what can be done in late november

Posted November 6th, 2009 by godashram

my wife and i will be in japan nov 17-24 and want to spend a day and night in the fuji area.... what can be done by a tourist in that area during that time??

thanks

junior's picture

junior - 18 weeks 2 hours 59 min 59 sec ago

hi godashram,
if you like shopping, Gotemba Outlet Mall ( http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/ ) is one of the most popular places to visit. It's often included in the tour package for foreign tourists.
Kawaguchiko Lake ( http://www.fujisan.ne.jp/index_e.php ) and Yamanakako Lake have beautiful scenery with Mount Fuji within the sight (unless in bad weather).
There are a few hot spa places, too. ( http://www.mt-fuji.gr.jp/index_en.php?menu=2 )

godashram - 17 weeks 6 days 7 hours 38 min ago

thanks for the info... i'm hoping for the weather to be nice! how far is Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako Lakes from Mount Fuji? also, what type of weather should we expect around the Nov 18th?

I kinda waited for planning and am doing everything last.

junior's picture

junior - 17 weeks 6 days 1 hour 35 min ago

Kawaguchiko to Mount Fuji 5th station is about 50 minutes by bus.
From Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako is less than 30 minutes.
If you are coming from Tokyo, there's a highway bus from Tokyo station to Kawaguchiko station via Yamanakako.
http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/highw/jikokuhyo/02.html/#/?dt=2 (Only in Japanese)

FYI
東京駅: Tokyo station
山中湖畔: Yamanakako Lake
河口湖駅: Kawaguchiko station

The weather in November is usually good. Here are weather archives of the past 3 years.
http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/past/19/4920.html?c=2006&m=11
http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/past/19/4920.html?c=2007&m=11
http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/past/19/4920.html?c=2008&m=11

godashram - 17 weeks 5 days 23 hours 25 min ago

ok, here's a question... if we were to leave narita around 6am-ish, would there be time to hit up both lakes and maybe gotemba?

if so, any suggestions on how we should time it out to get it all done? 9 days and counting before we fly out...

junior's picture

junior - 17 weeks 5 days 20 hours 44 min ago

From Narita to Tokyo is about 1.5 hours by train.
This bus stops at Gotemba station, too.
http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/highw/jikokuhyo/02.html/#/?dt=2
御殿場駅 = Gotemba station
After a long flight and additional train/bus traveling, and possibly with some jet lag, I would get relax by the lakes.
Here are some points of interest by the lakes:
http://www.mtfuji-hotel.com/english/facility.php

godashram - 17 weeks 3 days 8 hours 22 min ago

so, i'm thinking... tell me what you guys think...

wednesday morning leave the hotel (maybe 6am ish) and make our way to gotemba... spend a few hours there. afterwards bus it (or train if available) to kawaguchiko or yamanakako for the rest of the day/night. then back towards tokyo the next morning.

from what i understand (correct me if i'm wrong) but the trails around Fuji are all closed by now, so as long as we see it, my wife "should" be fine.

junior's picture

junior - 17 weeks 2 days 42 min 34 sec ago

I think that's a nice plan. If you are going to Gotemba Premium Outlet Mall, there's a direct bus from Tokyo station at 8:30.
http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/gotemba/access/bus.php#bus02 (in Japanese)

Speaking of the climbing trails, as you mentioned all of them are closed now.
http://mountfujiguide.com/guide/Fujinomiya_Trail

Just FYI, weekly weather forecast can be found here: http://www.jma.go.jp/en/week/321.html

junior's picture

junior - 17 weeks 6 days 1 hour 31 min ago

Pictures of Mount Fuji from Kawaguchiko when the weather is good.
http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=ja-jp&q=河口湖%20富士山&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=ja&tab=wi

Same for Yamanakako.
http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=ja-jp&q=山中湖 富士山&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=ja&tab=wi


Mt Fuji Day Trip including Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise from Tokyo Mt Fuji Day Trip including Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise from Tokyo - $ 115.45

Visit Japan's iconic Mount Fuji, cruise Lake Ashi and ride the aerial cableway at Mount Komagatake on this popular day trip from Tokyo. You'll enjoy lunch on Mt Fuji and have sweeping views of celebrated Hakone National Park from Mt Komagatake.