Just An Ordinary Girl

Photo By: Elin Chow

On the fourth day of our 9D8N trip to Japan, we left Tokyo for Kyoto, where we will be spending the next 2 nights before moving to Osaka.

The fastest way to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto is by the Shinkansen. There are three type of Shinkansen: Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama.

Among the three, Nozomi is the fastest type of Shinkansen, which travels between Tokyo to Kyoto in just 2 hours 15 minutes. The next fastest type of Shinkansen is the Hikari, which takes 2 hour 30 minutes to cover the same distance. Kodama is the slowest type of Shinkansen. The Kodama stops at every station on the line, so it takes about 4 hours. I would not recommend you to take the Kodama train to travel between such long distance because you will end up wasting lots of time.

Most Shinkansen trains offer seats in two classes, which are found in two separate cars - Ordinary and Green. Ordinary seats are regular seats and comes in 3+2 seat layout. You can choose to purchase a non-reserved or reserved seat in an Ordinary car. Non-reserved seats are under a first come, first serve policy meaning that you might not be able to get a seat when the train is crowded.

Seats in Green car are larger and more comfortable than Ordinary seats. The seats are arranged in rows of 2+2. It is recommended for people who need a bigger space.

Type	Ordinary Car		Green Car
	Non-Reserved Seat	Reserved Seat	Reserved Seat
Nozomi	13,080 Yen	13,710 Yen	18,490 Yen
Hikari	13,080 Yen	13,400 Yen	18,180 Yen

The price difference between the Nozomi and Hikari trains is not huge.  It will only costs 310 Yen to buy a reserved seat in an ordinary car on Nozomi. The price for a non-reserved seat in an ordinary car on both the Nozomi and Hikari train is the same.

However, the cost of a reserved seat will differ depending on the season. It will be +/- 200 Yen during high and low seasons respectively.

Please note that Nozomi is not covered by the JR Pass. For those who wish to use the JR Pass, the Hikari will be your best choice.

However, if you are on a budget, the cheapest way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto is by bus. There are day and overnight buses available. The day buses costs about 7,000 Yen and take about 8 hours to get from Tokyo to Kyoto. You can book the bus tickets from Willer Express Website.

An overnight bus may be a good choice for those who wish to save some money on accommodation. Overnight buses are slightly more expensive. It will cost about 9,400 Yen and take about 7 hours and 30 minutes to get from Tokyo to Kyoto. You might want to check out JR Bus Kanto website for more information.

Since the price difference is not huge, we decided to book a Nozomi train to get from Tokyo to Kyoto. I actually recommend booking your Shinkansen ticket at least 21 days (3 weeks) in advance in order to enjoy the Hayatoku-21 discount as it will help you save a lot of money. I will explain this further later in this post, so continuing reading if you are interested to know more about it.

Booking Your Ticket Online

To book your ticket online in advance, you will need to download the Free smartEX App on your smartphone. The English app is currently available only in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.

Fill up all your personal details required by the app to register an account. Please note that you will need to enter your credit card information for payment purpose. Don't worry. The smartEx app is an official app by JR Central and JR West and is very safe and secure. You should receive a notice of credit card authentication after entering your credit card information.  Once done, a screen will appear with your membership ID. Remember to save your membership ID.

With the smartEX app, you can easily book seat and purchase your Shinkansen ticket up to one month before your date of travel for 6 persons at once. The app also enables you to change you reservations as often as you like without any additional cost. Changes can even be made as late as 4 minutes before departure time!


Please note that the smartEX app only covers Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen line. After you logged in,  enter the name of departure and arrival train station, as well as the date and hour you wish to travel. The app will give you a list of Nozomi and Hikari trains at different times for you to choose from. You can purchase your Shinkansen ticket up to 30 days in advance via the smartEX app.

Select the train that best suits your schedule and decide on your seat preference. I really recommend booking a reserved seat, especially during the peak travel season if you do not wish to stand throughout the journey. When travelling in groups, seat reservations are recommended if you prefer to sit together.


The good thing about booking at least 21 days in advance is that you will be able to enjoy the Hayatoku-21 discount from JR. With the Hayatoku-21 discount, a reserved seat Ordinary class seat on Nozomi will only cost 10,800 Yen! That was 2,910 Yen cheaper than the non-discounted ticket on Nozomi. The price was even cheaper than a reserved seat Ordinary class seat on Hikari, so there was absolutely no reason for us not to choose Nozomi. Please note that this will only apply to trains that departs from 6.00 - 6.59 am and 11.00 am - 3.59 pm.

The Hayatoku-21 discounted ticket does not only apply to a reserved seat ordinary class seat on Nozomi. It is also offered on the Hikari trains, but only on a reserved seat Green class seat. With the Hayatoku-21, a reserved seat Green class seat on Hikari will only cost 13,860 Yen. The discounted ticket is 4,320 Yen cheaper than the original ticket price. So, if you need a more spacious seat and bigger leg room, this would be a good option for you.

Other than the Hayatoku-21, there are also other discount plan offered such as the EX Hayatoku and Hayatoku Family. The EX Hayatoku is a discount on ticket booked up to 3 days in advance and the Hayatoku Family is for group of 2 or more.


If you have selected a reserved seat, you will arrive at the seat map next. Select the seat you want and click next.


This should bring you to the payment page. You will need to make your payment by credit card. So make sure the credit card information that you enter during your account registration is correct. Once your payment is successful, you should receive a booking confirmation number in the app.

To take the train, you will need to redeem a physical ticket either from a dedicated ticket vending machine at any Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen stations or ticket counters at any main JR Central and JR West Station.


Once at the station, look for ticket vending machine with smartEX logo. You need to present the credit card that you have used when you made the reservation and the password you used to login the smartEX app to pick up your ticket at these machines. So please remember to bring your credit card that you have used for the payment as you will not be able to collect your ticket without it.

If you have some issue with the vending machine, you can queue and collect the ticket from the ticket counters too.


In Tokyo, all the train departs from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station and arrives at Kyoto Station in Kyoto. I recommend getting on at the train at Tokyo Station, especially for those who have purchased a non-reserved seat. This will give you a higher chance of getting a seat since Tokyo Station is the first station of the Shinkansen rail lines.


Price: 151 Yen (C Water) | 144 Yen (Cafe Au Lait) | 151 Yen (Green Tea) | 113 Yen (Mount Fuji water)

Since we were early, we decided to grab some drinks from the convenience shop before boarding. I was intrigued by this Vitamin C drink that I was seeing everywhere in Japan. Since I was still feeling a little unwell, I decided to purchase it to try as it is said to help ward off cold and sore throat. It is actually just a lemon-flavored drink that is a little sweet and taste really good.


After you passed through the ticket gate, you will need to check which platform your train departs from. Look at the electronic signs that will display your train number, departure time and platform number. Make sure you are at the correct platform.


Do not be late as the trains will depart right on time. All trains will undergo a quick and extensive cleaning process before passengers are allowed to board. You will see cleaners lining up in front of the track minutes before train arrival so as not to waste a second. They have only 7 minutes to clean the entire train, including the toilets. In that limited time, the staffs will wipe down all the tray tables, floors, collect all the rubbish, check for any forgotten items, turn all the seats around and even change the seat covers if they are dirty. Wow! We were truly impressed by their incredible speed and efficiency.

However, our favorite part was that all staffs will line up and bow to the train on its arrival and departure from the station, and to the passengers before they board. It actually made us feel very welcome!


The seats are spacious and comfortable with generous amount of foot space. Above the seats, there are overhead shelves that can store small to middle sized luggage. You will find some space at the front of each car for bigger luggage. However, try not to bring too many luggage because space are quite limited. Signs and announcements in trains are in both Japanese and English, so you have nothing to worry about.

** Important Note

Photo By: Matcha-JP

Please note that from May 2020, baggage restrictions will be introduced on all Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen Lines. All luggages that are larger than 160 cm in size (sum of length, height and width) can be carry onto the train with no additional fee. However, prior reservation will be required. A fee of 1,000 Yen will apply for each luggage if you failed to do so. Reservation can done online starting April 2020.

Luggage that exceeds the size of 251 cm will not be allowed on these three Shinkansen Lines. You will need to send them to your destination using a delivery service.

Seeing Mount Fuji

If you are travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, be sure to book a seat on the right side of the train as you might be able to see Mount Fuji on a clear day. And we were really lucky because we were able to see a beautifully visible Mount Fuji from the Shinkansen! We were so excited the moment we saw it. I quickly took out and placed my camera on the super clean , graffiti-free window, hoping to capture the beauty of the mountain.


Seeing Mount Fuji is absolutely the highlight of the entire ride, especially after a disappointing day spent at Kawaguchiko.  Departing from Tokyo to Kyoto, Mount Fuji can be seen clearly on the right side of the train during 40-45 minutes into the journey. So try your best not to fall asleep before that. You will probably only have 10 minutes to enjoy the view of Mount Fuji.


So remember to book a "D" or "E" seat on the right if you wish to see Mount Fuji. There is no guarantee that you will see the mountain, but at least, you will have a chance to.


Price: 515 Yen

Unlike other trains in Japan, you are free to consume food and drinks on the Shinkansen. Another best part of travelling on a Shinkansen is Ekiben, which means train boxed lunch. You can buy Ekiben from the many restaurants and shops at Tokyo Station and bring them onto the train to eat. We really regretted for not buying an Ekiben at Tokyo Station because I thought you can only purchase them on the train. The only thing we bought at Tokyo Station was a box of Tokyo Banana to snack on.

Price: 1,110 Yen

The train is served by a small food cart offering some snacks and drinks. But sadly, it does not offer any Ekiben. We bought some sandwiches as we were feeling a little hungry. It was very expensive but delicious. However, one thing I hate is the wasabi in the sandwiches. Seriously, I am not a fan of wasabi and I cannot stand the taste of it at all. So there is no way I can accept them in my sandwiches.


About 2 hour 15 minutes after we left Tokyo, we had arrived in Kyoto. It was short but the overall train travel experience was great. The train was super clean, quiet, efficient and reliable. Even though it is expensive, it is definitely worth every penny spent.


Upon arriving at Kyoto Station, we headed straight to check in our Airbnb apartment located near Kyoto Station. Our apartment is located in a convenient location, about 10 minutes walk from Kyoto Station. I always try to stay somewhere near to Kyoto Station because it is a major point for sightseeing in Kyoto.


Our one bedroom apartment was quite spacious by Japanese standard. It comes with a queen sized bed, a sofa, a small coffee table, a standing fan and a very old wardrobe. However, it is a little old and dated and is very poorly insulated. The apartment can get terribly cold at night even when we have turned up the heater. Due to that, I have a lot of trouble sleeping at night.


The apartment has a separate bathroom and toilet. Surprisingly, the bathroom was pretty basic but spacious too. It comes with a deep soaking tub and a sink. Basic toiletries like body wash and hair shampoo were provided.


The apartment also comes with a small kitchenette equipped with a stove, fridge, pans and utensils. But the stove was not working, so it was a bit redundant.

This was definitely not the best Airbnb apartment we have stayed in. But the price was really cheap. It was still quite cozy and comfortable even though it was cold.


If you are interested to know more about our trip, you may want to check out our 9D8N Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka Trip Itinerary + Overview for the list of attractions that we had visited during our 9 days in Japan. For anyone planning your first trip to Japan but have no idea where to start, you should read my "How To Plan A Trip To Japan" post.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates on my 9 days adventures in Japan! You might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.

Photo By: Elin Chow

Rise and Shine! It was already the third day of our 9D8N trip to Japan. We woke up and left our hotel super early on this day to catch our bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Kawaguchiko. It was 6.30 am in the morning when we left our hotel and our bus departs at 7.30 am.

Our main purpose of going to Kawaguchiko is to see Mount Fuji at a close distance. Standing at 3,776 metres high, Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. It is registered as an UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site in 2013 and is an iconic landmark of Japan

Laying at the base of Mount Fuji are the scenic Fuji Five Lakes - Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Saiko, Shoji and Motosu. Among the five, Lake Kawaguchi is the best developed and most easiest to reach. It is a popular day trip destination that offers some of the best views of Mount Fuji with train and direct bus connections from Tokyo.


The most convenient and cheapest way to get from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi is by bus, which departs from Shinjuku and Shibuya Expressway Bus Terminal. All the buses from Tokyo will arrive and depart at Kawaguchiko Station. The station is also the terminus of the Fujikyuko line from Otsuki.


Both Fujikyu and Keio bus operate one or two direct buses from Shinjuku Bus Terminal in Tokyo to Kawaguchiko Station. The tickets tend to get sold out fast during the peak seasons, so it is recommended that you book them in advance.

We booked our bus tickets from Highwaybus, which departs from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal. An one way fare costs 1,950 Yen per person and the journey will take about 2 hours. It is cheaper and faster than trains without the need to transfer. However, please note that JR Pass cannot be used on these buses.
The buses are usually very clean and have a rest room at the rear of the bus. It was very comfortable and we were glad the traffic was pretty smooth on that day.

Alternatively, it is about two hours train ride from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko Station. At Shinjuku Station, take the Limited Express train on the Chuo Line to Otsuki Station. The journey will take 69 mins and cost 1,320 Yen. From here, you will need to transfer to the Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko Station. It takes 55 mins to get from Otsuki Station to Kawaguchiko Station and the fare will cost 1,140 Yen.

There are also two direct limited express train between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko in each direction. Seat reservation is required for direct train service. The journey will take about 2 hours and costs 4,000 Yen (including seat reservation).

For those who are taking bus, please note that it will make a stop at Fuji-Q Highland before arriving at Kawaguchiko Station. Fuji-Q Highland is a popular amusement park in Japan and is best known for its Guinness World Record breaking roller coasters.


We arrived at Kawaguchiko Station at around 9.30 am. Upon arriving, we walked to the nearby Lawson to grab some breakfast. It was really cold in Kawaguchiko area (around 5℃) and very windy. I am worried that I might not survive travelling as I was already feeling a little unwell.

Tuna Mayo Origiri

Custard Bun


Green Tea & Craft Boss Coffee

After breakfast, we headed to the first stop on our itinerary, Arakurayama Sengen Park. Located half way up Mount Arakura in Fujiyoshida City of Yamanashi Prefecture, Arakurayama Sengen Park is a famous viewing spot for Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms in Spring.

The nearest station is Shimoyoshida Station on the Fujikyuko Line. From there, it is a short 10 minutes walk to Arakurayama Sengen Park. The best way to get from Kawaguchiko Station to Shimoyoshida Station is by the Fujikyu Railway. It takes about 15 minutes to get from Kawaguchiko Station to Shimoyoshida Station and an one way fare will cost 300 Yen.

Please note that JR pass cannot be used on Fujikyu Railway. You can either use an IC card or buy a ticket at the ticket counter to pay for your train fare. We bought tickets at the counter because we were not aware that IC cards are accepted.



The Fujikyu Railway runs about every 30 minutes, with 2 train services each hour. You may want to check the timetable on Fujikyu Railway website so that you can plan your time accordingly.


The best time to visit is early morning or before noon. Visiting early will not only ensure that you will grab a nice spot for getting photographs, but also a higher chance of seeing Mount Fuji. We arrived a little late, at around 11 am.



The station consists of an island platform with two tracks. We have cross the tracks via a level crossing to get to the station.

As soon as you exit the station, you will see a sign board with a detailed map and photos directing you to Arakurayama Sengen Park. The map is easy to read and along the way, there are signs and arrows that will guide you to the park. The place is actually very tourists friendly, so you do not have to worry about getting lost. You can easily find the park either by following the arrows or simply follow the crowds.


From Shimoyoshida Station, it is a 10 minutes walk to the entrance of the park. While I was on my way to park, I fell in love with the beauty and tranquility of rural Japan.


There are no entrance fee to the park and it is open all year round. You will know that you have arrived at the entrance of the park when you see a large vermillion torii gate.



However, for the best view, you will need to climb 400 steps up the mountain. The climb is not particularly difficult, but it is a long steep climb, and the higher we go, the thinner the air gets. But it is certainly worth the effort because you will be rewarded with spectacular view at the top.




Next to the stone steps, you will also find a sloping path. For those who have problems with stairs, you can use to sloping path to reach the top. Shuttle taxi services are also available to take you to the top if you do not mind paying a higher fare. If I am not wrong, a round trip ride will cost 500 Yen per person.



It took me about 30 minutes to reach the top. At the top of the 400 steps, you will find Chureito Pagoda, a vermilion five-storied pagoda. The pagoda is a memorial of peace built to commemorate  those who died in the battles during World War I.



Behind the pagoda, there is a slope leading further uphill to an observation deck offering spectacular view of Mount Fuji. If you visit during Spring, you might have the chance to photograph the pagoda and the pink cherry blossoms with Mount Fuji in the background all together. Thus, it is particularly popular with photographers.

That was also the main purpose of our visit. But sadly, it was a very unlucky day for us. We visited too early and the cherry blossoms has not bloomed yet. So there was no cherry blossoms to enjoy and Mount Fuji was barely visible. Even so, the view was still stunning.

The observation deck is not very large and is usually crowded with tourists taking multiples selfies. Everyone around us was trying to get a spot to get the best photos taken. Furthermore, most of them were pretty inconsiderate and have no intention of moving aside even after having their photos taken. It was a little frustrating. We did not stay for long because there was barely any space for us to stand and enjoy the view.

After taking a short break, we took the train back to Kawaguchiko Station to explore the attractions around Lake Kawaguchi. There are a number of tourist attractions around Lake Kawaguchi, so it might hard to decide which one to visit.

I have a long list of places to visit in Kawaguchiko, but at the end, we only get to visit one. The only one attraction we visited was Oishi Park, which is located on the North shore of Kawaguchiko. Well, I could only blame it on the weather. It was so cold and windy and it was making me sick. I have to waste most of time hiding indoor to keep myself warm. Another reason was simply because we were disappointed for not being able to see Mount Fuji.


The easiest way to get around Kawaguchiko area is by the Omni buses. There are three Omni bus lines - Red, Green and Blue, all departing from Kawaguchiko Station. You can refer to the bus route map and timetable to plan your trip.

We visited the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center, which is located at the last stop (Kawaguchiko Shizen Seikatsu-Kan) on the Red Line. You can either pay the bus fare by cash or IC card. Unlimited ride bus pass is also available for purchase at the bus ticket counter located outside of Kawaguchi Station. The pass is valid for two days and costs 1,500 Yen for adult and 750 Yen for child. I really recommend getting this unlimited ride bus pass if you are planning to take the bus for more than 3 times.


We did not get the Unlimited ride bus pass because it will not pay off. It is actually cheaper for us to pay as we go with IC Card. The journey from from Kawaguchiko Station to Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center takes about 35 minutes and costs 320 Yen (if I am not wrong) each way. Admission to the center is free.

At Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center, you can enjoy making fruit jam and try out some specialty made blueberry ice cream. Inside the Natural Living building, you will also find a souvenir shop packed with herbs and food products made within the center or at nearby farms. This will be a good place to get some gifts and souvenirs for your family and friends. The most popular souvenir to get here is handmade blueberry jam.



However, the main attraction here is Oishi Park, a beautiful flower garden overlooking Lake Kawaguchiko with Mount Fuji as the backdrop. Strolling leisurely through the park, you will get to enjoy a panoramic view of the Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji at a time.




But sadly, we were one of the unlucky ones because we could not see Mount Fuji at all. It was drizzling and there was just too much clouds and fog on the day we visited. The mountain has remained hidden by the clouds. We were incredibly disappointed.


Other than the view, the park also features a 350 metres walking path with various flowers planted along it. Even though the park can be visited throughout the year, it is most popular from late June to early July when the lavenders are in full bloom.


There is a small cafe and restaurant where you can get some snacks and drinks. It is nice to relax with a coffee in a flower garden while admiring the view of the lake.

Meat Wrap
Price: 300 Yen

Chicken Curry Rice
Price: 1,000 Yen

Feeling hungry, we bought some food from the restaurant. Choices of food was limited and the taste were so-so.


We probably spent over an hour here before taking the bus back Kawaguchiko Station. Initially, we planned to visit the Kawaguchiko Music Forest, but we missed our stop. Since I was not feeling very well, we decided to spend the rest of the hour waiting for our bus back to Shinjuku. It was raining heavily at the time we boarded the bus.

Arriving at Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal at 9 pm, we headed straight back to the hotel. We decided to just eat cup noodles for dinner because we were so tired and hungry. This was how we ended our third day in Japan. It was a day filled with disappointment and discomfort. But we will definitely visit Kawaguchiko in the future again just for Mount Fuji.


If you are interested to know more about our trip, you may want to check out our 9D8N Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka Trip Itinerary + Overview for the list of attractions that we had visited during our 9 days in Japan. For anyone planning your first trip to Japan but have no idea where to start, you should read my "How To Plan A Trip To Japan" post.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates on my 9 days adventures in Japan! You might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.