Haneda-Ikebukuro at peak hour

Although my flight arrives at 5 am on a Monday, I have to wait for the JR office to open at 6:45 in order to exchange my pass as I�fm travelling on the same day. I also have to be at ikebukuro by 10am in order to connect to the only train to Kinugawaonsen around 10:30
Hence, by the time all the above is done it�fs probably 8 am (allowing for queues etc). As this is the peak hour, I�fm just wondering what is the best option?

Option 1
The original plan was HND-Hamamatsucho-ikebukuro but with a small roller bag, I�fm wondering if it�fs feasible during peak time on Yamanote line?

Option 2
I note there�fs a direct limousine bus HND-Ikebukuro (8:30-9:40) & this is another option.

Which is the better option? Or any other suggestions.
Thanks

Option 1 is totally feasible. I�fve taken the train with a single roller before and it�fs not a big deal. Option 2 also works though so which do you prefer; bus or train?

Another option is to pay cash for your train fare from Haneda to Ikebukuro (around Y700) and then get your JR Pass at Ikebukuro, where the office opens at 9am.

It saves you the pain of traveling during rush hour (you can get to Ikebukuro early and hang out in a cafe), and it's cheaper than the limousine bus.

From Hamamatsucho to Ikebukero - no problem, even in rush hour and full sized cases.
Ikebukero to Kinugawaonsen - lots of trains to Kinugawaonsen. Yes, the limited express is useful IF you are already at Ikebukero. It's only Y3,610 from Haneda Airport with one transfer.

Thank you to all above responses. Much appreciated.

Travelling on JR East Sth pass & based on preference for minimal transfer, ikebukuro was selected to avoid Shinjuku tho I understand it�fs the 3rd busiest.

Omiya (Saitama) is another option viz HND-Hamamatsucho-Omiya-Kinugawaonsen.
I�fm familiar with Omiya, it�fs busy too but perhaps smaller than Ikebukuro ( not familiar) ?

Would Hamamatsucho-Omiya route be better than Hamamatsucho-Ikebukuro? Or is it just about the same in terms of peak hour. I just want to ensure I�fm not in the way of daily commuters.

@JCT �gYes, the limited express is useful IF you are already at Ikebukero. It's only Y3,610 from Haneda Airport with one transfer�h - would you mind elaborating on this?

Timetable to kinugawaonsen
https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/Co...

All the above, is based on the assumption I can secure a train reservation on arrival. Being mid -March, I�fm assuming it should be ok. (Worst case scenario is Plan B - buying Tobu ticket).
I can�ft reserve online as I�fll travel on the day of arrival.
Based on various restrictions , my only option is the 10:37 - 12:27 from ikebukuro as I have a bus to catch at 13:25 from Kinugawaonsen.

Would appreciate your assistance
Thanks

my flight arrives at 5 am on a Monday

On the supposition that you complete your immigration procedure by 7 am,
you (probably before the peak of the commuters' rush) can get to Asakusa
and then you can take Tobu Limited Express Revaty Aizu
(Asakusa 9:00 -- 11:07 Kizugawa-onsen).

For your two-day trip to Nikko including Kinugawa Onsen,
Tobu Nikko Pass world heritage area (2-day, 2000 yen) may well be suitable.
Showing this pass at a Tobu ticket window,
you can get a 20 percent discount on the Tobu Limited Express surcharge.
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/pass/twoday.html

In a case
where you don't get back by Day 2 from Nikko to Tokyo
or you plan to make another trip somewhere around Tokyo mainly by JR East,
JR East pass (which covers your rides on JR-Tobu through trains)
may be a better deal.

Note
: Tobu Nikko Pass covers your Tobu bus rides
between Tobu-nikko Station and the world heritage area;
JR East passes are not valid on Tobu bus lines.

Tobu Tourist Information Center Asakusa,
which is on the 1st floor of Asakusa Station, is open from 7:20.
You can purchase there
your Tobu Nikko Pass and Tobu Limited Express ticket.
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/tourist/

The most direct way for you to get to Asakusa
is to take a Keikyu - Toei Subway through train;
however,
your walking route from the Toei station to the Tobu station
is not straightforward;
there is no pathway to connect directly these two stations.

Alternatively,
you can make two quick transfers,
with the help of passenger-friendly signs found here and there,
at Daimon Station
from Toei Subway Asakusa Line to Oedo Line
then at Ueno-okachimachi + Ueno-hirokoji Stations
from Toei Subway Oedo Line to Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

From Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station,
you can walk through a short pathway to Tobu Asakusa Station;
you have to go up a staircase to the pathway, though.

Cost
: 706 yen as IC card fares:
HND International Terminal --[Keikyu + Toei Subway]--
(A-09) Daimon --[Toei Subway]--
Daimon (E-20) --[Toei Subway]--
(E-09) Ueno-okachimachi
+ Ueno-hirokoji (G-15) --[Tokyo Metro]-- (G-19) Asakusa.
: 2000 yen on the Tobu Nikko Pass world heritage area.
: 1150 yen (after the discount)
as Tobu Limited Express Revaty surcharge:
Asakusa --[Tobu]-- Kinugawa-onsen.
: 1070 yen (after the discount)
as Tobu Limited Express SPACIA surcharge:
Tobu-nikko | Shimo-imaichi --[Tobu]-- Asakusa.

Ikebukuro was selected
Omiya (Saitama) is another option

Considering that you hope to avoid the crowdedness,
I wonder why you try to go longer without seat reservation
compared to disembarking at Shinjuku Station,
for about 10 minutes more to Ikebukuro
or for about 30 minutes more to Omiya.
(It takes about 1 hour to get from Hamamatsucho to Omiya
by Keihin-Tohoku Line Local service;
you will travel there probably before the Rapid service time.)

Travelling on JR East Sth pass

What is the exact name of that pass?
Some JR East passes do not cover your rides on JR-Tobu through Limited Express trains.

I have a bus to catch at 13:25 from Kinugawaonsen.

Is that a courtesy bus to bring you to your hotel?

You can make a quick transfer in a small part of the huge JR Shinjuku Station building.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e866.html

(1) At Hamamatsucho Station (Track 3), you get on the back of a train.
(2) At Shinjuku Station (Track 15),
the tail of your train is near the south end of the platform;
you get off the train and go up the escalator from this end to the passenger bridge.
(3) You turn to the left, then you walk to the signs showing Tracks 5 and 6.
(4) You go down the elevator or staircase to the platform.

Hello omotenashi
Thank you for such detailed advice and the time taken to help.
I�fve taken note of the travel options and details.

Briefly, the pass is called JR East South Hokkaido as I�fm heading towards Hokkaido eventually.
The infrequent bus from Kinugawaonsen will travel to Meotobuchi - it�fs not a hotel bus but a public bus. The hotel will collect me for the rest of the journey.
In order to reserve seats online, you must collect the tickets the day before travel. I can�ft do that as I�fm travelling on the same day I arrive.

Generally, it�fs very fast going through Haneda on arrival at 5am. Sometimes less than an hour, allowing me to have a shower, breakfast, buy the SIM card etc if I�fm travelling onwards. If not, I usually check in early in Tokyo.

I have considered taking the Tobu train as option B. But if I wish to use the JR East South Hokkaido pass, I have to activate it on arrival. The queue at Haneda is usually long and I try to avoid if possible.
I still have time to re-review again. The actual cost or extra cost using the Tobu train is not a major issue. I just prefer travelling in the most simplest manner - meaning minimal transfers.

Thank you once again.

An example from Hyperdia (cut&paste - some formatting)

09:06 begin HANEDA AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL
[23 Min] Airport-Kyuko for AOTO
No transfer at SENGAKUJI Restaurant
[20 Min]Toei Subway Asakusa Line for AOTO
09:50 arrival - ASAKUSA(TOBU/SUBWAY)
10:00 - transfer to
[120 Min] TOBU LTD. EXP. KINU 115
Arrive KINUGAWA-ONSEN 12:00

As an observation, I always found Omiya to be a rather quiet train station due to the size/layout and not as busy as many others in Tokyo. It does rank #17 on the world's busiest, so certainly does serve a lot of people, but heading out of the city in the morning is against the usual flow of commuters.

@JCT , thanks.