Day trip to Yamanakako and surrounding areas

Evening everyone,

I've been to Kawaguchiko before but wanted to check out Yamanakako and surrounding sights on a day trip this time. I'm not 100% confident about the buses in the area and wondering if anyone can confirm this sort of itinerary would work:

1) Shinjuku to Hirano via Chuo Highway Bus
-Walk to Yamanakako Koryu Plaza, look around, take pictures etc. (Possibly go to Panorama Dai but I can't seem to find where to enter any path from the lake area?)
2) Yamanakako Koryu Plaza to Benifujinoyu via Fujikko-go bus
3) Benifujinoyu to Oshino Hakkai via Fujikko-go bus
4) Oshino Hakkai to Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen via Fujikyu bus
5) Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen to Fujikyu Highland (to visit Fujiyama Onsen) via Fujikyu bus
6) Fujikyu Highland to Shinjuku via Chuo Highway Bus

I'm working with these time tables:
Fujikko-go: http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/heritage-tour/detail/id/2/
Fujikyu: http://www.japan-guide.com/bus/gotemba.html

Any alternative recommendations or concerns? I'll be going next month (Nov 13). I think the Fujikko-go buses are a pretty distinctive style and green colored, but not sure what the Fujikyu buses (with timetable on the japan-guide page) will look like or if there are different numbers/routes I should be concerned about so I don't get on the wrong bus? (Can slowly read hiragana/katakana, no kanji, and speaking is very minimal. Hope this works haha.)

Thanks much,

I had some concerns about the Bus as well last time I was at Kawaguchi and Yamanakako. So I rented a car instead from Kawaguchi. It is very convenience and the drive is pretty easy. The only issue I had was Google Maps kept putting me on the Toll roads when I didn't want to lol.

So yes I would recommend renting a car or if taking buses to reduce the amount of places you like to visit.

BTW you can also check out Diamond Fuji if you have the time (Aprox. 330pm at that time) http://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/foreign/english/spot/p1_4865.html

Hope this helps!!!
Have Fun!!

Thanks for the response.

Yeah I should eventually look into getting an international driving permit, but don't have one currently :/ Always a bit hesitant as I've only driven on the right side of the road haha, and especially when I've been living in major cities and taking public transit for the past 15 years.

Oh yeah and wasn't thinking about the sun setting behind Mt. Fuji but that looks quite nice.

thanks again,