AnimeTrailYuru Camp△
Menu

Yuru Camp△ × Yamanashi · Rail plan

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

No driving. Trains and taxis get you to Hottarakashi Onsen, where the club stops in episodes 4 and 5, and to Lake Motosu, where Rin and Nadeshiko meet in episode 1, in one night and two days. It works on weekdays and weekends alike, with four taxi rides booked in advance. 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
1 night / 2 days
Start and end
Shinjuku Station
Overnight
Shimobe-Onsen
Back in Shinjuku
17:58 (Sat/Sun/hol 17:54)
On this page

What to book before you go

  1. Limited express seats

    Every seat on the Kaiji is reserved. Book the 8:30 from Shinjuku on Day 1 and the 16:11 from Kofu on Day 2 before you board.

  2. A room at Shimobe-Onsen

    You arrive at Shimobe-Onsen Station at 16:09. When you book, ask about a station pick-up and what time dinner starts.

    Compare in the lodging guide:

  3. Four taxi rides

    Day 1: Yamanashishi Station to Hottarakashi Onsen at 10:50, and Fruit Park back to the station at 13:50. Day 2: Shimobe-Onsen to Koan at 8:30, and Koan to the school model site at 11:50. You cannot hail a taxi out there, so book all four before you commit to the trip.

  4. A day-camp booking at Koan

    You need a camping or day-camping booking to enter the lakeside at Koan. Day camping ends at 17:00.

  5. Somewhere to leave your suitcase

    Decide in advance which Shinjuku Station locker to use, and pick one you can still open when you get back at 17:54–17:58.

What the rail plan leaves out

Two places on the full list do not fit into two days without a car.

  • The episode 8 stops in front of Minobu Station: Shonin-dori and Eishodo’s Minobu manju.
  • 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.

See the rental car plan, which includes both

Book all four taxis before you commit to 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 from abroad, seat lamps, pass limits and the IC card boundary are all in the train guide.

Read the train and ticket guide

The two days at a glance

  1. Day 1 · Shinjuku → Yamanashi City (Orchard Cafe)
  2. Taxi up to Hottarakashi Onsen, then walk down to Fruit Park
  3. Taxi back to the station, then on to Shimobe-Onsen for the night
  4. Day 2 · Booked taxi to Koan and Lake Motosu
  5. The Observation Park on foot, then a taxi to the school model site
  6. Train back through Kofu to Shinjuku

How to read the times in this plan

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 to change from one train or bus to the next.
Buffer
Spare time in case of 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

The Yamanashi City half-day from episodes 4 and 5, where the club sets off on its first camp. You start at Yamanashishi Station, where the club meets up, take a taxi up to Hottarakashi Onsen, and walk back down to Fuefukigawa Fruit Park, where the club eats its sweets. Then the trains south to Shimobe-Onsen.

  1. RecommendedLuggage

    Put large luggage in a Shinjuku Station locker

    Decide which lockers and what 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. Orchard Cafe’s own website 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 cafe.

  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; we have added 5 minutes to spare.

    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

    Allow 15 minutes for the ride. Agree the timing and fare with the taxi company in advance.

  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

Episode 1 in the morning, episode 2 in the afternoon. A booked taxi over the same pass Rin rides up, time on the Lake Motosu shore where Rin and Nadeshiko meet, then the site of the school where Nadeshiko joins the club — and the walk down to Kai-Tokiwa Station that the club uses to get to and from school.

  1. TargetLodging

    Check out

    Confirm breakfast time and payment the evening before.

  2. Reserve aheadTaxi

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

    Allow 40 minutes, depending on the road. 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, the Koan lakeside and the Observation Park

    About 2 hours 30 minutes. The Observation Park is a short walk from Koan. Take all rubbish with you.

  5. Reserve aheadTaxi

    Pre-booked taxi: Koan → school model site

    Arrange in advance for the same car to wait, or book a pick-up.

  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: enough to cover delays, with 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 taxi company. If you can no longer make the 14:29 train, look up the next trains and tell your hotel when you will arrive.
  • 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 talk to the taxi company about keeping the 11:50 pick-up from Koan.
  • 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 do not linger too long 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; ask for 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; ask the driver to wait, or book 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 checked directly against JR East and JR Central’s official timetables on 20 September 2026. Once your date is fixed, confirm again 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.
  • You need a camping or day-camping booking to enter the Koan lakeside. 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

Official links and check date

Official links for bookings, maps and current information; recheck the details for your travel date.

Checked: Train and bus times 20 Sep 2026; facilities and fares 20 Sep 2026; lodging 6 Sep 2026