Tokyo Sightseeing and Cycling around Lake Kawaguchiko

This article provides a personal and insightful sharing of experiences by Thashwini Rajandran, the author.

Who knew Japan would be my top travel destination in 2024? Solo travelling in Japan was a breeze, as everything was so organised and the people were so helpful. I have always loved solo travelling. As much as I love travelling with family and friends, travelling solo allows me to challenge myself and dive deeper into the country’s nuances. I will explain more in my 5-day-4-night itinerary below and how I managed to keep my total expenditure (including return flight tickets) at 
~RM 3000. 

 

Day 1 (9 February 2024)

It was the start of the Lunar New Year holidays and I was excited for my trip to Japan as it was a country that I have heard so much about my whole life. I flew from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8.35pm and the journey took around 4 hours.  

 

Day 2 (10 February 2024)

I departed from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6.00am. It was winter when I touched down at Narita International Airport at 11.00am. It was cold as soon as I stepped outside.

I bought my bus ticket to Tokyo Station from the counter located inside the airport. The airport was well marked with plenty of helpful signages. At the bus stop, there were different lines on the floor to wait for the bus that caters to you. 

I arrived after travelling for more than an hour and immediately felt lost at the station with people walking fast without hesitation around me. It was overwhelming for me. Luckily, there were signs to follow that led me to the ticket machine. 

Intimidating signages to take the metro, but with a collected mind, you will figure it out.

The clean and well-established metro rides in Tokyo.

Once there, I easily purchased my metro ticket to Shinjuku Station from the many available machines with guidance from the many helpers stationed there. If there is one word to describe Japan, I would say convenient. 

At Shinjuku Station, I exited the station and walked aimlessly in search of coffee and lunch. 

On the streets of Tokyo.

There were countless outdoor vending machines providing coffee from brands like Wonda, W Coffee etc.. I ate lunch at a rather tranquil restaurant near the station, ordering ramen and gyoza. I loved the tasty gyoza and the creamy broth of the ramen.

Vending machines are readily at your service.

After a heartening first meal in Japan, I prepared to leave for Kawaguchiko Station, my next destination to set off my cycling adventure. 

Generous servings of spring onion and taugeh on my ramen, just the way we Malaysians like it.

My bus was bound to leave from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal. I bought my return tickets well ahead on HighwayBus.com: https://highway-buses.jp/ for 4,400 yen. The webpage provided videos explaining how to board the bus and details on cancellation charges. So convenient! 

At the bus station, there was a counter with a lady and all sorts of information could be asked there. I roamed around the station, went to the toilet and boarded at 5.15pm. 

Upon arriving, I got off at Fujisan Station, took a train at 7.43pm heading towards Otsuki and got off at the next station (Gekkouji Station). I had booked Mt Fuji Hostel Michael’s beforehand via booking.com. The hostel allowed check-ins up until 8.00pm. This was strictly enforced. Walking from Fujisan station to my hostel would take 15 minutes. Determined to not miss the 8.00pm call, I rushed to my hostel from Gekkoji Station and made it just in time to check in. Phew.

This is the order of the important train stops:

Kawaguchiko Station-Fujikyu Highland Station-Mt. Fuji Station-Gekkoji Station-Shimoyoshida Station-Yoshiikeo-nsenmae Station.

Eruption warning levels update in the hostel I stayed at.

Later that night, I went to the local bar to have hot sake and horse innards stew. The hot sake on a cold winter night was so inviting. The horse dish meanwhile was good for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Anyone up for horse innards?

That night, I experienced the much-talked-about Japanese toilet in my hostel. The adjustable bidet, music and seat warmer made me want to linger around in the toilet longer than I needed to.  

 

Day 3 (11 February 2024)

I caught the first view of Fuji Mountain through the window of my accommodation. It was a surreal feeling.

The Mt. Fuji seems so close, yet so unattainably far.

I went to the nearest convenience store, which happened to be 7-Eleven and bought melon bread, instant noodles, coffee, curry bun and two different kinds of flavoured buns to have for breakfast and lunch. Hot water and tables for mixing the noodles were all available inside the store. So convenient!

The noodle wasn’t as spicy and peppery as the Maggi curry noodles that I had back in Malaysia, but flavourful enough to start my day off. The canned coffee also did its job in boosting my energy for the day ahead.

Bonsai-worthy trees decorate many houses here.

I left for Kawaguchiko Station. Sweat not if you are not able to find a place to buy your ticket, as I discovered at Gekkoji Station. At the end of your stop, for example Kawaguchiko Station, you could just pay the ticket price at the counter before exiting the station. Just remember the name of the station you boarded the train from. 

Convenient app for hikers, as advertised in the train station.

The Mt. Fuji is visible from the train station.

I rented a bicycle at Rental Cycle Puu-san: https://g.co/kgs/7ne1GLS, located next to Kawaguchiko Station for 1,500 yen. It was slated to close at 5.30pm. 

Surveying the price rates at the bicycle rental store.

I started navigating myself to the edge of the Kawaguchiko Lake and followed the edge of the lake. At one point, I decided to divert and cycle to Tokai Nature Trail. I chanced upon a deer somewhere at the starting point of the trail. To see wildlife in their cocoon is one of the greatest pleasures in my life! 

I also managed to make a quick stop at Oishi Park to take a breather. I had the famous melon bun, made from crispy cookie dough and sugary ingredients. It was delightful! 

My bicycle for the day!

On my way back, I breezed through the road that seemed notoriously difficult just about an hour ago.I stopped at a dessert shop before ending the cycling trip.

I had the Mt. Fuji all to myself throughout the day.

Wildlife sighting at Tokai Nature Trail (a sika deer!).

Matcha and red bean with green tea for 800 yen.

I went to the nearest onsen at Yoshiike-Onsenmae Station in the direction of Otsuki, as recommended at the tourist stop at Kawaguchiko Station. The old women tending to the visitors at the tourist stop were very helpful and spoke good English. A map was even provided. This 1856 Yoshinoike Onsen is just a minute away on foot from the train station (the train stop had no toilets, just a little waiting room). It was snowing a little with the temperature just a little over 0 °C when I arrived. I had a relaxing onsen experience while talking to some Japanese.

For dinner, I ate the Japanese curry bun at the waiting room of the train stop and took the train to Kawaguchiko Station to attend the Lake Kawaguchi Winter Fireworks scheduled for 8.00pm.

The firework displays that cold night felt magical after an excellent day of cycling around the beautiful lake under the watchful eyes of the grand mountain, an amazing hot bath and a full tummy filled with delicious Japanese food. Another train for 180 yen later, I was back at 7-Eleven to get juice and bread for 784 yen. I slept well that night.

 

Day 4 (12 February 2024)

Breakfast was again instant noodles at 7-Eleven. It was my last day in Japan and I was already feeling nostalgic.

Snow from the previous days shoved aside.

I walked to the Chureito Pagoda, which is around 20-30 minutes on foot. There is a staircase that will lead you to the viewing platform and during the walk up, you can get a good view of the city below and the Mt. Fuji. Then, I took the train to Kawaguchiko Station to catch my bus.

The Chureito Pagoda and the Mt. Fuji.

Before leaving Kawaguchiko, I managed to send a postcard to my loved one at the bus station. There is a store named Gateway Fujiyama Lake Kawaguchiko Station: https://g.co/kgs/DSRUKpv that sells pretty postcards with paintings from renowned artists. Stamps meanwhile can be purchased at 7-Eleven. 

I departed from Kawaguchiko Station at 9.10am, arriving at Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal soon after. In Tokyo, I decided to visit the hotspots. I took the metro to the Sumida Hokusai Museum where they showcased 100 iconic paintings of Mount Fuji in different scenarios and settings. Free luggage storage is provided here. I had lunch here: https://g.co/kgs/v4xAwYm, consisting of sushi and soba. The fish was sweet, nothing like I had ever tasted before. It was the best sushi moment for me. 

My colourful dish assemble.

Next, I went to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. There were many visitors, but I managed to find some nooks and crannies to meditate and enjoy the scenery.

I dined early at Hakata Tenjin Shinjuku Higashi-guchi here: https://g.co/kgs/QETbUzw It had chili flakes that you could add on as much as you like. It was more like my kind of place. I ordered ramen. 

The onset of the blooming period for the Prunus spp. Trees.

Tamamo Lake in the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Creamy ramen with wood ear mushroom, hands down the best I have ever tasted!

Then, I walked all the way to Shibuya, soaking in the atmosphere. I tried crossing at the famous Shibuya crossing and felt dizzy afterwards from all the humans around me. It was then time to say Sayonara to Japan.

I took the metro to Haneda Airport which will require you to change metros. My flight was at 11.55pm. 

 

Day 5 (13 February 2024)

7 hours and 50 minutes later, I landed safely in Kuala Lumpur.

The maddening Shibuya crossing.

Expenses (~RM 3000 per pax):

Details	Cost (Yen/RM)
One-way flight with Air Asia (KLIA-MN)	13833 / 429
One-way flight with Cebu Pacific (MN-NARITA)	25208 / 782
Etiqa 360 Travel Insurance	6262 / 194
Bus from the airport to Tokyo Station	1300 / 40
Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station	210 / 7
Lunch	819 / 25
Fujisan Station to Gekkouji Station	180 / 6
Hostel in Kawaguchiko	5888 / 183
Dinner	1430 / 44
Breakfast and lunch at 7-Eleven	734 / 23
Gekkouji Station to Kawaguchiko Station	180 / 6
Bicycle full day rent with helmet	1500 / 47
Dessert	800 / 25
Kawaguchiko Station to Yoshiike-Onsenmae Station	390 / 12
Onsen	600 / 19
Yoshiike-Onsenmae Station to Kawaguchiko Station	310 / 10
Kawaguchiko Station to Gekkouji Station	180 / 6
Dinner at 7-Eleven	784 / 24
Breakfast at 7-Eleven	203 / 6
Gekkouji Station to Kawaguchiko Station	180 / 6
Stamp and postcard	550 / 17
Return bus to/from Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko	4400 / 136
Sumida Hokusai Museum entrance ticket	1200 / 37
Return metro to Shinjuku	460 / 14
Lunch	1400 / 43
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden entrance ticket	1000 / 31
Dinner	1250 / 39
Multiple metros to airport	510 / 16
One-way flight with Air Asia (HANEDA-KLIA)	32990 / 1023
Total cost*	104,751 / 3250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* The exchange rate used is as of 11 April and serves as an approximate conversion only.

For more travel stories, visit the author’s personal blog at: www.becausebrotherscelebrate2.wordpress.com