Have spent the last 5 days in Kawaguchiko and now in Hakone.
In Kawaguchiko we were denied boarding multiple buses as they have been full, even one time there was a big queue at the bus stop, and everyone got on minus me and my partner. The wait for the next one is always a good while too.
From our Airbnb, we were far away from most restaurants, except one ramen place that was closed on the day we arrived, was out of soup the following day, then on the next day, by the time we arrived, they were sold out. So each time we had to walk at least 15 minutes for, for the most part, average and overpriced Japanese food (compared to Osaka and Kyoto where we had been prior) or western food.
We did all the typical touristy things as it’s our first time in Japan, but for next time, if we come to this part of the country, we will get a car and do some random off track hikes and avoid the mayhem at all costs.
Now we are in Hakone, except the Airbnb is quite out the way and the buses run pretty infrequently. And both of these places charge a lot more for their bus services compared to the cities.
The over tourism in both places is insane (don’t get me wrong, I know I am adding to the problem by being here and I have no right to complain) but wow, everything seems to be a queue or a wrestle to see the good things.
Before I planned my trip, I wanted to do a big road trip (I am a driver), but was recommended to not as it’s so convenient to do the golden route via transit and for the most part, I totally agree, but it seems like a car would have been a god send up here in the mountains (I could be wrong.)
We are off to Tokyo tomorrow and I am so excited for convenient transit and lots of food and drink options.
At the end of the day, we are city slickers, but we love nature and hiking back in our home country!
I share this to A. Rant and B. To see if anyone has experienced the same
I am expecting bad responses from this post.
by alexdenvor