The buses also go straight to the main bus station in Lake Chuzenji and stop there first.

You would get off there and the waterfall is a 5 minute or less walk to the right and the lake is a two minute walk on the left. The town is all around you as you are in the middle of it at the main bus station.

When you are done with your visit, just hop on the next bus back to Nikko. There is a waiting lounge, rest rooms and information center there with maps, bus schedules and such.

If you are hungry there are a myriad of small little ramen-ya, teishoku-ya and izakaya along the streets either right or left of the station. We ate at a little teishoku-ya to the left of the station maybe two blocks away with the soda machine out front. Most do not have English menus but all have the plastic food outside in their windows. It was spring and everyone was also eating an ice cream cone I seem to remember.....funny the things your brain retains,lol

Aloha!

Remembering the ice cream reminded me of the boats they rent on the lake(don't ask me how).

Their are a couple of places along the lake front who rent boats by the hour. The little two people ones that you paddle with your feet are about 1000 yen per hour. They also have the ultra 24 foot speed boats which a driver is provided and you speed your way on a tour of the lake and its bays on the far shore for about 10,000 or so yen per hour

We opted for the little boat as it was a beautiful day in cherry blossom season. We got some great pics of the shoreline and surrounding mountains from an on the lake perspective and a workout from all the paddling around, lol

I hope that after these 2 weeks in Japan, everything will be as easy and clear for me, as it is for you guys! So far, I am thinking - I need to take the subway to Tokyo or Ueno station, then shinkansen, then transfer to Nikko line, then take a bus... By the time I figure this all out, it will be time to come back to Tokyo!
Also, it looks like it is about half an hour walk to the shrine from the station. So, does it mean after seeing the shrine, I need to come back to the station to take a bus to the lake?

No. there is a bus stop for Lake Chuzenji and Kegon waterfall near the wooden bridge (Shinkyo), which is at the entrance to the shrine complex, about 10 min walk away.

Thank you, Alec!

helen, have you seen this?

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ttp/ptg/PS/pg-302.pdf

Aloha!

Hi Helen - here are replies to your posts. I travelled in Japan in April 2008.

1. JR pass - can I exchange my pass as soon as I get to Narita airport - but designate the day when it becomes active. Say, I fly in on March, 28, but I want my pass active on Apr, 1 - can I do this in advance? I keep reading some contradicting opinions on it.
I would prefer to do it at Narita, then try to find the right place at Tokyo station.

ANSWER: In April 2008, I had to validate my pass the day you turn the your voucher. If you don't want to validate it on that date, just do it at the Tokyo station. It's not as crazy there as everyone says it is.


2. Can I reserve the seats in advance? Do they reserve the seats only on shinkansen, or on all trains?

ANSWER: In April 2008, we reserved all our seats. It is extremely easy to do.

3. If I have a reserved seat, and missed the train, can I re-reserve?

ANSWER: Yes

4. Do I need to worry about reserving seats far in advance? We are traveling during cherry blossom time.

ANSWER: No, except if you are doing a night train. I travelled during cherry blossom season and reserved the train on the same date that I needed to take the train. I also did it beforehand.

5. I will have my JR pass, so we can do a day trip to Nikko by ourselves. However, for simplicity, I thought of taking a day trip with the Sunrise tours (they cover a waterfall also). What do you recommend? Is it easy to go on our own?

6. We are staying at Villa Fountaine Shiodome in Tokyo which is right near Conrad. So, the LIMO BUS from the airport goes right there. However, it only goes once in hour. The more frequent bus goes to T-CAT. Does it make sense go there, and then take a cab. I can not find it on the map, so I am not sure how far it is.

ANSWER: I stayed in the Shiodome area last April. It's a little tricky to navigate around there so. Narita airport is quite far from Tokyo, and cab fares are astronomical, so if I were you, I'd take the train from Narita to Tokyo Station and catch a cab from there. There is train that is frequent and affordable (about $15 US)

7. Where is the tourist info office at Kyoto station? The book says it is on the 9th floor of the department store. Is it inside the station?

ANSWER: There is a department store attached to the Kyoto station, so it is quite possible the tourist info office is there.

8. Do I need to reserve a seat on the bus from Takayama -> Shirakawa-go -> Takayama?

Answer: Don't know

Hi, Helen -

If you do go to Lake Chuzenji, you might consider stopping first at Akechi-daira - the view of Kegon-no-taki and the lake, with Mount Nantai in the background, is truly remarkable. For directions, see:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3806.html

Enjoy!

helen63,

I think the others had answered most of your questions.

I've used the information desk on the 2nd floor of Kyoto station--quite helpful, the man there spoke good if not impeccable English.

If you're going to Takayama, it's a good idea to reserve the seats. The trains have fewer cars runs less frequent (maybe one every other hour), I saw people standing in the non-reserved cars.

Shiodome--you can take the airport limousine bus to either TCAT/Tokyo Stn/or hotels in Shinagawa areas, and take the taxi. TCAT is the furtherest away, but I don't think the cab ride will cost more than JPY1500-2000

I think everything asked has been answered by now but simply wanted to add that we too used the Tourist Office on the 1st floor at Kyoto Station (near the Dept Store) and the person we spoke to had excellent English.

Hawaii, thank you for posting this link! I have not see this one - very detailed information. It looks like the non-JR Tobu line has a direct train (rapid one). So, is this a preferable way go there? I thought of Shinkansen, and then the Nikko line.

Puttaka, W9London, Shandy, Thank you for all this detailed info!

Kja, I will keep in mind your recommendation!

Shandy, can not wait to read the rest of your report!

Hi, Just returned from Japan - the tourist office on the second floor is good and we had english speaking assistance but there is a sign on the wall asking people seeking english assitance to go to the office on the 9th floor - it's bigger and has more info on display. It's a little hard to find at first as it is not in the department store proper but on a "wing" that goes away from the store on the southern side of the building

AfterDark, thanks a lot for this comment!