

１１：１５

About 2km from there, you will arrive at [Mt. Yokote observatory].
If you have time, you can also use the skylator and lift to climb the summit of Mt. Yokote.

Mt.Yokote summit has a Crumpet Cafe with a wonderful view. Also, about 50m away from there, there is the Yokote Summit Hut, and the bakery there is very famous. On this day, we recommend having lunch at one of these restaurants.

１３：００

After that, when you go down the mountain and pass the Shiga highland, you will arrive at [Jigokudani Monkey Park], which is worldwide famous for snow monkeys!

It is also nice to relax at the ENZA cafe near the parking for Monkey Park.

１６：００

Next, you will head to Zenkoji Temple which is one of the most important and popular temples in Japan.

１７：１０

You will stay in Nagano on this day. Nagano has many hotels between Nagano Station and Zenkoji Temple. If you are going to go to Zenkoji Temple after checking in to the hotel, you may want to book a hotel as close as possible to the Temple.

１０：００

The mileage on this day is about 135km, but you will use mountain roads, so it takes time. It might be better to leave early.

If you haven’t yet, we recommend going to Zenkoji Temple early in the morning before checkout. In that case, it would be a good idea to go for the Osaji (morning service) and experience it yourself. This is a memorial service held by all the priests of Zenkoji Temple, and the start time is one hour after sunrise, which changes every day (5:30-7:00). See the below link for more detail.

９：５５

The first destination of the day is Togakushi Shrine Okusha(Main Shrine) which is famous for its beautiful cedar trees over 400 years old. The 300 cedar trees line up for 500m from the Zuishinmon Gate and a truly mysterious world spreads.

１２：３０

After that, stop by Uzuraya for lunch which is one of Togakushi’s most famous Soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurants.

１５：３０
After that, you will drive along the Chikuma River and head to Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel for about 2 hours. It will be a long drive, so please take breaks along the way. Kiyotsukyo Gorge is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural monuments on the border of Yuzawa and Tokamachi. 

Along this road, there are Tsunan Sunflower Field (late July to mid-August) and Nanohana (Rape blossoms) Park (late April to early May), so if you are traveling during the flower season, please stop by.

１７：３０

Yuzawa, where you stay on this day, is also a famous onsen town.
Also, if you drive from Echigo Yuzawa on the Kan-Etsu Expressway for about 30km and 40 minutes, you will reach Minakami Onsen. Many inns are of a slightly higher grade, and the mileage the next day will be shorter, so this is also recommended.

９：００

The mileage is standard at 150km.

１０：００

Your first destination on this day is [Fukiwari Waterfall]. It is a very mysterious waterfall formed by the river eroding over a long period of time from the rock formed by the solidification of lava.

Please use one of the following parking lots.
① Takinoeki Fukiware-滝の駅吹割
MAPCODE: 540 115 493
② Kyaraen-伽羅園
MAPCODE: 540 115 701

１１：５５

From there you cross Mt. Nikko-Shirane and head for Oku-Nikko. The next destination is [Yudaki Falls & Lake Yunoko].
The water flowing from Lake Yunoko becomes a huge Yudaki Falls with a height of 70m and a width of 25m. The view from the observatory just below the basin is impressive.

１３：０５

You will arrive at [Lake Chuzenjiko] from Yudaki via Senjogahara and Ryuzu Falls. From the lakeside parking lot, you can also enjoy a walk to [Chuzenji Temple], [British Embassy Villa], and [Italian Embassy Villa].

１５：１０

After leaving Lake Chuzenjiko, go down the famous Irohazaka (mountain road) to the Nikko city area.
If you have time, we recommend the Akechidaira Ropeway Observatory. This is only accessible from the one-way Irohazaka climbing line, so you’ll have to go down once and then climb again. However, you can meet the magnificent view of Mt. Nantai, Lake Chuzenjiko, and the Kegon Falls that flow down from there.

１７：００

On this day you will stay in Nikko. An inn near Toshogu is convenient for sightseeing the next day. If you drive about 15km from Toshogu, you will reach Kinugawa, a hot spring resort that represents the Kanto region. There are many inns, and you can relax in the hot springs, so this is also recommended.
You will visit Nikko shrines and temples such as Toshogu tomorrow morning.

１０：００

The mileage is short at 50km, so you don’t need to leave early in the morning.

１０：１０

The first destination is the world heritage [Shrines and Temples of Nikko] including the Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
You will first go to [Nikko Toshogu Shrine], which enshrines Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of Edo, now the world city of Tokyo. This shrine is too famous for the Yomeimon Gate and sleeping cats. [Futarasan Shrine], [Rinnoji Temple], and [Daiyuin] which enshrines Tokugawa Iemitsu are also worth seeing.

１２：３０

Next, you will head to Ebisuya for lunch. Ebisuya is a “Yuba(湯葉)” restaurant where you can enjoy Nikko’s famous yuba dishes. Yuba is the skin that forms on the surface of heated soy-milk, used in cooking.

１４：３０

After lunch, you will head to Ryuokyo Canyon where the beautiful scenery of strangely shaped rocks, the beautiful flow of the Kinugawa River, and the surrounding trees is truly a superb view.

１７：００

On this day you will stay in Nikko for the second consecutive night. Please spend a relaxing time at the inn.

９：００

The mileage is long at about 200km, but 100km or more is a drive on the expressway.

９：１０

The first destination is the world heritage [Shrines and Temples of Nikko] including the Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
You will first go to [Nikko Toshogu Shrine], which enshrines Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of Edo, now the world city Tokyo. This shrine is too famous for the Yomeimon Gate and sleeping cats. [Futarasan Shrine], [Rinnoji Temple], and [Daiyuin], which enshrines Tokugawa Iemitsu, are also worth seeing.

１１：００

If you have time, we recommend the Akechidaira Ropeway Observatory. Located on the hillside of Irohazaka, you can see the magnificent view of Mt. Nantai, Lake Chuzenjiko, and the Kegon Falls that flow down from there.

１３：００

After that, head to [Oya Museum]. Although it is named a museum, it is actually the site of a huge underground quarry of stone named Oya stone used for warehouses. You will be amazed at its size, which is like an underground city.

１７：３０
This is the end of this road trip.

①Returning a car at Haneda Airport
They provide a free shuttle bus from the branch to the airport. Normally it takes 15-20 min but may take up to 1 hour during busy times.

②Returning a car at Narita Airport
If you use Narita Airport, please be aware that it is about 70km from central Tokyo and about 1 hour by expressway. They provide a free shuttle bus from the branch to the airport. Normally it takes 15-30 min but may take up to 1 hour during busy times.

③Returning a car in Tokyo
Traffic jams often occur in Tokyo. Be sure to return your car with plenty of time to spare.

There are 80,000 restaurants in Tokyo! Enjoy your last Japanese meal before returning to your home country as much as you want!