Driving trip from Haneda. Need advice.

[Ghostrider]

Will be fly in from Sapporo to Haneda with my elderly parents in coming May. Got 4 days there. As they have walking issue, so we plan to drive them to do some sightseeing around Hakone and some where can see Mt Fuji at the lakes area. Stay around there for 2 night before heading to Shinjuku

Planned to rent a car from Haneda airport and drive around the area and then back to Shinjuku or Tokyo on the last two days.

What is the possible driving itinerary? do not want to drive when in Shinjuku.

 

[oceanicmanta]

We did a 8D self drive trip Haneda-Kawaguchiko-Itami-Yokohama-Haneda in Mar18, skipping Hakone & Tokyo itself.

Mt Fuji is really impressive, with various viewing points & places of interest. Shld spend more nights at Kawaguchiko area.

Given your limited days, you shld head straight to Kawaguchiko area. You can pick up car at Haneda Airport, 2.5hrs drive to Kawaguchiko via Expressway.

The car rental companies provide shuttle service to/from Haneda Airport to their shop which is offsite from the airport (not that near). I rented from NicoNico car rental via Jalan.net - good service.

From Haneda Airport, you can take train into Tokyo.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Try this place out for lunch .. it's near Lake Motosu, west side of Mt Fuji

https://www.google.com/maps/place/松...5e1!8m2!3d35.4642801!4d138.6033641?authuser=1

it's run by husband & wife team ... the husband hunts for the wild deer & boar for their dishes. set meals are good value.

 

[Ghostrider]

We did a 8D self drive trip Haneda-Kawaguchiko-Itami-Yokohama-Haneda in Mar18, skipping Hakone & Tokyo itself.

Mt Fuji is really impressive, with various viewing points & places of interest. Shld spend more nights at Kawaguchiko area.

Given your limited days, you shld head straight to Kawaguchiko area. You can pick up car at Haneda Airport, 2.5hrs drive to Kawaguchiko via Expressway.

The car rental companies provide shuttle service to/from Haneda Airport to their shop which is offsite from the airport (not that near). I rented from NicoNico car rental via Jalan.net - good service.

From Haneda Airport, you can take train into Tokyo.

Yah, previously went to Kawaguchiko area via bus to visit the music forest during autumn. The view around the lake to view Mt Fuji is impressive.

Are u suggesting we start from Haneda to Kawaguchiko area and stay around the lake area for a night, next day drive back to Haneda to return car. And take train into Tokyo?

Think of another way, Shinjuku-Kawaguchiko-Hakone-Shinjuku by driving within a day. Toyota-Rent-a-Car is just opposite shinjuku sun route. No sure practical or not.

 

[oceanicmanta]

yes, either stay at Kawaguchiko area for 2 nites or 1 nite each at Kawaguchiko & Hakone ... but that was before i knew you had been to Fuji area before so it really is up to you

"Shinjuku-Kawaguchiko-Hakone-Shinjuku by driving within a day" - if you mean a day trip, it would be too rush

it does help if the rental car shop is near your Shinjuku hotel (eg if u left something in the car, your parent can rest in hotel while u return car etc) and Shinjuku is near the Expressway to get to Fuji area.

 

[shadow84]

Try this place out for lunch .. it's near Lake Motosu, west side of Mt Fuji

https://www.google.com/maps/place/松...5e1!8m2!3d35.4642801!4d138.6033641?authuser=1

it's run by husband & wife team ... the husband hunts for the wild deer & boar for their dishes. set meals are good value.

Do they have an english menu?

 

[oceanicmanta]

Do they have an english menu?

if i recall correctly, yes ... ask for it bcos they will give the japanese one by default

Set Meal JPY 1300

bottom left is seared shika deer meat
bottom right is smoke cured & deep fried wild boar
top is curry with deer meat

they also serve hoto fudo (hot pot) [i think JPY 1100] with a lot of local veg, yam, shrooms & noodles - a traditional dish Yamanashi area. big serving enuf for 2 & very filling/starchy. good for cold weather

nothing fanciful but simple home cooked well prepared meals

 

[Ghostrider]

yes, either stay at Kawaguchiko area for 2 nites or 1 nite each at Kawaguchiko & Hakone ... but that was before i knew you had been to Fuji area before so it really is up to you

"Shinjuku-Kawaguchiko-Hakone-Shinjuku by driving within a day" - if you mean a day trip, it would be too rush

it does help if the rental car shop is near your Shinjuku hotel (eg if u left something in the car, your parent can rest in hotel while u return car etc) and Shinjuku is near the Expressway to get to Fuji area.

Thanks for the advice, tough to plan with on 4 days-
Wed - Arrive at Haneda 1305hrs,
Thur -Drive to Hakone & Kawaguchiko . Stay overnight in Kawaguchiko
Fri - Return car at Shinjuku by 1100hrs. Visit Asakusa late afternoon.
Sat - Kawagoe .
Sun - Depart to Narita from Hotel 1500hrs

Above itinerary is planned for no rush travel for my elderly parents. Itinerary doable?

 

[Ghostrider]

if i recall correctly, yes ... ask for it bcos they will give the japanese one by default

Set Meal JPY 1300

bottom left is seared shika deer meat
bottom right is smoke cured & deep fried wild boar
top is curry with deer meat

they also serve hoto fudo (hot pot) [i think JPY 1100] with a lot of local veg, yam, shrooms & noodles - a traditional dish Yamanashi area. big serving enuf for 2 & very filling/starchy. good for cold weather

nothing fanciful but simple home cooked well prepared meals

Look delicious . Will remember to drive there to try if time permit.

 

[shadow84]

if i recall correctly, yes ... ask for it bcos they will give the japanese one by default

Set Meal JPY 1300

bottom left is seared shika deer meat
bottom right is smoke cured & deep fried wild boar
top is curry with deer meat

they also serve hoto fudo (hot pot) [i think JPY 1100] with a lot of local veg, yam, shrooms & noodles - a traditional dish Yamanashi area. big serving enuf for 2 & very filling/starchy. good for cold weather

nothing fanciful but simple home cooked well prepared meals

Ooo wow, thanks a lot. 1300yen for all these is quite good, IMO.

Saw that its near to the Shibazakura festival that i will be heading to. Can make this our lunch spot instead of at Oishi park area. Thanks a lot of the recommendation.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Thanks for the advice, tough to plan with on 4 days-
Wed - Arrive at Haneda 1305hrs,
Thur -Drive to Hakone & Kawaguchiko . Stay overnight in Kawaguchiko
Fri - Return car at Shinjuku by 1100hrs. Visit Asakusa late afternoon.
Sat - Kawagoe .
Sun - Depart to Narita from Hotel 1500hrs

Above itinerary is planned for no rush travel for my elderly parents. Itinerary doable?

I would choose either Hakone or Kawaguchiko, not both. Kawaguchiko is 1.5hrs drive from Hakone, a large part is through meandering roads before expressway for the last 40%. You may not have much time in Kawaguchiko.

mayb visit Asakusa on arrival day ? this leaves more time for Fuji area on Fri, return car later at Shinjuku.

Early morning views of Mt Fuji from the Eastern side (eg Lake Yamanako, Chureito Pagoda) are nicer.

 

[evilerniex]

Yah, Kawaguchi and hakone in one day is too rush. In fact, if it is me, I will spend all 4 days in Kawaguchi. With a car, there is so much u can explore in fuji five lake area.
I spent 2 nights in Kawaguchi during my last trip. And there were so many places I couldn't cover.

I would suggest taking highway bus directly from haneda Airport to kawaguchi, then rent car from there. Then at least u can rest on the coach for that 2.5hrs journey. Unless there are places u plan to stop by along the way from haneda to Kawaguchi

 

[Ghostrider]

Yah, Kawaguchi and hakone in one day is too rush. In fact, if it is me, I will spend all 4 days in Kawaguchi. With a car, there is so much u can explore in fuji five lake area.
I spent 2 nights in Kawaguchi during my last trip. And there were so many places I couldn't cover.

I would suggest taking highway bus directly from haneda Airport to kawaguchi, then rent car from there. Then at least u can rest on the coach for that 2.5hrs journey. Unless there are places u plan to stop by along the way from haneda to Kawaguchi

Thanks for the idea on taking highway bus to kawaguchi. But I think reach kawaguchi by highway bus will be late afternoon, no point renting to car to drive around for the day.