I went to Mount Fuji this Summer. I was lucky enough to reach the 5th Station safe and dry by motor coach. I was told by my tour leader that it was raining heavily the week before I came and all the visitors will have to sit inside the motor coach, I believe for safety reasons. Along the way up to the 5th station, the motor coach will have to make several bends. It was rather a pleasant ride.Before we made out way up to the 5th station, our motor coach stopped at the Kawaguchi area to take a break for us refresh ourselves after the hour long journey from Tokyo. Over here, you can buy some snacks and even starbuck coffee. Importantly, is to visit the rest room . Or simply stretch your leg and to have some fresh air.
Mount Fuji 5th station is about more than half way to the summit and is a popular starting point for most climbers. Over here, you can see people of all ages (school children to grannies) and from all nations. Some are here to take a glimpse of this sacred mountain while other are here to scale this dormant volcano that last erupted in 1707. For me, I am here to experience the awe of this celebrated mountain.
As it is Summer, the weather is rather hot as I can feel the heat on my head. I did complaint a bit about the weather but thinking what the tour leader had just said about the rain last week, I count myself lucky and start to enjoy its many faces which the Japanese had claimed that it never appears the same if you look at it the second time. Read the rest of this entry »
After seeing all the skyscrapers in the city of Tokyo, it is time for me to relax back and enjoy some nature in Japan. One of the nearest lakeland and mountain area is the Hakone National Park. Hakone Park is located 90km west of Tokyo. As I did some research on Hakone National Park to see what are the popular Hakone sightseeing, I found out that there exist a well-established Hakone day trip tour, that comprises of rides on several trains, buses, funicular, cable and pirate ship cruise. In addition, at the Hakone National Park area, there are also onsen and art museums. But exactly how to get to Hakone? Well, this will depends whether how adventure you are? If you want to strike it out on your own, you can take the Bullet Train (Shinkansen), normal train (Romance Car), Express bus or drive yourself. However, if you want to free yourself from all navigations, just follow an organized day tour which I did.For simplicity, just follow the well-established traditional Hakone day trip route. You will start off at Hakone-Yumoto. Take the Hakone-Tozan train and enjoy the first part of the Hakone National Park. You can stop at the Chokoku-no-Mori Station and visit the near by Hakone Open-Air Museum. The next top is at Gora. Transfer to the Funicular Tram. This tram ride will take about only 10 minutes going up a steep slope to Sounzan. This is the start of the cable car that will cross Mount Soun.
From Sounzan, take the Hakone ropeway (cable car) and you will cross the ‘boiling valley’. Stop at Owakudani and see the constant boiling valley formed by a volcanic eruption three thousand years ago. To experience the boiling, walk up the valley through the lava formations to the bubbling pools. Over there, they use the bubbling pools to boil eggs until they are black. It is said that if you eat one of the egg, you will live seven years longer. Believe it or not…. Well, I did not eat any!
. Or simply stretch your leg and to have some fresh air.