What a blur. We checked out of our Tokyo hotel this morning and headed off in our cute little 26 seat bus with 20 of us in it eventually finding ourselves at the Mt. Fuji Visitor Centre.
The view from the observation deck wasn't as clear as the promotional photo on display.
We did however find a real cherry blossom tree in full bloom.
From
there we wound our way up the mountain to the Mt. Fuji 5th
Station, the point from which all summer walking starts. It was very
reminiscent of a minor version of Mt. Etna in Sicily with exposed
lava, landslides etc although it is about 300 years since it last
erupted.
The
close up view was not as attractive as the distant view as the
melting snow recedes up the mountain but a great experience.
From
there, we went to a very nice restaurant in Kawaguchi-ko where we
enjoyed a lunch of steak and salad. We are being very well looked
after.
From
lunch, we went to what turned out to be a spectacular surprise. We
were told that we were going up the Hakone Ropeway changing stations
and then heading down to Lake Togendai for a cruise. What we weren't
told is that the ropeway passed over the top of a very active thermal
area from where the hot spring water is piped to the local resort
hotels.
After
that, the cruise, although very pleasant, was something of an anti
climax.
We
are now comfortably settled in our Rokan (Japanese hotel) in Hakone where we
will be sleeping on the floor tonight We look out over the very well
appointed hotel garden and the public mixed bath house where you
don't wear your bathing suit. You wear your birthday suit. I have
seen a number of our party wandering around the garden but none
heading for the baths. Perhaps we could have gone after all.
Dress for dinner tonight was kimonos to complement the very Japanese dishes that we enjoyed.
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