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Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/24 12:12
Heading for Lake Kawaguchiko this coming November 19, 2015 for a day trip from Tokyo. Taking the Fujikyu Railways from Otsuki.. Is it a good idea to drop first at Shimo-Yoshida Station for the Chureito Pagoda before going to kawaguchiko? We'll just take lots of picture up the hill. Will the train stop at Shimo-Yoshida Station from Otsuki? or it's a direct train all the way to kawaguchiko?

Furthermore, where would be the best autumn spots in Lake kawaguchi? Can we go to the Maple Tunnel through the retro bus? I think it's possible to the Maple Corridor but how about the Maple Tunnel? what bus stop should we drop off?

I guess our date it not yet too late to witness the peak colors at Lake kawaguchi.

Thanks a lot
by Owen (guest)  

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/25 01:34
I was just there last Nov! Nov 21 , 2014 to be exact.

We rented a car this time, we could do way more stuff that way.

For the train from Otsuki, only if you take the local train that it would stop at Shimo-Yoshida Station but still a good 30min walk from there not to mention another 15-20mins to the top.

The retro bus does not stop at Maple Tunnel and I don't think any bus travel that direction. Car rental is better for this one. But for the festival I believe there is a bus.

Color was very good even for Nov 21 (We arrived on the last day of the festival) but I think we where just lucky though, it is probably a bit better even one week earlier but of course it depends on the weather.

Hope this helps!!
Have fun!!
by Koohii2wii rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/25 10:01
Would you mind sharing some autumn colors during that date? hehe

Okay, I'll just stick to Maple Corridor. I'm also visiting Oishi park... Most blogs I read were saying that the area is superb when taking pictures of the lake and Fuji. Hope that the red bushes (not sure what you call it) are still in fiery red when we visit... which retro bus stop is the nearest to Oishi park?

If we still have time, we will visit the pagoda. I think the ropeway also offers the same view as the pagoda. We'll just choose between the two.

by Owen (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/25 11:03
i rented a bicycle
But not recommended if you are not into cycling up n down hills (between the lakes)
by ejump0 rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/25 22:21
I think we won't be renting the bicycle...

also, the chureito pagoda ang the kachi ropeway's view are almost the same. might just choose kachi ropeway... going to the pagoda is quite tiring and time consuming (correct me if I am wrong) considering that we only have a day and arriving at 9:30 am.

by 4:30 PM the sun already sets. we need daylight for our photos.

would you know the nearest bus stop if going to Oishi Park? i think the current retro bus stops is not updated http://www.fujisan.ne.jp/access/retrobus_K_e.php

up to bus stop #16 only whereas some said theres bus stop 21 and 22. please help. thanks
by Owen (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/25 22:30
Oh my bad.. I think here's the updated bus stops http://www.2madames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/retro-bus-timetable...

the Oishi park I think is walking distance from bus stop 22 (natural Living Center)

please confirm? thank you
by Owen (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/26 07:54
I look again and it was actually Nov 19, 2014 lol

Here it is
Maple Tunnel http://tinypic.com/r/23vgpxk/8
Pagoda http://tinypic.com/r/33e66hl/8
Dimond Fuji http://tinypic.com/r/2rqbvb8/8
Mt Fuji train ride up http://tinypic.com/r/2gtbz3o/8
Momoji Festival http://tinypic.com/r/k2g3e9/8

Still recommended to rent a car though so you can do more thing like going to Maple Tunnel and the Pagoda.


Hope this helps!!
Have Fun!!
by Koohii2wii rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/26 14:17
do you have any idea how much is the rate of a car for 8 hours max in Kawaguchiko? any recommendations? thanks
by Owen (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/27 03:39
I used Tocoo to book as it has English support.
This one is located at Fujisan Station, just a short walk.

http://www2.tocoo.jp/en/contents_search?departure_date%5Bday%5D=Nov+19...

I paid about 6800 yen with the insurance plus about 2500 yen for the refuel last year.
I drove to Mt Fuji Subaru 5th Station, Lake Yamanaka for Diamond Fuji, Pagoda, Maple Tunnel and the Festival.

Make sure you get an International Driving Permit or International License in Japanese. Insurance is mandatory to rent a car in Japan and usually is included in the fare.

I never had any problems with parking with most areas in Kawaguchiko area is free parking except the temporary parking for the Momoji Festival which was 500yen.

I also had rented a pocket Wifi so I could use my smartphone google maps. Just make sure to turn off TOLLS because usually your car will not have ETC device install in the car.

Very fun to drive in the Kawaguchi area!

Hope this helps!!!
Have Fun!!
by Koohii2wii rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/27 23:17
Thank You Thank You so much... will check this
by Owen (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/27 23:19
Oh is there any car for rent in the area that already includes the driver?
by Owen (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/28 23:48
Oh is there any car for rent in the area that already includes the driver?

I had check this before as well. There are taxi company that will do private tours by the hour.

Here is the same email quote I got from last year:

Me: Hello Kyowa Taxi,

We will be in Kawaguchi in Nov and would like a quote for your services.

We would be arriving Kawaguchiko Station on Nov 24 around 10:00am.

We would want to go to Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, go to Lake Yamanakako for views from lake (Diamond Fuji), Kachi Kachi Ropeway and Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival before sunset and see the light up. (http://www.fujisan.ne.jp/event/info_e.php?if_id=680&ca_id=3)
We would want to be back at Kawaguchiko Station by 7:00pm

There would only be 2 people.
How much would it cost to hire a driver for us?

Thanks,

Them: Hello and Thank you,

Price will be under the provisions of Yamanashi Taxi Associastion.

1hour:\6900

\6900~9hours=\62100

Subaru line fee is \2000

Please feel free to ask any questions.

If you like to make reservation, let me know ASAP

Thank you


So it can get pretty expensive! There email if you want a quote master@kyowa-taxi.jp

Another option would be to join a tour with JTB Sunrise or even this one http://www.mtfujitour.com/


Hope this helps!!!
Have Fun!!!
by Koohii2wii rate this post as useful

Re: Mt Fuji - Best Viewing Spots in Autumn 2015/7/29 09:58
Oh My that's pretty expensive... we'll just do a "do it yourself" tour hehe. thanks
by Owen (guest) rate this post as useful

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