Nikko question
 

My daughter is in Nikko at the moment, staying at Nikkorisou Backpackers. She has been there a couple of days already, but was sick, so has not done much sightseeing other than temples. She must be in Kyoto by no later than 8 p.m. on November 7. She has a JR pass.
She is wondering if it would be possible to get to see "the lake and the waterfall" and still get to Kyoto by 8 p.m. (I know there are several waterfalls . . . is there only one lake?)
Opinions?

http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/searc...d&sum_target=7

Leaving Nikko at 2:20 following this schedule will get you into Kyoto at around 7:11 pm. Early start with the bus up to the lake and falls, early lunch and back to the Nikko JR station. Long day though....

Aloha!

Well, it's already November 7 in Japan so she'll need to get things organized pretty fast and I would have thought it would be easier to do that there rather than here, but here goes.

According to www.hyperdia.com, the latest she can leave Nikko and get to Kyoto by 7pm is on the 14:20 to Utsonomiya, then to Kyoto via Tokyo (the Japan pass does not allow the fastest shinkansens).

According to http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3812.html the bus to Kegon waerfall takes 50 minutes. So it'll be tight. The lake (Chuzenji) is further: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3806.html

Of the two, the waterfall is the more impressive sight. Good luck.

Thank you and aloha to both of you.
She actually does not need to be in Kyoto until 8 p.m. so has a little more time. (She has to be at guest house for 9 p.m.)

Maybe....

I agree with someotherguy -- the falls are MUCH more impressive than the lake. But the BEST views of the falls, IMO, are from the Akechidaira Plateau.

As I recall, one needs to take a bus from Nikko to the Plateau, take a cable car to the viewing platform, return via cable car, and then get on the next bus to the lake. Once at Chuzenji, one needs to walk just a tiny stretch to the elevator to the base of the falls. From there, one has a much closer look at the unique geology of fractured basalt, and a view of the falls that I must admit seemed less impressive than what I'd seen from the A. Plateau. JMO! And she will then need to take the elevator back to the top, walk to the bus stop, and return to Nikko before taking her train to Tokyo.

(BTW, I believe the bus to and from Lake Chuzenji is one-way all the way.)

Do-able? I think so, particularly if she starts out early and keeps her eyes on the time -- I made this route AND visited the temples of Nikko in one day! But i think it will depend on timing -- when, exactly, to the various transportations links offer options? Someone (the lady in question?!) will need to check the details.

Hope that helps!