When I travelled to Japan in February 2014, it had snowed heavily the week before hand and was the perfect time to see a snow capped Fujiyama.
To get there from Tokyo we made a day trip that involved taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Shinagawa to Odawara, then a smaller regional train from there to Gora Station/Hakone where we ate a delicious lunch, then a cable car from Gora station to Sounzan which has a spectacular lookout over Fuji. We then caught the Hakone Ropeway to Togendai, then a pirate ship from the Togendai port which looks out on Lake Ashi across to Hakonemachi to start our way home on the bus. The only transport we missed was a bicycle – maybe next time!
Whilst it was a really busy day, it was a lot of fun, and we got to see a lot of scenic trails along the way. I’d love to return in Spring or Autumn one year.
Thanks for sharing. It looks like this was a really cool experience. Was this your first time visiting Japan and Fujiyama? I would also love to visit one day. What was your favorite thing about this trip?
Do you have any tips and advice for others who might be considering visiting it? What to keep in mind and how to prepare?
This was on my first trip to Japan and we visited in the February, so it was very cold. I would recommend dressing warmly in layers, as it was often very windy and cold on the trip, but inside the trains and buildings it was very warm, so it resulted in a lot of changing in and out of coats etc.
Also, due to the number of times we swapped transportation, I would recommend traveling ‘light’ and not taking a lot of things with you to make it easier to transfer from train to train.
All in all, a brilliantly scenic trip that I want to do again - but in Autumn next time!
Me always big backpack with all stuff not necessary with me. 3 thin jackets are definitely better then one coat, for sure. I guess the travel time to Japan is the same as to Thailand. Around September. Or in Spring.
@JacobLED we’ve spent a few weeks between Feb-March which is very cold, and a few in April which was surprisingly warm. I am guessing September would still be warm.
Yes @Istillwannahavefun that’s what I’ve heard from friends who were there in spring and autumn. I like the rest summer feeling of September very much. Not top hot and not cold.
