Japan question - Nikko, Hakone or Kamakura?

Question

Please help! I want to plan a day trip (or overnight) to one of these places. Hakone sounds way touristy, Nikko sounds beautiful but boring/slow and Kamakura seems in between? First time to Japan, which would you choose to see and why? Thank you!!

Answer 1

I just got back from Japan and i enjoyed myself in Kamakura. Actually, a lot depends on what you want to see. Kamakura is a very serene place and the pace is just nice. Was able to spend the whole day there without feeling bored. I was staying in Tokyo and had to take a train there and the scenary along the way was beautiful.

Answer 2

Nikko has three ornate shrines and a temple with three golden buddhist statues. The area has mountainous scenery with towering cedars, rocky rivers, and surrounding mountains. It's about 2 hours away from Tokyo. At night there's nothing to do as Nikko is a small place.

Kamakura has shrines, temples, and one huge Buddha statue sitting outdoors. There are hills and beaches but not really good for swimming. You can hike from north Kamakura to the main part or the Big Buddha. Kamakura is only an hour from Tokyo so a daytrip here is more easily done.

Answer 3

All 3 places are rather touristy these days...

Kamakura is the closest to Tokyo and has a good mix of temples, shrines, shops, and natural scenery, plus it is very close to Enoshima island and beach.  Although everything closes at night, you'll be close enough to Yokohama and Tokyo to enjoy any kind of night life you want.

Nikko and Hakone are both very nice, but they are far away from anything and there is little to do at night... from most hotels you can't even find a convenience store without a long ride by car or taxi.  The last buses back from moto-hakone (the main town area) leave before 5pm and there is no train there, so it is easy to get stuck.  At least, if you get back to Odawara in time, you can get back to Tokyo in about an hour.  From Nikko, it is more like 3 hours.

Answer 4

I would say Nikko. Hakone is a nearby bit of nature for Tokyoites, but it's of no great cultural significance except for being on the Tokaido trail. I don't see why the Kamakura Daibutsu would be so much more interesting than Tosho-gu and it's three wise monkeys, etc. I guess if you want to hit the beach and see the Daibutsu, Kamakura would make sense.

I suggest going up to Nikko on the Shinkansen through Utsunomiya, and then coming back down on the private Nikko line-that really is the scenic route. This time of year, Nikko gets you out of the heat as well.