10D in Japan (11th Mar - 20 Mar)

[areith]

Hi,

our (3Adults 1 Child) flight from Sin to NRT is on 11th March 5.40am flight and reaching NRT around 2pm.. Few questions to ask:-

1) From NRT airport, which is the easiest way to get to Tokyo City and how much is the cost? Usually is a 2way or 1way charge? We are staying in Shinjuku New City Hotel.

2) We planned to stay in tokyo for 5Nights and the 6th day heading for a 2D1N Hakone. Is it enough time to visit hakone & fuji 5Lakes in a day? What type of lodging (budget/average) to recommend?

3) 7th Day to 10th day - we are planning to travel to Kyoto from Hakone. Is travelling by shinkansen the only way to travel from Hakone to Kyoto? We are wondering whether to get a JR 7 Days pass.. and going home on the 10th day from Kyoto - tokyo - NRT, how long is the journey?

Sorry for the long winded questions as this is the first time I am travelling to Japan..

TIA!!!

[JohnBraden]

1) Friendly Airport Limousine (orange and cream colored)buses run to most hotels in Tokyo. It will cost you ¥3000 per person (no discount for round trips). It should take about 75-90 minutes....

3) There is no Shinkansen link from Hakone to Kyoto. You will have to return to Tokyo or go to Shin-Yokohama or elsewhere for the bullet train. Type in the stations on this website and it will give you itineraries: Hyperdia | 乗換案内 路線検索 時刻表 ゴルフ場 旅費精算 通勤費なら

3) Kyoto to NRT may be about 4 hrs depending if you catch a good connection at Tokyo station....

[Polar]

1) It was 3500 each way when I was there 2 years ago.

Weather should be pleasant, maybe a little rain but not much. Light jacket, t-shirt weather, more then a few sakura trees should be blossoming.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

1) Friendly Airport Limousine (orange and cream colored)buses run to most hotels in Tokyo. It will cost you ¥3000 per person (no discount for round trips). It should take about 75-90 minutes....

3) There is no Shinkansen link from Hakone to Kyoto. You will have to return to Tokyo or go to Shin-Yokohama or elsewhere for the bullet train. Type in the stations on this website and it will give you itineraries: Hyperdia | 乗換案内 路線検索 時刻表 ゴルフ場 旅費精算 通勤費なら

3) Kyoto to NRT may be about 4 hrs depending if you catch a good connection at Tokyo station....

Point 2 is only semi correct. From Hakone Yumoto, the easiest access to the Shinkansen is through Odawara. The best option is to go from Yumoto > Odawara > Kyoto. And yes, Shinkansen is the best way, but not the only way. There are bus services as well, and my uncle always recommend me to try just one tirp using Bus, but its way too long

Narita express is the best way to get from Narita to Tokyo.

As suggested by JohnBraden, Hyperdia will give you the cost breakdown.

Base on your itinerary, you won't hit Kyoto till day 7 night. So that really just leave you day 8 and 9 for Kyoto, and day 10 is your return flight (What time is your flight? ) That may be a bit short for Kyoto depending on what you want to see: Most attraction 2 days. Nara half day, another half day for Fushimi Inari if you are up for it.

If its up to me, this is how i would plan it.

Since day 1 is a waste already, seeing that you arrive at at 2PM, you won't get to tokyo till around like 4 ish 5, that said, you will also be tired from the flight, so you might as well travel west to Kyoto first and rest on your way there:

Day 1 travel to Kyoto
Day 2 Kyoto - Major Attractions
Day 3 Kyoto - Side trips, travel to Hakone at night
Day 4 Hakone
Day 5 Hakone, Travel to Yokohama at night
Day 6 Yokohama (Highly recommended)
Day 7 Travel to Tokyo in the morning, sightseeing around Tokyo
Day 8-10 Tokyo

Of course, if you are not interested in Yokohama, you can just travel to Tokyo on Day 5 night.......

Just a suggestion...

[siokan]

1:Ｎａｒｉｔａ Airport - Shinjuku
Narita Express About N'EX | Narita Express | JR-EAST
Adult 3110yen Child(6-12) half‐price
It is accurate in time.

Airport Limousine Bus Airport Limousine Bus-Airport Transport Service Co., Ltd
Adult 3000yen Child(6-12) half‐price
There is a late possibility. (congestion)
The distance where it walks is short.

2:

Is it enough time to visit hakone & fuji 5Lakes in a day?

heavy schedule I think that you should squeeze it to one place.
Going in Fuji Five Lakes from the station of Shinkansen is troublesome.
Fuji Five Lakes more beautifully than Hakone.......