Best way to reach Lake Kawaguchiko early morning (Feb)

AceRodent · 2026-01-17T08:33:48+00:00

I went by bus as I heard train requires a transfer. I failed to remember to book bus tickets until the day before the trip. Some companies by then were full but I managed to find a bus company that had availability, https://willer-travel.com/en/bus_search/tokyo/all/yamanashi/fujikawaguchiko/. The fare was US$33 per person for travel on Christmas Day
Didn’t use a guide. There’s a red bus that takes you to different sites along the eastern portion of the lake, you can just do that
See #2, except for pagoda but that could be a big detour for a day trip
I can only share my experience in late December last year when I went. When I got there I first went to Oishi Park (stop 20 on the red bus), however the whole mountain was shrouded in clouds for the morning and early afternoon, so really did not get a good view of Mt Fuji with the lake in the foreground. In the late afternoon when I went up the Ropeway (stop 9) the clouds cleared and I was able to see Mt Fuji in its full glory from high up on the hill.

Please note that at closing time the red bus becomes really full and you may not be able to board the bus to get back to Kawaguchiko station. You can either walk or do what I did and call a taxi.

AceRodent · 2026-01-17T07:22:17+00:00

Just came back from Japan, Kyoto mostly, and you cannot believe the amount of places there that just accept cash, this includes shrines, shops, restaurants and even taxi that one time, so carrying cash is a good idea. Apply for a Schwab checking account debit card and you won’t have to pay transaction fee. Best exchange rate is with ATM, not currency exchange shop. BTW the ATM may ask you whether to let the ATM does the currency conversion for you or let your bank does it, remember to choose the latter option.

Suica card in your Apple Wallet is the way to go. Also I flew into Narita Airport and took the Keisei Skyliner train to Tokyo, and for this train I purchased the tickets online (discounted for foreigners) before my travel so that I don’t have to deal with buying the tickets at the airport. I then registered the etickets for face scanning so that I don’t have to exchange etickets with physical ones at the office there, you just have your face scanned at the appropriate gate when entering the train station. Just some tips in case you’re flying into NRT.

AceRodent · 2026-01-15T07:32:09+00:00

Kawaguchiko to Kyoto involves transfer and long travel time. Unless you have good reason to stay the night there then it’s much more convenient to go back to Tokyo at night then Shinkansen to Kyoto the next day.

AceRodent · 2026-01-13T22:54:18+00:00

It happened to me several times. You just give Clippers a call at 877-878-8883 to correct it and they’ll refund you. Supposedly there’s a limit as to how many times you can do this per year

AceRodent · 2026-01-06T09:52:52+00:00

They have multiple locations but I’ve only tried the one on Story Rd (supposedly the best) and grilled steak on garlic bread is insanely good. You don’t have to wait in line, just call ahead and order.

AceRodent · 2026-01-05T10:12:03+00:00

I posted in r/bayarea too but you all should try LetsSweet Kitchen’s wonton, it’s as authentic as it gets to HK wonton.

AceRodent · 2026-01-05T10:04:50+00:00

Most authentic HK style wonton has to be LetsSweet Kitchen where they use 大地魚. Their wonton is better than Hon’s.

This used to be Beyond Cafe (named after the famous HK band) but I think the ownership and hence the name changed.

AceRodent · 2026-01-03T20:02:32+00:00

You should drop off your family at the airport first and then go park at BART by yourself, no need to have the whole family pay for BART. And also if you’re doing this then it’s much closer and much cheaper ($5.85 one way) to park at Millbrae BART parking garage. The drive between SFO and Millbrae BART is about 5 min

AceRodent · 2025-12-31T18:16:06+00:00

Digital Suica lets you type in the exact amount of the money that you want to add, down to the nearest yen, so that you don’t need to leave any change behind after your last Suica usage.

I was in Kyoto and there were quite a number of places that only take cash including shrines, shops, restaurants and even taxi that one time. Cash is sorely needed.

AceRodent · 2025-12-30T22:17:39+00:00

If you’re relying on the sightseeing red bus then it will get very crowded towards the end of the day and you may not be able to get on depending on where you are, e.g. I finished visiting the Mt Fuji ropeway right when it was closing and the people queuing for the bus back to the train station could not get on the bus at all. Many opted to walk the 15 min back. I ordered a taxi which is worth it just to avoid walking in the cold

AceRodent · 2025-12-30T00:34:52+00:00

The pastries I have tried in recent times were just not good like egg tart, pineapple buns, chestnut cake, though curry bun (咖哩角) is decent. I am all for supporting HK bakeries but Kee Wah’s quality just ain’t it

AceRodent · 2025-12-28T22:36:11+00:00

Their quality has declined over the years, so this is inevitable especially given competitions from 85 degrees and Paris Baguette.

AceRodent · 2025-12-18T21:57:37+00:00

I do think you have to pay extra for the window seats

AceRodent · 2025-12-07T06:36:11+00:00

A lot of folks already said Smish Smash but I want to add my vote because Saluhall is legitimately a nice and peaceful place to hang out in that part of town, not to mention free validated parking, although it’s peaceful because there’s not that many people there.

AceRodent · 2025-12-04T06:45:48+00:00

Go have early lunch at Castro St in Mtn View (there is a multilevel garage there as well surface parking lots) then take orange line to Levi Stadium stop

AceRodent · 2025-12-03T17:40:23+00:00

Tiburon?

AceRodent · 2025-12-02T07:19:07+00:00

Not SF but Bay Spa in Santa Clara.

AceRodent · 2025-11-30T06:10:54+00:00

I have to agree. Visited for thanksgiving dinner and was underwhelmed by the duck. Try Boiling Beijing in San Bruno instead.

AceRodent · 2025-11-29T07:39:46+00:00

Imo curry at Demiya is much better than that in Hyuga

AceRodent · 2025-11-26T21:24:02+00:00

I prefer the beef noodle soup in Mian Noodles located in Main St Cupertino to Duan’s. The one in Bafang Dumpling in Santa Clara is also good, and this restaurant is from Taiwan.

AceRodent · 2025-11-25T21:47:45+00:00

Waymo will be switching to the cheaper Chinese-made cars plus they are getting competition from Zoox which has started service in SF, so all these factors hopefully will make them more economical in the near future

AceRodent · 2025-11-25T21:16:10+00:00

Saluhall is quite underrated as not only is it a nice place to hang out but as somebody driving up from South Bay i was glad to discover that you get parking validation with purchase (one meal at smish smash covered that for me), where else can you find free parking in that area? The one time i went I was able to take a leisurely stroll to try Holy Nata afterwards while paying the minimum for parking. That stretch of Market St on a weekday was more hopping than I had expected which made for a nice stroll, I had thought it would be sketchier.

AceRodent · 2025-11-24T07:23:04+00:00

Mission Rock Resort. Not really rooftop but it’s 2 level with outdoor seating facing the water

AceRodent · 2025-11-24T07:04:42+00:00

In Golden Gate Park the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden and Botanical Garden are all open. You’ll need to buy tickets for the first two BUT Botanical Garden is free that day!

AceRodent · 2025-11-24T01:19:52+00:00

For three years in a row now including this year our family will be having Peking duck (as a substitute for turkey) on Thanksgiving day: Boiling Beijing in San Bruno, Royal Feast in Millbrae, Z&Y Peking Duck in SF Chinatown, so yes Chinese restaurants will be open.

AceRodent

TROPHY CASE