Three days without a car

Ticket rules and the JR boundary are in the guide

Straight to Yamanashi City rather than Kofu. A parfait by the station, a taxi up to the baths, then walking back down to the park and a second booked taxi to the platform.

1. 08:30–10:03Fixed timeTrain

   Shinjuku to Yamanashishi on the Kaiji 7

   About 1 hr 33 min. Every seat is reserved, and the train reaches Yamanashishi before Kofu.

2. 10:10–10:45StaySpot

   Orchard Cafe by the station

   A minute from the north exit. A seasonal fruit parfait before you head uphill. Closed on Wednesdays.

   Map

3. 10:50–11:00Reserve aheadTaxi

   Taxi up to Hottarakashi Onsen

   About ten minutes up the hill, roughly ¥2,400 one way. Reserve the 10:50 pick-up before you travel; there is no reliable rank at the station for this.

   Map

4. 11:00–12:15StaySpot

   Hottarakashi Onsen

   Open-air baths over the Kofu basin, with Mount Fuji in the distance on a clear day. Adults ¥900.

5. 12:15–13:15Stay

   Lunch at the onsen

   Udon, ramen and the deep-fried soft-boiled egg the series is known for. Payment on site is cash only.

6. 13:20–13:45EstimateWalk

   Walk down to Fuefukigawa Fruit Park

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

   Map

7. 13:45–13:50BufferTaxi

   Meet the booked taxi at Fruit Park

   The current city bus timetable has a 14:53 departure from the park, too late for the 14:29 train, so this leg is a taxi. Agree the exact pick-up point with the company in advance.

8. 13:50–14:05Reserve aheadTaxi

   Pre-booked taxi to Yamanashishi Station

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

9. 14:05–14:25Buffer

   Buy paper tickets for the Minobu Line

   Buy them here while you are at a staffed station. Minobu, Kai-Tokiwa and Shimobe-Onsen, the Minobu Line stations on this trip, do not accept IC cards, and IC travel across the JR East / JR Central boundary is not allowed.

10. 14:29–14:44Fixed timeTrain

    Yamanashishi to Kofu

    Local train on the Chuo Line. No limited express ticket needed.

11. 15:00TargetLodging

    Check in near Kofu Station

    The hub for tomorrow’s Minobu Line departure. Some hotels here have their own hot spring baths.

12. 18:00–19:30Stay

    Dinner in front of the station

    Hoto and Kofu tori-motsu-ni, both a few minutes on foot from the south exit.

The limited express down the Fuji River valley, an unhurried morning in front of Minobu Station, and the school site in the afternoon before the hot spring town.

1. 07:30–08:30Stay

   Breakfast, then check out

   Eat, settle up and walk to the station.

2. 08:45–09:36Fixed timeTrain

   Kofu to Minobu on the Fujikawa 4

   About 51 minutes. Unlike the Chuo Line expresses this one has unreserved cars, and it saves about 58 minutes over the local train.

   Map

3. 09:40–10:45StaySpot

   Eishodo and the Fuji River bench

   Thirty seconds from the ticket gate. Buy the manju, then eat them looking at the river. Closed on Wednesdays and sells out; ¥80 each as of the December 2025 price revision.

4. 10:45–11:45StayWalk

   Shonin-dori shopping street

   The everyday street from the series. Local displays, yuba, and time to actually look at it.

5. 11:45–13:15Stay

   Lunch in front of the station

   Shiitake rice sets and handmade yuba soba. The gap before the next train is long enough to eat properly.

6. 13:45–14:02Fixed timeTrain

   Minobu to Kai-Tokiwa

   A two-car one-person-operated local train, ¥240.

   Map

7. 14:05–15:30StaySpot

   The school site

   Walk up the slope the characters use, look at the gate and the noticeboard, then wander the village. The grounds are closed to visitors; everything is seen from outside.

8. 15:35–16:05EstimateWalk

   Down to Shimobe-Onsen

   A 30-minute downhill walk, or about five minutes by taxi. There is also a local train one stop at 16:06 if your bags are heavy.

   Map

9. 16:15TargetLodging

   Check in at Shimobe-Onsen

   One minute from the platform if you are at the station-front hotel. Baths, foot bath and the old spa town.

10. 18:30–20:30Stay

    Dinner at the ryokan

    Kaiseki with local beef and river fish, depending on your room rate. No convenience store here and restaurants close early, so book a rate with dinner or check opening hours first.

A booked taxi over the pass, two and a half hours at Lake Motosu, then lunch in front of Shimobe-Onsen Station before the slow ride back up the valley.

1. 07:30–08:20Stay

   Breakfast, then leave your bags

   Check out and leave luggage at the front desk. You are coming back through here.

2. 08:30–09:10Reserve aheadTaxi

   Taxi to Koan and Lake Motosu

   About 18 km over Route 300, roughly 40 minutes. Book the outward and return legs together, with the same operator, before you travel.

   Map

3. 09:15–11:45StaySpot

   Koan and the lakeshore

   Two and a half hours: the shore, the Mount Fuji view from the old ¥1,000 note, and curry noodles from the shop terrace.

4. 11:50–12:25Reserve aheadTaxi

   Taxi back to Shimobe-Onsen Station

   Back over the pass to the station forecourt. This is the leg people forget to reserve: confirm the pick-up time when you book the outward trip.

5. 12:30–13:45Stay

   Lunch in front of Shimobe-Onsen Station

   Sakura shrimp kakiage donburi at the station-front diner, one minute from the platform. Closed on Wednesdays; some listings also give the second Tuesday. Payment methods change, so check on the day.

6. 13:45–13:55Transfer

   Collect your luggage

   Pick your bags up from the hotel and walk to the platform. Everything here is within a minute.

7. 13:58–15:18Fixed timeTrain

   Shimobe-Onsen to Kofu

   Local train up the valley, about 1 hr 20 min. Slow, and the best window seat of the trip.

8. 15:20–16:05Buffer

   Kofu Station building

   Shingen mochi and other souvenirs, directly inside the gates.

9. 16:11–17:58Fixed timeTrain

   Kofu to Shinjuku on the Kaiji 40

   Every seat is reserved. Arrives 17:54 on Saturdays and holidays. Confirm your own date before booking.

What this version drops: Lake Shibire

Lake Shibire has no practical public transport link, and reaching it would mean another booked taxi and a long detour on the day that is already tightest. Rather than pretend, this version spends that time in front of Minobu Station instead — the part the 2-day public transport route has to give up.