Autumn Day Trips from Tokyo

9:31 PM

There are many beautiful places just short train ride from Tokyo to admire the fall foliage. You can spend a couple of hours to Gotokuji Temple, to half a day in Kamakura, or spend a  day at Kawaguchiko, Nikko, or Hakone. 



1. KAMAKURA


Kotoku-in “The Great Buddha of Kamakura”



Famous for The Great Buddha of Kamakura or “Kamakura Daibutsu”  in the Kotokuin Temple.  It is a large outdoor bronze statue is a National Treasure. It is the 3rd largest bronze statue in Japan. The temple grounds is small and easy to walk around. It is just a 7 minute walk from the Station, there are signs to lead you to the temple. You’ll pass several food establishments and souvenir stores on your way.


Website: http://www.kotoku-in.jp/en/about/about.html
Hours of Operation: 8:00-5:30 PM (April to Sept); 8 AM – 5 PM (October to March)
Entrance Fee: Y200 additional 20 yen/person if you want to enter the interior of the Buddha
Nearest Train Station: Hase Station, Enoshima Electric Railway 

Hase-Dera Temple 
 
A Buddhist Temple the Hase Dera Temple houses a 30.1 foot  gilded wooden Hase Kannon Statue. It is made from one single piece of camphor wood.  The temple grounds is on the slope of a small hill so you’ll need to go up a few stairs to reach the Kannon-do Hall that houses the statue. On the way up, stop by the Jizo-do hall which houses little Jizo stone statues (Guardian Deity of Children) that are there to comfort the souls of unborn children. Another must see is the Kyozo Sutra Archive. They say that by turning the rotating bookracks called Rinzo, you can earn the same merits of reading all the sutras. There is a certain direction you’re suppose to follow as you rotate the rinzo.  There is a nice viewing deck near here to see the city of Kamakura.




Entrance Fee: Y300 (adults)
Operation Hours: 8:00 – 5:00 PM (March to September) ; 8am-4:30  (October to Feb)
Website: http://www.hasedera.jp/en/
Nearest Train Station: 3 minute walk from Hase Station, Enoshima Electric Railway. It’s about an hour train ride from Tokyo Station. 



Tip: From Kamakura Station if using a JR Pass, one must exit the JR Station then go to Enoshin Station via the street gate when transferring. IF using SUICA, you an pass by gate transfer by tapping the SUICA again.

2. HAKONE
Hakone is a good destination for a day trip or an overnight visit. You have the option of taking a Shinkansen to Hakone. There’s quite a lot you can do here from relaxing in an onsen, visiting Odawara castle or taking one of the scenic ropeways or trains. Take in the amazing autumn colors on a scenic cruise on Lake Ashi and see the beauty of scenery like the Tori Gates by the water of the Hakone-Jinja Shrine. On a clear day, you can even see the majestic Mt. Fuji. In Autumn, you should stop by the “Sengoku-ko-gen”  or Pampas Grass Fields. It’s a hillside that is one of the best scenic sights in the area.


 Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise
To get here, from the east exit of the Odawara Station at Bus Stop #3 take the Hakone Machi (H) or Hakone Kyukaido (K) Bus to Motohakone-ko (about 50 minutes). The ride is scenic but passes zigzag roads. The bus stops near the Ticket Office. You can use your Suica card to pay for the fare of Y1050.


The sightseeing cruise is on a  pirate ship that has a first class and second class compartments. The first class cabin are on the front of the ship while the second class cabin is at the back. There is an enclosed area with seats or you can go up a level and enjoy the view from the deck. There is a look out platform too that goes up one more level from the deck. There is limited seating on the deck and can get chilly.

On a clear day, you are able to see a glimpse of Mt. Fuji. On my visit though, we weren’t able to see it from the ship. But the view of the autumn foliage was beautiful.


Train: Take Bullet Train to Odawara, then choose among the trains or buses to get around Hakone.
Ticket: Free if on Hakone Free Pass; Y1000 for adults for Moto-Hakone to Togendai. Y1000 for Togendai to Hakone-machi; Y360 from Hakone-machi to Moto Hakone
For example: MotoHakone-ko to Togendai Port Y1000 2nd class  ; Y1500 1st class
Website:http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/traffic/transportation/sightseeing-cruise/

Pampas Grass Fields
At Sengokubara, the hillside of Pampas Grass is beautiful in Autumn. The Pampas Grass Fields glitters like gold and is considered one of “Kanagawa’s 100 Best Flower Vistas and 50 Best Scenic Spots”.

There is a small unpaved road you can walk up the hillside. There are usually a lot of people especially in the fall but is a definite must stop. It would take you just a couple of minutes up to an hour depending if you want to just take photos and appreciate the view or go up the hillside and enjoy the view from the top.

t’s just a  bus ride to the "Sengoku Kogen" bus stop from Togendai Port of the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise on the Hakone Tozan Bus Togendai Line (Bus Line T). The Grass fields is a 2-5 minute walk from the bus stop.

Website:
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/season_special_contents/index/4

Website:
Economical pass around Hakone: http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/freepass
Hakone: http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/basics/seasons/koyou/


 3.   KAWAGUCHIKO

You can enjoy the fall foliage and Mt. Fuji from several areas around Lake Kawaguchiko.From Tokyo, it’s about 2-3 hours depending on the trains you take. The fastest route is by taking the limited express JR Chuo Line to Otsuki then taking the Fujisan Express to Kawaguchiko.  You can just take the Fujikyu Retro or Green Bus to get around. You can purchase unlimited day pass for the buses at the ticket counter at the Kawaguchiko Train Station. You can also pay per trip.

They'll be celebrating the Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Festival from November 1 to 23 with illuminations up to 10 pm.  At the Nashigawa, Kawaguchi area (north side of lake) . from 9am to 9 pm(illumination : until 10pm) daily

The Maple Corridor (Kawaguchiko Bijutukan road)nearest bus stop is # 19 Itchiku Kubota on the red line. You can enjoy other maple trees on the green line. 

Enjoy the "Momiji Tunnel" for autumn colors, a maple tree covered road section along the lake's northern shore.

How To Get There: Take the bus which goes to Oishi Petit Pension Mura from Kawaguchiko Station to Hirose Kubota Ichiku Bijutukanmae Bus stop.(20minutes) or Take the Retro bus (Lake Kawaguchiko Circuit)from Kawaguchiko Station to Kubota Ichiku Bijutukan Bus stop.(20minutes)











TIP: you can get a Sightseeing Bus 2 day ticket for Y1200 which allows you  Unlimited Rides on the Red (Lake Kawaguchiko circuit)  & Green Line (Lake Saiko/Aokigahara Circuit) for 2 days.

Website:
Autumn Festival:   http://en.kawaguchiko.net/event-en/fujikawaguchiko-momiji-festival/
Fujikyu Railway: http://e.fujikyu-railway.jp
Timetable Of The Sightseeing Bus : http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/heritage-tour/detail/id/1/

 4.   NIKKO

This is among the top spots to visit when you have time for a day trip from Tokyo. Admire the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nikko. I’m hoping to visit this soon.


Website: http://www.city.nikko.lg.jp.e.tj.hp.transer.com

 5.   GOTOKUJI

Have you ever wondered where the origin of the waving cat figure you see around Japan? The Gotokuji Temple,  known as the origin  of the Maneki Neko or beckoning cat. It's the cat with one arm waving and is believed to attract luck. The kind of luck they say depends on which arm is waving and decor the cat may have. 

 

Located in Setagaya, it is in a quiet local neighborhood and don't have any other tourist place around. The temple is beautiful especially in Autumn and is a just quick walk from the Miyanosa station. When you first enter there is a Pagoda on the left, a big bell on the right side and a shrine in the middle.



 
The shrine with the Maneki Neko are on the left side after you enter the small gate. Once you enter there are beckoning cats hidden around. The bulk of them are on the left side. There are many different sizes and usually have something written on the back. These are messages of thanks for wishes granted. There are available ones for purchase at the office /store so you can leave your very own. To get to there, exit the small gate on the right side of the temple and find the store across the open area.
 



While in the Gotokuji Temple, you can also visit the cemetery on the grounds.  

How to get there: The nearest station is Miyanosaka Station via the Tokyu Setagaya Line. When you get out of the train station, exit towards the main road. Go up the street on the 3rd corner turn left going up a smaller street with 2 pillars with dragon/lion statues on top (see photo). You'll reach the main gate of the Gotokuji Temple. Total walk is about 5-10 minutes with an uphill slope. There is a map at the train station.
Nearest Train Station: Miyanosaka Station

Tip: The Gotokuji station is further from the temple and you’ll have to walk through a residential area with no signs leading you so it’s easier to get lost.



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