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Japan Chrismas 2027

Posted by (Seattle) on

Hello,
I am in a very early planning for Japan trip in late December 2027.
The plan is fly into and out of Tokyo (direct flight to/from Seattle).
My must see places are Tokyo and Kyoto.
4 nights Tokyo
2 nights Lake Kawaguchiko
1 night Hakone (staying in Gora)
5 nights Kyoto
1 night Tokyo (before flight back home).

Is Hakone too similar to Lake kawaguchiko?
Husband thinks not worth to spend just one night, while most I read online spent only one night in Hakone to do Hakone loop.
If not doing Hakone going from Lake kawaguchiko to Kyoto by public transport will be too long, may have to go back to Tokyo and transfer there.

Or should we just do a day tour from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchiko and visit Hakone ourself?

I know December around Christmas and New Year will be busy and long lines everywhere.

Thanks

Posted by
2077 posts

Hi there Holly, I lived in Tokyo for 7.5 years & my company had a vacation house at Kawaguchiko, which is a lovely lake-side town for relaxing, but not much else going on except a view of Mt Fuji! I wouldn't go to both Hakone & Kawaguchiko. This Forum member has great first-timer suggestions & trip report from December visit, including what sounded like a fabulous stay at an onsen (hot springs) resort in Hakone, but not cheap. They also talked about shipping their luggage ahead, I use to do this to the airport when I was going straight from the office & didn't want to be burdened with it on the subway. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/japan-trip-report-dec-2025-thru-jan-2026. Note - a LOT of places will be closed January 1st, and many places will be open December 25th, in fact we WORKED on Christmas day.

Could you fly into & out of HANEDA, which is much closer to downtown Tokyo than Narita, OR perhaps out of Osaka so you don't have to back track to Tokyo?

Be sure you get a Suisa card for Tokyo metro, (you can download it onto your iPhone or Android) it's so much easier than dealing with all the different subway lines that don't accept each others' tickets.

Nazu Shrine was surprisingly wonderful, zero foreign tourists, only Japanese pilgrims. Have a fabulous trip!

Posted by
202 posts

Thanks Sandancisco,
The trip report you referred to is very helpful.
It's really similar to my itinerary
If i can only do one, should we do Hakone or Lake Kawaguchiko.
I think i am leaning towards Hakone.
Both have onsen.

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