Today was another exciting day trip day and the sun was out for us again. We'd had a few rainy ones in the city but this morning it was bright and clear, perfect mountain spotting weather. We were off to see Mount Fuji (Fuji-san).
It turned out to be a bit of a long journey for only half our rail pass would cover us, but we were sure Mr Fuji would be worth the exploitative train fare. Plus it was such a pretty journey through the hilly/mountainous countryside, and we even caught an early glimpse of Fuji-san on the way.
This was very encouraging because although the mountain doesn't move he is elusively difficult to spot. Apparently he is a shy mountain who almost permanently hides amoungst clouds and winter is the only reliable time to see him clearly. We met two German girls who did not have any success in seeing Fuji and they told us that they spoke to a man who lived in the area who had only ever seen him 100% clear 3 times in his life. So we were prepared for this but couldn't help but be a bit hopeful since the day we'd chosen was so clear.
On arrival in Kawaguchi-ko we didn't follow everyone else onto the bus that goes around the lake we took off straight for Mount Tenjo from whose top you can view Fuji-san. We'd had plans to climb up it and down again however the lady in the tourst office looked very doubtful about this and encouraged us to take the cable car up and just walk back down.
So this we did and I'm glad. Not only because the mountain seemed to have sheer sloped sides but also because the view across the lake and surrounding mountains from the cable car was beautiful.
On the way up we were on the wrong side of the hill to see Fuji-san so we waited with baited breath to turn the corner at the top. When we did we were disoppointed to see dear old Fuji-san with his upper half all covered by cloud. We took our eyes off him for a minute and he hid himself away. It was still a stunning view though and a beautiful mountain.
We felt there was still hope though, as the clouds were on the move and there was clear sky ahead. So we decided to kill some time by walking up to the summit to see the shrine at the top. Doing this we were lazily glad that we hadn't attempted to climb the whole thing, it was the kind of steep walking that makes Rob irritable and me sleepy. Good to get to the top though the shrine was slightly tinsier than we'd imagined.
On the way back down we stopped to eat our picnic in a more secluded spot that had a view of our shy mountain over the way. As we'd hoped the cloud was clearing for a bit and we decided to try and sit it out. And sit we did, for an hour! But after this time we were rewarded with more of a view.
By this time we really needed to start our walk down if we were going to catch the good train but we felt we couldn't leave because we just knew it would happen as soon as we did. So we decided to scrap the walk down and get the cable car back down which would buy us another half an hour or so.
With that decision made we went back down to the bigger viewing area which did actually seem to have a better view. And after another half an hour or so of taking slightly cloudy pictures the cloud actually parted and we got a full view of Fuji-san. it was all so pretty, with the parting cloud and with the full view. We were really glad that we'd stayed on a bit longer.
It was so nice we almost decided to miss our train and get a later one but since that would be over two hours later we decided that we'd had a gorgeous time and got what we'd come for. We even got the obligatory Amy and Rob photo.
So with a final glance back we hopped on the cable car and scurried back to the station just in the knick of time. We got a final glimpse at Fuji-San behind the station as we departed.
The journey back went quickly and prettily but about half way there we started feeling a bit sleepy. When we changed trains we felt this was our chance to get a drink and to try out the can vending machines we'd had our eye on. At first we'd been surprised how many people drink iced coffee in the cold and then one day we saw that someone had got a hot drink out. Now that is not impressive in itself but a hot can vending machine: we thought that was smart. We think we should get these in the UK. They'd sell millions on UK railway platforms.
Back at last we stopped off at the big station near where we were staying to get some dinner. Apparently the area is good for Tonkatsu and one place in particular and we fancied a last good katsu before we leave. We eventually found the place, had to wait half an hour for them to open, but then were rewarded with and excellent dinner. It was nice to eat in a proper restaurant. The it was home to watch "Fast and Furious; Tokyo Drift" which covered loads of the areas we explored the other day which was fun (even if it was ridiculous). Rob even mucked about and brought a bit of Andy Warhol to Mount Fuji.
We now have only two days left to see the rest of the city and only two days left of our whole adventure.
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