Originally Posted by
Wenckebach
Regarding the Onsen - the trip to Hakone was for the ryokan/onsen experience, but also to see Mt Fuji. If a ryokan in Yudanaka/Shibu onsen or Unazuki onsen would be a better option, might you be able to compare/contrast to Hakone? Am starting the research myself but not coming up with much!
I'm just noticing now that you're doing Kanazawa/Tokyo in early April. I somehow missed it the first time.
There's no guarantee that you'd be able to see Mt.Fuji from Hakone (or anywhere for that matter) around that time of the year. Chances are excellent in dry winter months, poor during the warmer months. Kind of a crap shoot during the rest of the year. Either the last time or the second to the last time I was in Hakone during the summer, I was actually able to see Mt.Fuji, which was a surprise. Hakone would not be a major detour if you're going to spend a night at Takayama and then work your way over towards Tokyo via Tokaido shinkansen. If not, and you're taking the Hokuriku shinkansen, then you're having to get to Tokyo first and then past it to get there. So that would be a detour.
I'm surprised you're not able to find much info on those other onsens, especially Yudanaka/Shibu since that area is very popular with foreigners. My favorite onsen hotel in Yudanaka is this one:
http://www.aburaya-tousen.co.jp/en/