Ooike Hotel
BASE📍 Kawaguchiko • FULLY FRIENDLY
5th-floor panoramic bath with unobstructed Fuji views. Tattoos allowed in ALL public baths.
Transit & Base Camp
The Fuji Five Lakes district requires strategic planning for afternoon departures from Tokyo. Staying in Kawaguchiko maximizes transit efficiency via the Omni Bus network while providing direct access to all hiking trails and sacred sites.
🚌 Afternoon Transit Options POST 14:00
| Mode | Route | Depart | Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expressway Bus ⭐ | Shinjuku Highway Terminal | 14:45 | 16:30 |
| JR Kaiji 35 | Shinjuku → Otsuki (transfer) | 15:30 | 16:30 |
| Fujikyuko Line | Otsuki → Kawaguchiko | 16:57 | 17:54 |
💡 Expressway Bus is recommended—no transfers, arrives before ryokan dinner service (18:00-19:00).
🏨 Hub Strategy (Recommended)
Stay in Kawaguchiko for all 3 nights. The Omni Bus network connects to all rural sites. No luggage transfers needed.
🧳 Rural Immersion Alternative
Split nights with Lake Shoji. Use TA-Q-BIN luggage delivery for hands-free trekking between inns.
♨️ Selected Tattoo-Friendly Onsens 2 KEY SITES
The two primary soak locations for the 3-day expedition.
Hottarakashi
VIEW📍 Fuefuki • TATTOO OK
Iconic sunset soak overlooking Kofu Basin. The most legendary onsen view in Yamanashi.
🚲 Bike Rental for Lake Kawaguchiko
Recommended Shop
Fujikanko Travel
📍 Directly in front of Kawaguchiko Station
⏰ Opens 9:00 AM
🔋 Standard & Electric-assist bikes
🎒 Luggage storage available
Visit Website →Cycling Route
Lake Kawaguchiko Loop
📏 ~12km (relatively flat)
⏱️ 1.5-2 hours leisurely
📷 Best Fuji views at north shore
💡 Electric bike recommended for families
🥗 Plant-Based Gastronomy
Vegan Houtou
Available at Houtou Labo. Request kombu-based broth with mountain vegetables.
Vegetable Kitchen Cafe
Seasonal Yamanashi-grown vegetables and organic grain dishes.
Kominka Nakamura
Fully vegan multi-tiered lunch box in a 150-year-old farmhouse.
Choice Kitchen
Organic vegetable-centric buffet with various vegan-friendly options.
📱 Essential Apps & Travel Passes
Apps
Google Maps
Bus schedules & cycling routes
Fujikyu Bus App
Omni Bus schedules & stops
Passes
Mt. Fuji Pass 2-Day
Fuji Hakone Pass
💡 Mt. Fuji Pass covers Omni Bus & Ropeway.
Accommodation Price Comparison
Ooike offers best value with full tattoo access.
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Day 1: Arrival & First Soak
Monday — Afternoon Transit & Onsen Immersion
14:45 Depart Shinjuku
↗
Board the Expressway Bus from Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal. Direct route—no transfers needed.
16:30 Arrive Kawaguchiko Station
↗
Transfer to your tattoo-friendly ryokan. Check-in and drop bags before dinner service begins.
18:30 Dinner: Vegetable Kitchen Cafe
↗
Dedicated plant-focused cafe using local Yamanashi produce. Relaxed atmosphere for your first night in the highlands.
20:30 Evening Onsen Soak ♨️ ONSEN
↗
Private or tattoo-friendly public bath depending on your accommodation choice. Let jet lag melt away.
Day 1 Energy Profile
Light arrival day—save energy for hiking.
23
Day 2: Ancient Village & Forest
Tuesday — Thatched Houses, Jukai Trek & Caves
07:00 Morning Cycle: Lake Kawaguchiko 🚲 BIKE
↗
Pick up bikes at Fujikanko Travel (in front of station). Cycle the scenic north shore for best Fuji views. Return bikes by 09:00.
Retro Bus Green Line (Saiko Route)
25 min
09:30 Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba
↗
Reconstructed thatched-roof village. Explore 20 kabuto-zukuri houses including the Fujisan Silk Exhibit.
Walk to nearby restaurant
5 min
11:30 Lunch: Houtou Labo
↗
Request the Vegan Houtou—a local specialty noodle dish made here with kelp-based kombu broth and seasonal mountain vegetables.
Retro Bus Green Line to Narusawa
20 min
13:00 Jukai Nature Trail Trek
↗
2-3 hour trek through Aokigahara Forest. Walk over ancient lava plateaus where tree roots grow horizontally across volcanic bedrock.
Forest trail continues
15 min
15:30 Fugaku Wind Cave & Narusawa Ice Cave
↗
Explore volcanic lava tubes with natural ice pillars year-round. Cool respite from June humidity.
Taxi via Route 139 to Fuefuki
45 min
17:30 Hottarakashi Onsen ♨️ SUNSET
↗
Legendary sunset soak overlooking the Kofu Basin with Fuji silhouette. Best onsen view in the region.
Day 2 Crowd Levels
Iyashi-no-Sato has 85% fewer tourists than Oshino Hakkai at any time of day.
🌲 Aokigahara Trail Tips
- • Stay on marked paths—magnetic anomalies affect compasses
- • Bring mosquito repellent for June humidity
- • Temperature drops 5-8°C inside cave systems
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Day 3: Sacred Shrine & Nagoya Transit
Wednesday — Ancient Trees & Shinkansen Journey
09:00 Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
↗
Walk the sacred approach through 1,000-year-old cedar trees to this historic shrine at the base of Mt. Fuji's Yoshida Trail.
Fujikyu Bus (Fuji-san Station Route)
15 min
11:30 Farewell Lunch: Kominka Nakamura
↗
Enjoy a fully vegan multi-tiered lunch box in a historic 150-year-old farmhouse. The ultimate cultural farewell to Fuji.
Fujikyu Mishima Liner (Highway Bus)
90 min
13:20 Mishima-Kawaguchiko Liner (Bus)
↗
Board the express bus to Mishima Station for the Shinkansen connection.
Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari → Meitetsu
120 min
15:46 Shinkansen to Nagoya
↗
Board the Hikari 517 Shinkansen from Mishima. Arrive at Nagoya Station by 17:11 (approx). Check-in to your city hotel.
VIEW NAGOYA CITY ITINERARY →Nagoya City Transition
Staying in Nagoya City offers vibrant nightlife in Osu District and cultural immersion at Nagoya Castle before proceeding to Kyoto.
🚄 Mishima Connection
The Mishima-Kawaguchiko liner is the fastest link to the Shinkansen for travel to Nagoya/Kyoto.
Hidden Gems & Sacred Sites
🏘️
Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba
20 thatched-roof houses reconstructed on Lake Saiko's shore. Silk museum, craft workshops, zero crowds.
⛩️
Yamamiya Sengen Shrine
Ancient "remote worship" site with no main hall. The most spiritual, non-touristy Fuji experience.
🌊
Shinrei no Taki Falls
Secluded 400m riverside promenade in Nishikatsura. Ancient bedrock waterfalls, cooler than lakeside.