Mt. Fuji isn't always visible, especially when it's hazy. Please choose the spots in the highlights you would like to visit around Kawaguchiko/ Mt. Fuji, based on your interest/preferences, your physical condition and the weather. It depends on which ones you choose, but I'll do my best to arrange it the way you can visit more than three of them but if you choose both Chureito Pagoda and Nemba, you might not be able to choose the other options unless you are willing to use taxis.
At Bus Terminal Shinjuku or Shinjuku Station
At your hotel or the place you'd like
You can take as much time as you want to take pictures, just relax and enjoy the view as far as we can make the bus or train back to Tokyo, instead of being rushed through like when you're in a package bus tour.
On visible days, we can enjoy the view of huge Mt. Fuji outdoors, and when we cannot have the view, we can enjoy art around the Lake Resort.
When the weather forecast won't be good enough, it's possible to change to other days if I'm available.
Flexibility is the greatest point of this tour. In case you're not departing from/returning to Tokyo, arrangements are possible.
Guiding fee, The Guide's Admission fee for Saiko Iyashinosato Nemba/ Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum/Kubota Ichiku Museum
The Guide's Transportation fare for the Ropeway and the Lake Cruise
Transportation fare (You and guide: Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Round trip by highway bus is ￥4000, by trains ¥8120 with Limited Express.)
If you'd like to visit several spots along the Lake, the Loop bus one day ticket ￥1200 might be convenient.)
The Ropeway ticket is 1000 yen per adult, 500 yen per a child.
Twenty Minute Lake is 1000 yen per adult, 500 yen per a child.
Options:
meals
snacks
beverages
Admission fee of your options （Please look at the highlights for each price)
You need the transportation fare shown at EXCLUSION and check the highlights for admission. Kawaguchiko Museum of Art and Kubota Ichiku Kimono Museum are closed on Tuesdays.
NO MOUNT FUJI TOUR except September 6 or 7 because bad weather is predicted.
10 hours include the time from/to Tokyo, not 10 hours starting from Mount Fuji area. NOT ON WEEKENDS. I recommend a Tokyo tour for weekends.
GOTEMBA PREMIUM OUTLET, Aokigahara, the caves are NOT INCLUDED in this tour. Please contact other guides for them.
We have rainy seasons from Mid June to around July 20. During that period, the chances of seeing Mount Fuji could be very low.
CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST of LAKE KAWAGUCHIKO AREA ONLINE, please.
Also could you check the live cameras I wrote in my blog.
I'll keep my fingers crossed, but you can NOT ALWAYS have the view of Mt. Fuji.
Also TRY TO AVOID WEEKENDS if you can unless you love to wait in lines.
We will have better chances if you stay till twilight at the Lake area, so I wish you wouldn't have dinner reservation or other reservations afterward.
Chuo Highway buses are less expensive and reasonable, basically punctual but sometimes might get jammed.
Some are fully booked up, so ADVANCE BOOKING IS NECESSARY.
I would call them and book them. At the vending machine, you could use your credit card if you know your four-digit PIN No.
It is impossible to go to all of the eight options in a day.
#1, Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nemba takes 40 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station and the bus comes only every 30 minute, so if you choose #1, we can only visit a few more spots.
#7, Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum will be closed at 18:00.
WEARING WALKING SHOES/SNEAKERS are recommendable, whichever options you choose.
It's a little chilly during the Lake Cruise, you will appreciate a nice jacket to keep you warm.
We will basically use buses around Lake Kawaguchi unless you're willing to pay for cabs.
The loop buses run approximately every twenty minutes.
If you hope the tour to start or end around Kawaguchiko/Fujisan area, I will send you a new itinerary after your inquiries, so please let me know.
It is possible, but it takes 80 minutes at least by local bus and not so many.
There is a highway bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal to the Outlet, which takes 95 minutes.
Tour was fun and full of facts. Yoko involved us in the tour and kids participated with a lot of energy. She was very helpful with plans for the rest of the holiday and gave us lots of important tips. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for writing a review soon after the tour. It was a hot day but it was a lot of fun meeting you and your family. I was especially amazed with Jenny being smart, full of curiosity and asking so many questions and Nick was so cute. I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday. Have fun!!
It was a true pleasure to spend a day with Yoko-san. Even before we met, she was super helpful with advice on hotels, transportation from the airport, etc. She also adjusted our tour schedule to follow the optimal route between the famous places in Tokyo, and to fit in the places we really wanted to see. We learned a lot about the city, and about Japanese culture and history in general. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience. Thank you so much, Yoko-san!
Oh, thank you so much for such a lovely review, Dmitri san!! We really walked a lot that day. Starting from Asakusa, lotus pond of Shinobazu and Ueno Toshogu, Tsukiji Market, Sakuradamon Gate and Nijubashi Bridge of the Imperial Palace, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Takeshita Street and Omotesando. I was quite surprised that both you and your wife Hui san was walking in sandals but didn't complain about the long walk. I had a great time with you, your lovely wife Hui san and smart and beautiful daughter Maria. It was so interesting talking with you and your family. I hope Maria makes her dream come true and I will be looking forward to your revisit to climb Mount Fuji. Thank you again for the lovely day and your generosity. Yoko
Yoko introduced us to East part of Tokyo starting from Ginza and other sightseeing areas located at this sort of the city. Her knowledge and insights were very helpful for the first comers to Japan! Our group of 6 consisted of 4 adults and 2 kids. Yoko was flexible when we would request to make a change in our itinerary and she was able to suggest alternative on the spot. Yoko is a highly recommended tour guide for the family or couples.
Thank you so much for your review, Katerina san. I remember I had a lovely day with your wonderful family in June. We had an amazing lunch at a sushi restaurant which has the capacity to let our large group in without a long wait. We went to Odaiba instead of the crowded Tokyo Sky Tree. I was glad that your daughter enjoy the ride which was like the Disney ride. There is so much to see in Japan, so please come again!! Thank you again for the lovely day and the review, Yoko
We had a lovely guide in Tokyo, Yoko, who was with us for two days. Her English was impeccable. The first day she took us to the main shrines Meiji - Jingu ( where we saw several wedding parties) and Senso-ji along with teaching us how to navigate the metro and train system! We wanted ramen for lunch and Yoko delivered! We found Yoko easy to be with and full of energy - she gave information easily without having to prompt her. She never wearies of questions either! We were familiar with the shogunate eras but she was able to fill in all the blanks for us without drowning us in facts and numbers as well as our “knowledge” of the yakuza from “Tokyo Vice”! We enjoyed her so much we asked to book her for a second day while she guided us through the Imperial Gardens. She not only knows her history but also the names of plants and trees to help understand the beautiful gardens. We mentioned that we wanted to buy a knife and go to the Tsukiji market. She mentioned a free event at the Anakusa Cultural Tourist Center where we were able to see geishas perform traditional dances and one of the 6 houkan ( male counterpoint to the geisha) left in Japan. In order to attend the event I had to cancel my tickets to the Yayoi Kusama museum and Yoko found a different time that I could repurchase my tickets so that we could do it all. She reworked our schedule so that we could do it all!! She took us to a nice restaurant for lunch that was superb and a favorite of locals. She was so helpful with information regarding other things we had planned and would readily share travel information and other ideas for our remaining days in Tokyo! If only we could have had her travel to Kyoto with us too! My husband and I highly recommend Yoko but I warn you - you better have your walking shoes on or you will not be able to keep up with her!!
Martha san, thank you so much for writing such an incredible review. I deeply appreciate both you and Robert san enjoyed Japanese culture and cuisines so much. I had a great time talking with both of you. I also wanted to show you interesting spots in Yanaka besides Yanaka Ginza so sorry we ran out of time. As you often have a business trip to Japan, I will hope I can show you around the gorgeous, artistic World Heritage Nikko some day soon. Thank you again for such a lovely heartful review and your generosity. I hope you have a nice flight back to the States.