Tokyo - Fuji

Steve came to our room for breakfast - he is missing muesli so I had brought him some - and at 8:00 our people-mover came with driver and guide to take us to Mt Fuji. The sky was clear and blue, and we saw the mountain (100k away) even before we had left the city.

We stopped at a service centre, then went on to the Fuji visitors' centre, where we watched a short video.

Second stop was Mt Kachi Kachi cable car,

where the view was over one of the five Fuji lakes,

and to the mountain, of course.


Then we had a nice lunch at a Japanese restaurant, and made origami with the chopsticks packet.

After lunch we drove up the Fuji Subaru Way (Subaru is the Japanese name for the Pleiaedes, so this is the way to the stars), as far as the 'first station' on the climbing track, at about 1000m high. We were supposed to go to the 'fifth station' (2300m), but the road was closed due to frost. This is where the climbers start, during July and August. Kaori and I made a tiny snowman,

then it was time to go back down and to the Narusawa Ice Cave. Compared to the Werfen Cave we went to last year, this was nothing, but it was an interesting experience.


After that we drove around a couple of the Fuji lakes, stopping for photos at a couple of spots, then it was back to Tokyo.


We had a bit of a rest and coffee, then went for a wander around the streets, where vendors were attempting to sell anything from fish to handbags, from roasted chestnuts to teeshirts. It was pretty cold, with an icy wind, and we ended up back at the same eatery as last night. Back at the hotel, we called Kath for her birthday, and to check on the success of their farewell party last night, and then did computer work.


Saturday 31 Jan Osaka to Ueno (Tokyo)

We were up before the alarm again, and the taxi came a bit early, so we got to the station about 20mins early. That was just as well, as by the time we changed trains twice and found our way to the Shinkansen platforms, we only had about 10mins to wait.


The train ride is very smooth and fast, but what impressed us both was the amount of legroom provided. We had room to put our overnight bag in front, and still not feel cramped. It had rained during the night, and though we had sunshine along the way, Mt Fuji was nowhere to be seen.


We found our way to our suburban station, but then missed the exit, despite asking twice, so it took us a little while to find the hotel. It gets full marks for location, only 1min from the station, but needed a coat of paint even before the staff were born, and they all appear to be over 70. The room is small, and in Japanese style, the bed is a foam mattress on the floor. But we do have our own bathroom, with deep square stainless tub, fridge, air conditioner, so are quite comfortable once we pile the beds together to give us floor space.
Steve and Kaori were already settled in. We had a late lunch, then went walking through Ueno Park to the National Museum.



We looked around there until closing, then came back to the hotel for coffee.
After a rest, we caught the train so that we could go to the Tokyo Tower, which is a miniature Eiffel Tower. We could only go up to the first level, as they said it was windy (it didn't seem too bad from ground level). We saw lots of pretty lights, then came back to Ueno for tea.





The fast food restaurants have an interesting modus operandi. At the door is a vending machine with photos of all the dishes they offer. You put in your money and it dispenses a ticket, which you hand to the staff, and in only a couple of minutes your meal is ready.
We came back to the hotel and went to bed.