Message: Hi guys! Thinking of spending 4 days in Tokyo and 3/4 days doing side trips from Tokyo. Is this a reasonable time frame to fit in all the main sights? Guidebook says Kamakura and Nikko are a must. Should we do both? Is it worth going to Kamakura if you've already seen Kyoto and Nara. Time may be short so I was going to give Yokohama a miss. Will I be missing out? I fancy Hakone (by mountain, tram, cable car, ropeway and boat) - sounds brill. Is this a must? I've also read that it would be a good idea to stay over in Hakone rather than just spend the day. What do you think? Are we going to be exhausted!!
All hints, tips and experiences welcomed!

Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
Debbie.

Hi,Debbie! I'm writing from Japan. I strongly recommend you Hakone and stay there over night. My husband and I stayed at a hotel called Fujiya Hotel twice in Miyanosita, Hakone. An old hotel with wonderful history, John Lennon, General MacArthur, Charlie Chaplin all stayed there. Book a room in one of older buildings and enjoy a dinner in their magnificent dining room followed by digestif in hotel bar where american GIs used to drink. There is also a heated swimming pool.
Hakone is known for ONSEN(hot spring), so why don't you try an open-air onsen just across the street from the hotel. It is a bit pricey, but book a private open-air bath. You will be bathing surrounded by nature with a sake cup in your hand! Yes, you can buy a small bottle of sake in this premises and take it to your own private hot spring bath. There are some antique shops around the hotel.
To get to Hakone, you should take a train called Hakone Romance Car. Try to book a seat at the first row in the first carridge of older type train, you'll have a view which normally only train drivers get to see.
Anyway, I hope you will have a good time in Japan whatever you decided to do. This is the link for this hotel.
http://www.fujiyahotel.co.jp/fujiya/
Have a look!

Biei

Biei - thanks for your reply. The hotel does sound wonderful but i contacted them and unfortunately they are fully booked - am very disappointed!! Can you or anyone else recommend anywhere else?

Thanks!

Debbie,sorry to hear Fujiya Hotel was full. If you want to find a different hotel in Hakone, try Hakone-Ginyu. We found this hotel last time when we were there and thought it looked very classy. Very close to Fujiya and this is more Japanese style and each room comes with a private open-air onsen. This hotel opened a few years ago and apparently it is so popular. With only 20 guest rooms, this one might well be fully booked!
Alternatively, if you still consider Nikko, there is a hotel called Nikko Kanaya Hotel. Style is very similar to Fujiya in Hakone. I haven't been there myself, but this is an institution like Fujiya Hotel.
Check out these hotel sites.
http://www.hakoneginyu.co.jp/
http://www.kanayahotel.co.jp/

Good luck!
Biei

Biei - many thanks for your further advice. I'll make some enquiries.

Can anyone get back to me re: Kamakura/Nikko. I've read mixed opinions as to which one to visit. Someone said the only thing in Kamakura is the Great Buddah and it was "puny" compared with the one in Nara. On the other hand others have said there's nothing in Nikko apart from forests etc. All opinions welcomed. Thanks in advance.

I lived in Tokyo for three years, (moved to Shanghai last summer)
I happened to enjoy Kamakura but perhaps that was because of its history. The Buddha is spectacular because it is outside, the one in Nara is harder to see because it is inside a building that it dominates. My friends and I always enjoyed walking to the Shrine, in Kamakura, where one washes ones money so that it will come back to you in a larger amount! We enjoyed walking up the avenue in the middle of the street at Cherry Blossom time to the shrine there. There are many different shrines and all have their own histories and are fun.
Nikko, I love for both the countryside and the temples there. The monkeys are here too and the "white" horse. The first emperor's tomb too. ONe can spend a day looking at the historical spots and also seeing the countryside.
Both of these sites I went to over and over again and enjoyed them each time. Myszka in Shanghai

Please try not to miss Kamakura! It was my favorite city in all of Japan on my trip there 7 years ago. It's still very quaint and provincial, and as one of the posters said, at cherry-blossom time the main promenade is something out of a fairy-tale. We were fortunate enough to happen upon a wedding party, dressed in elaborate kimonos, who rode in rickshaws up to the shrine. It's just a marvelous little town, perfect for a day trip.

I prefer Kamakura to Nikko. In Kamakura you can follow a path between many of the sights, then have lunch in town. Its a peaceful day of touring.

Nikko has all the beautiful temples and shrines and you walk along forest paths, but it is kind of overwhelming- lots of people, lots of steps, lots of bright colors and designs. The town is larger and more spread out. If you do go, make sure you go up to Lake Chusenji. The falls and the road up to the lake are beautiful.

I wouldn't worry too much about hitting all the must sees. I don't think I saw any of them (except Kamakura) until about my third visit yet I still had great trips!