If I have the time for a one day side trip from Tokyo should I - go to Mt Fuji, visit Kamakura, take the Shinkansen to Kyoto, or something else??

Gee, don't know. Why don't you try spending that day searching here on FT for "day trips from Tokyo"?

Um... Something else.

Kamakura would be good for a day trip. Here is a good way to do it.

Take the JR Tokaido Line down to Ofuna Stn. Then take the JR Yokotsuka Line to Kamakura Stn. From here take the Enoden (Enoshima Densha) to Enoshima. This is an old electrified narrow gauge that snakes thru neighborhoods and along shoreline. Then from Enoshima take the Shonan Monorail back to Ofuna Stn. This is a hanging monorail vs the Monorail to Haneda that rides the rail. Here are some places to go along the way.

1. There are several temples near the Kita-Kamakura Stn. within walking distance.
2. Near the Kamakura Stn., just to the north at the end of the main street is a large temple with a large ponds. It will be full of lotus leaves in the summer. Many nice small restaurants for lunch near the temple. The walking street along the main street is full of little shops.
3. The Daibutsu (Big Buddha) is on the Enoden Hase Stn. about 15-20 minutes walk north.
4. The Enoshima beach will be busy with people in the summer and tranquil in the winter.
5. There are places for dinner near the Ofuna Stn. from expensive restaurants on the front street to 100yen sushi shops on back streets.

The new shuttle flights from HND to SHA makes that an awesome day trip.

If you opt for something more mundane like Kochi though I need the new mug from there.

There are many suggestions in this forum for day trips from Tokyo. In addition to those already mentioned above, I'd suggest Nikko. In July, it will be very hot and muggy in Tokyo. A day in the mountains might be a nice break from the heat. The station at Asakusa can arrange tickets or your hotel may be able to help. The train ride is pleasant and the area is nice for walking tours.

JR

Welcome to flyertalk!

Not to be mean, but in the time it took you to make four different posts, you could use the "search this forum" function and research the dozens of exisiting topics similar to yours to help you plan your trip out.

As suggested above, the Tobu Line is the lowest cost and only a bit longer in time.

http://maxi.riken.go.jp/workshop/access.html

Find a seat early as this train will decrease in length towards Nikko so it will not be easier to find a seat, especially on the weekends. Try the freshly made senbei (rice cracker) and jelly candy from small stops lining the main street. The upper lake is worth the trip just for the decent. Take a left side window seat on the bus. The city tourist bureau is very helpful. There will be a big temperature change between the upper Nikko and lower Nikko.

A bit of an outdated times and fares linked there.

On Nikko, there are a multitude of different services to Nikko including all reserved seating trains and non reserved seating trains (similar to the different Keisei Line services from Narita Airport). You can get to Nikko from Asakusa or by all reserved seating trains in joint cooperation with JR from Shinjuku.

Timetables to Nikko plus various passes if you to to Nikko from the Tobu Website:
http://www.tobuland.com/foreign/english/nikko.html

Since some cars will not make it to Nikko, make sure you are in the right car. I think there are signs in the cars.

I took the slow train to Nikko seven years ago and it was a blast, almost as interesting as Nikko itself. It leaves Tokyo and goes through increasingly suburban areas until finally you find yourself out in the sticks meeting local yokels who haven't seen foreigners before. (My friends and I had schoolgirls giggling amongst themselves about our eyebrows, of all things.)

Quite a fun change of pace from the more cosmopolitan lifestyle many of us get used to in Japan...

Yes, about two stations from Nikko, the Tobu train dwindle down to 2-3 cars. Then more passengers got on the train and the station staff push passengers into the cars like in Tokyo during rush hour. This is in the middle of nowhere, the strangest thing I ever saw.

It is because Nikko is on a branch line.
If you want a guaranteed seat and don't mind paying exta they run direct all reserved seating trains at certain times as well from both Shinjuku Station (in joint operation with JR) and Tobu Asakusa Station, slightly faster and more comfortable.

I am finally trying to plan a day trip to Nikko. First, are July and August good months to go? I assume that since we have a three day weekend next weekend is NOT a good time to go?

I looked up the links to Tobu. It seems that there is only one express train a day from Shinjuku at 0731 taking 1:58 and costing 3900-en. Alternatively, there are many express trains from Asakusa (Tobu) including one at 0730 taking 1:49 and costing only 2620-en. Why is there such a price discrepancy? Is the 4400-en for the all Nikko pass good with both trains? Or, is it on top of the train fare? Is it beneficial to ticket in advance? Can I use PASSMO card or do I need separate ticket? Or, just separate ticket for reserved seat? Hyperdia seems to have lots of other itineraries as low as 1500-en, should I go with a rapid instead of an exrpess?

thanks,

Marc

Sheesh, talk about a load of questions. You do know that Tobu has their own English website and sightseeing service center (03-3841-2871, 7:45-5:00pm) that answers all of that, right?

In a nutshell:

1) Any weekend is bad. 3 day weekend will even be worse.

2) The Shinjuku trains are from a special agreement between JR and Tobu, not to mention limited express trains. The difference in cost between Shinjuku and Asakusa is distance and transfer costs (JR to Tobu tracks, even though the train doesn't change).

3) The All Nikko Pass is only valid with Asakusa departure. It says so in the rules. If you wish to have an all-day pass for Shinjuku departure, JR sells one called the JR Tobu Nikko-Kinugawa Excursion Ticket (it's below the JR East Pass). General information for Shinjuku departure to Nikko/Kinugawa is here. Note that the All Nikko Pass also does not include limited express fare, that needs to be bought separately. The JR Tobu Nikko-Kinugawa Excursion Ticket does include limited express access.

4) It is beneficial to ticket in advance if you are departing at times that the Green Window/Tobu Sightseeing Service Center are not open. It is also less time consuming, which is important if the train you want to catch is departing in a few minutes when you arrive at the station. Last of all, you can guarantee a seat if you are riding the limited express. On occasion, the limited express seats do sell out in advance.

5) PASMO is usable for the entire trip (Shinjuku to Tobu-Nikko or Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko). If you want to ride the limited express, you will need to buy a separate ticket.

6) Personally, I rode the rapid from Asakusa. If you take the limited express, you only get there about 15 minutes faster (assuming no transfer needed), which wasn't a big deal to me. There is a comfort and coolness factor to riding the Spacia, but I have ridden enough limited express trains to last me a lifetime. In the end, it depends on your departure location, schedule, budget, and time and comfort priorities.