Originally Posted by
rjque
You have no duty to be helpful. I'm just suggesting that you be polite. I'm not sure why this forum is so much more abrupt and unfriendly than the other Flyertalk forums, but it is. (And I think suggesting a specific guide book, as you have, is a very helpful thing to do).
I personally find guide books to be much less useful now than they were 10 years ago. Flyertalk is a great resource, but I don't have an answer to the OP's question because I haven't been to Hakone since 1993. I very much enjoyed Nikko when I was there on a day trip a few years ago, but I don't have enough information to really help the OP there.
Contrary to your view, I find this forum to be way more helpful and friendly than many others. It's just that some of the regulars get tired of answering questions that are readily answered in guidebooks, including some online guidebooks that are free, such as Japan guide.
I think the OP will get the best use from this forum by asking specific detailed questions, instead of the travel equivalent of "Are apples better than oranges?"