Day 3 – Mount Fuji & Yamanakako

Today was dedicated to travelling to Mount Fuji, Yamanakako Lake onsen and shopping in Gotembo.

We booked a tour and after a metro card mishap (don’t loose your metro pass – just don’t) we were on our 3 hr way to Mt Fuji. We past endless beautiful, verdant, mountainous countryside and it was good to see life outside Tokyo. Throughout the bus trip our guide covered a range of topics informing us on everything from Japanese industry, religion, weddings and education, as well as Mt Fuji facts.

We arrived at Mt Fuji at midday and had a short time to take in the sites and send a few postcards.

Lucky enough to get great pictures, in between fast moving cloud cover.

Before jumping back on the bus to a historical ninja tea house for lunch and a look around the gardens.

Top Right: Sizzling barbecue basket of chicken, veggies and tofu. Plate of fried chicken, fried noodles, potato “fries”, salad and cherry tomatoes, miso soup and desserts. Caitlin’s favourite meal so far!

Next was Yamanakako Lake onsen. This was my first time trying onsen and it was everything you’d think the experience would be; awkward, humbling and exciting but finally it was simply so relaxing bathing in the hot water letting the bubbling water wash away the past three days walking tension. I would recommend definitely giving it a go at least once, as its a common occurrence for the Japanese (and in Taiwan) and only a bizarre experience for westerners.

Shopping was next, at the southern end of Yamanakako (more tourist trappy) at a posh factory outlet. I bought a few gifts at unique stores, but it was mostly western name brands and designer labels that were on offer for shoppers.

Back on the bus to Tokyo, we arrived in Shinjinku and got to experience it at nighttime! There is just as much to do here, but has a more grungier feel, than Akihabara. Our un-happily-married guide said that the younger people and tourists go to Akiharbara for nightlife, but the locals got to Shinkinju to have a good time – sneaking out after their wives have taken a sleeping tablet.

We stopped at the famous and delicious Mos Burger for a yummy dinner! And then caught the subway back to home base.

Left to right: Brekky – soft strawberry jelly and delicious custard filled pastry. Ion water to rehydrate after onsen. Facemark with added placenta – mmm get me some placenta! And finally Mos Burger; product vs packshot = product!

Tomorrow DisneyLand!

Steps: 1,500+

The most useful Japanese words (according to me):
Arigato – Thank you. Can be combined to be: Arigato Sumimasen
Sumimasen (see-ma-sen) – Thank you, excuse me, sorry. I definitely use this a lot on the subway, accidentally getting in someone’s way and moving past them in tight store aisles.
Shegalmos – No, (literally) not quite that. Japanese people are to polite to say outright “No” (Neeya), so they say this instead.
Hai – Yes.
Kon’nichiwa – Hello.
Sayonara –  Goodbye. I haven’t heard this a lot, perhaps its too formal?