Monday - Mt Fuji

Up very early, 6.30,  and down for an early breakfast.

We were picked up at 8.10 and then picked up some people from one of the hotels Heather stayed at before going on to bus station to check in and change coach. True Japanese style very orderly but a couple of people were late which didn't go down well.

We had a very smelly English man in front of us. I think he was backpacking but if he smells that bad he is not going to make many friends on his travels.

'Sunny' was our guide and very good although her English was a little difficult to follow at times.

Our first stop, after 90 minutes was a 20 min stop so a quick rush to the loo, a quick look in the souvenir shop, and just managed coffee to take away!

On to Mt Fuji and the bus managed to get to 5th Station, which is about half way up, as the ice had melted on the roads with the help of the gritters. We were very lucky as the clouds disappeared as we got higher and we had lovely sunny clear views but very cold!

We sent a postcard to ourselves and got it stamped with the Mt Fuji special stamp, gift of a lucky bell, photos back to bus. This is all very rushed but a lot to fit in.

On to lunch all very rushed again but have to keep to time.

I didn't think much of lunch but Jon enjoyed it. I had a bread roll in my bag so made do with that.

Back to bus onto lake Ashi to meet boat for cruise and just made it. This lake is in a volcano crater, not that big but the surrounding area is very beautiful.

After a fifteen minute cruise we got off and went though a little parade of shops and finally managed to buy something to take home before going on the cable car ride, 101 people in car! Not sure why 101!

It was a very steep ride to the top and I managed to get near the door and so took some photos without people's heads in them. We had a quick look around at the top but Mt Fuji was by now covered in cloud so we took some photos then off we went back down.

It was then back on the bus to station to catch the Bullet train to Tokyo. A few Bullet trains passed thorough the station while we were waiting and boy do they go fast. The platforms have rails on to stop people being pulled off by the speed of the train.

The ride was good and like sitting on a plane and once again extremely clean but as it was dark you did not get a good idea of how fast we were travelling but we were told it was 360km.

We arrived at exactly the right time and as we got off there was a cleaner, dressed in Barbie pink, waiting to board every carriage and the passengers for the next train all queuing up to board but not pushing.

The guide was with us and was showing two Americans where to get the subway back to their hotel and it just happened to be the same line we wanted so we followed her through the very busy and complicated Tokyo station and managed to get back to the hotel in 25 minutes that is impressive if you know Tokyo?

We went up for drinks in lounge where two loud Norwegian men had had too much to drinkand were telling the whole room their business!

We decided to have dinner in bar which as it turned out was a very good choice.

We went back to our room to pack and then bed. What a long and tiring day!

WEATHER
Sunny and warm start but freezing up the mountain!