There are many tours from Tokyo to the two places you mention. Which ones are you looking at or are you asking for advice about a specific tour? If the latter, post the link or info so we can comment.

Also, what are your interests? What would you like to see?

Aloha!

I don't have a specific tour in mind. I know the Mt. Fuji trip has a gondola ride over Hakone valley I think and a cruise on a lake.

Nikko - I don't now much about the tours, but it sounds like there are some nice temples to see, and also natural beauty.

My interests lean toward old architecture, gardens, scenery.

Oh, and I love shopping, but I think that's more suited to Ginza!.............

I thought if someone had been to both, they could advise on which one was more interesting, which one they would choose.

I don't know specifically about either tour, but it sounds certain that the "Mt Fuji" tour is the traditional Hakone circuit. This is where you take a train to Hakone-Yumato, then the mountain train to Gora, a funicular up the mountain to a gondola ride, followed by a pirate ship across a lake and a bus ride back to Hakone-Yumato. It's more interesting than I just described, but you will be sharing the experience with a lot of other people. If the weather is not horrible, you'll be able to see Fuji-san. If the weather is good, you'll see Fuji-san's peak.

If you can do the tour at your own pace, then it's not bad. When you get to Gora, you'd enjoy Gora Park, a very pleasant Western-style garden a short (though uphill) walk from the train station. If you would be required to keep up with a group, though, that wouldn't be an option.

Don

bluenose-as rizzuto errr DT states above the Mt.Fuji tour is certainly the Hakone Round Course described in detail here:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html

and Hakone information here:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html

A visit to Hakone is always nice and would fit your bill for beautiful scenery and gardens. A sighting of Fujisan from Hakone is not a guarantee however. In fact the chances of seeing Mt. Fuji depend on the weather and time of day. Early mornings are best so it pays to sleep overnight if your main purpose is a view of Fujisan. A little luck and no inclement weather helps immensely.

Nikko is the quintessential small town in Japan also with beautiful scenery, temples,museums,onsen,and lots of character. The drive from Nikko to Lake Chuzenji is outright spectacular on a clear day. Both places deserve more than a day trip but if that's all the time you have then you gotta go with it. Info on Nikko:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html

Aloha!