AnimeTrailPractical trip plans for anime pilgrimages in Japan

Yuru Camp△ × Yamanashi · Rail plan

Rail and taxi: the 2-day plan, minute by minute

No driving. Trains and taxis get you to Lake Motosu and to the hillside hot spring in Yamanashi City in one night and two days. The plan works on weekdays and weekends alike, with four taxi legs booked: two on Day 1 and two on Day 2. Check opening days when choosing your dates.

An E353 limited express train at a Shinjuku Station platform, the train that runs to Kofu
The trip starts here: the 8:30 Kaiji from Shinjuku.
Duration
2 days / 1 night
Start and end
Shinjuku Station
Overnight
Shimobe-Onsen
Back in Shinjuku
17:58 (Sat/Sun/hol 17:54)
On this page

What the rail plan leaves out

Three places from the full spot list do not fit into two days without a car.

  • Minobu Station front: Shonin-dori and Eishodo’s Minobu manju.
  • Lake Motosu Observation Park, the viewpoint above the lake. Not realistic on foot.
  • Anything that needs a taxi round trip from Isawa-Onsen Station.

The school model site is a short walk from Kai-Tokiwa Station, so it stays in.

Book all four taxi legs before fixing the trip

The town bus from Shimobe-Onsen to the Koan side of Lake Motosu (Iitomi–Motosuko Line) runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, twice a day. Returning on the 10:36 leaves you 34 minutes at the lake; waiting for the 14:36 means about four and a half hours. The later bus misses the standard 14:02 train from Kai-Tokiwa; plan a later train home. That is why this plan uses taxis on every day of the week.

Before you leave Shinjuku: leave the big suitcase behind

For a Shinjuku-to-Shinjuku trip, put large suitcases in a locker at Shinjuku Station and carry one night’s things in a small bag. This plan has several changes between trains and taxis, and a big case makes every one of them harder.

  • Keep with you: passport, wallet, medicine, electronics, booking confirmations, one change of clothes, rain gear and a warm layer.
  • Choose a locker you can open after you get back to Shinjuku at 17:54–17:58, and do not leave valuables in it.

Where to leave it and what it costs — the luggage guide

Tickets in one paragraph

Shinjuku to Kofu is ¥4,000 one way (¥2,420 fare plus ¥1,580 reserved seat) on the all-reserved Kaiji. South of Kofu the Minobu Line belongs to JR Central, so buy a paper ticket to Shimobe-Onsen before you board. How to book as a visitor, seat lamps, pass limits and the IC card boundary are all in the train guide.

Read the train and ticket guide

Fixed time
A published departure or arrival time. Missing it changes the rest of the day.
Target
A time to aim for. Adjust when you book.
Reserve ahead
Only works if you have booked it in advance.
Stay
Time set aside at a place.
Transfer
Time between two services.
Buffer
Slack that absorbs small delays.
Estimate
Walking or driving time from official guidance or map apps.
Recommended
Our recommendation, not a schedule.

Day 1

Shinjuku → Yamanashi City → Shimobe-Onsen · same times every day
  1. RecommendedLuggage

    Put large luggage in a Shinjuku Station locker

    Decide the locker bank and size in advance. Keep valuables and one night’s things in a small bag.

  2. Fixed timeTrain

    Shinjuku → Limited Express Kaiji 7

    All seats reserved. Same time on weekdays and weekends.

  3. Fixed timeTrain

    Arrive Yamanashishi

    Machi-no-Eki Yamanashi is about a minute from the station.

    Map

  4. StaySpot

    Fruit parfait at Orchard Cafe

    About 35 minutes. The operator and the Yamanashi City Tourism Association list different opening hours, but this slot falls inside both. Closed Wednesdays (next weekday if a holiday) and over New Year — on those days, skip the café.

  5. TargetWalk

    To the taxi stand at the station

    Book a 10:50 pick-up in advance.

  6. Reserve aheadTaxi

    Taxi straight to Hottarakashi Onsen

    Official guidance: about 10 minutes from the station, about ¥2,400 one way.

    Map

  7. StaySpot

    Baths and the view

    About 2 hours 20 minutes. Adults ¥900. After the parfait, keep lunch light.

  8. EstimateWalk

    Walk down to Fuefukigawa Fruit Park

    Official guidance says about 20 minutes. Downhill, with 5 minutes of slack added.

    Map

  9. BufferTaxi

    Meet the booked taxi at Fruit Park

    Agree the exact pick-up point with the company in advance.

  10. Reserve aheadTaxi

    Pre-booked taxi to Yamanashishi Station

    15 minutes allowed for the journey. Timing and fare must be agreed with the taxi company.

  11. BufferLuggage

    Buy a paper ticket to Shimobe-Onsen at Yamanashishi

    The Kofu transfer is only 16 minutes, so buy the ticket here.

  12. Fixed timeTrain

    Yamanashishi → Chuo Line local 439M → Kofu

    No express charge. Same time on weekdays and weekends.

  13. TransferTrain

    Change at Kofu to the Minobu Line

    16 minutes. With the ticket already bought, you only have to walk to the platform.

  14. Fixed timeTrain

    Kofu → Minobu Line local for Fuji → Shimobe-Onsen

    Runs on weekdays and weekends.

    Map

  15. TargetLodging

    Check in at Shimobe-Onsen

    Confirm pick-up and dinner time when you book.

Day 2

Lake Motosu → school model site → Tokyo · same on weekdays and weekends
  1. TargetLodging

    Check out

    Confirm breakfast time and payment the evening before.

  2. Reserve aheadTaxi

    Pre-booked taxi: Shimobe-Onsen → Koan, Lake Motosu

    40 minutes allowed, including road conditions. Agree the actual pick-up time with the taxi company.

    Map

  3. TargetSpot

    Reception at Koan

    Reception 7:30–20:00. You need a camping or day-camping booking to enter the lakeside.

  4. StaySpot

    Lake Motosu and the Koan lakeside

    About 2 hours 30 minutes. Take all rubbish with you.

  5. Reserve aheadTaxi

    Pre-booked taxi: Koan → school model site

    Have the same car wait, or fix a pick-up, in advance.

  6. StaySpot

    School model site and around

    About 1 hour 10 minutes. The grounds are closed except during events; look from outside.

  7. EstimateWalk

    Walk to Kai-Tokiwa Station

    Under 10 minutes on foot. Aim to be there 7 minutes before the 14:02.

    Map

  8. Fixed timeTrain

    Kai-Tokiwa → Minobu Line local for Kofu → Kofu

    About 1 hour 16 minutes. Same time on weekdays and weekends.

  9. BufferTrain

    Change at Kofu to the limited express

    About 53 minutes. Absorbs delays and leaves time for shopping.

  10. Fixed timeTrain

    Kofu → Limited Express Kaiji 40 → Shinjuku

    Arrives Shinjuku 17:58 on weekdays, 17:54 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

If you miss a connection

  • Day 1, a delayed 13:50 taxi from Fruit Park: contact the company. If the 14:29 train is no longer reachable, recheck the onward trains and tell your lodging your revised arrival time.
  • Day 1, the 14:29 local from Yamanashishi: the Kofu transfer is only 16 minutes. If you miss it, switch to the 15:29 Minobu Line local from Kofu.
  • Day 2, the 8:30 taxi: if the pick-up is late, shorten your time at Koan and agree with the company how to protect the 11:50 leg.
  • Day 2, the 14:02 from Kai-Tokiwa: the next train is 16:06, arriving Kofu 17:15, then Azusa 46 at 17:36 reaching Shinjuku at 19:08 on weekdays or 19:06 on weekends and holidays. About an hour later than planned, so be careful about lingering at the school site.

Re-check every connection for your actual travel date before you leave.

Every leg at a glance

LegHowCost guideBooking
Out: Shinjuku → Yamanashishi. Back: Kofu → ShinjukuLimited Express Kaiji¥4,000 one way to Kofu; Yamanashishi is slightly lessReserve a seat before you board
Yamanashishi Station → Hottarakashi OnsenTaxiAbout ¥2,400 one wayBook ahead for a 10:50 pick-up
Fruit Park → Yamanashishi StationTaxiNot yet confirmed; request a quoteBook ahead for a 13:50 pick-up
Yamanashishi → Kofu → Shimobe-OnsenLocal trainsRegular fare, no express chargeNone. Buy a paper ticket at Yamanashishi
Shimobe-Onsen → Koan (Lake Motosu)TaxiNot yet confirmedBook ahead, every day of the week
Koan → school model siteTaxiNot yet confirmedBook ahead; agree a wait or a pick-up
Kai-Tokiwa → KofuMinobu Line localRegular fareNone

Yamanashi City lists Koshu Taxi, Eiwa Kotsu and Kusakabe Taxi on its official site; some wait at the station. The GO app covers Yamanashi City, but a car at a set time is not guaranteed. Keep a phone number in case the app fails.

Things to know on the rail plan

  • Train times are examples from the September 2026 timetables, rechecked on 6 September 2026. Once your date is fixed, confirm with JR East and JR Central for temporary changes, engineering work or cancellations.
  • We have not yet checked the facilities at Shimobe-Onsen and Kai-Tokiwa on site.
  • Buy drinks and withdraw cash before you leave Kofu. There is little on the way.
  • Kofu Station has lifts, escalators, accessible toilets and coin lockers. Yamanashishi has a lift and an accessible toilet but is not on JR East’s official locker list.
  • Entering the Koan lakeside needs a camping or day-camping booking. Day camping ends at 17:00.
  • Take all rubbish home. The nearest supermarket to Koan is about 25 km away.
  • The school model site is closed except during events. Look from outside the grounds.
  • Do not photograph other campers or their tents. Go through reception and keep quiet.
  • No photography on level crossings or tracks.

Not yet confirmedToilets, lockers, vending machines, ATMs and waiting taxis at Shimobe-Onsen and Kai-Tokiwa stations (to be checked on site).

Not yet confirmedWhether a short lakeside visit without a day-camp booking is possible.

Choose your plan

Sources and check dates

Sources used to verify the facts on this page. Times, fares and opening hours change; confirm them again for your travel date.

Checked: Train and bus times 6 Sep 2026; facilities and fares 6 Sep 2026; lodging 6 Sep 2026