Booked this guided tour way in advance on JAPANiCAN.com for JPY13,000 per person (option inclusive of lunch). Started the day bright and early at 8am. Took a short 5-min taxi ride from our hotel to the nearest pick-up point (Keio Plaza Hotel) where a bus then took us to the Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal. There, we were transferred to a coach heading for Mt. Fuji. ~2hrs after departure, we were stopped off at the Fuji Visitor Center for some souvenir shopping, traditional performance, and a welcome documentary film.
Soon after, we were on our way up the mountain. It had been raining since dawn broke so fog was inevitable. Thank goodness we were still allowed to proceed to the 5th station on Mt. Fuji (highest station reachable by coach). The previous time I was there the weather was so bad we could only make the 1st station.
Immediately upon arriving at the 5th station, it started to snow..quite heavily. This really came as a surprise. I thought the day was a goner because with all that fog, there was absolutely nothing in sight. What a silver lining! Even though nobody was prepared for this kind of cold, we were excited enough to rush in and out of the souvenir shops -- just to snap some photos out there, head back into the shops to warm up, then out again for a next round of shots =D
You should at least buy some snacks/biscuits here. I used to think that you'd be able to get them anywhere in Tokyo but seems like several items are unique to the area. If you don't want to miss out on any goodies, be sure to JUST BUY IT if you there's somethin you fancy! Next, we had a pretty bento lunch that's included in the tour. Quite tasty I must say..although not exactly enough for me :p
The tour continued with a cablecar ride up Mt. Komagatake. It was supposed to boast a stunning view of the Hakone National Park but the rain and fog evidently did not give in. More souvenir/goodies shopping at the top. Our tour guide told us that the Black Eggs here are very popular. Legend has it that for every egg you eat, you add 7 years to your life. Ha Ha. Obviously popular with tourists. Hence be prepared as they get sold out easily. We were lucky to have snatched up the last of the eggs. Apparently these Black Eggs (Kuro Tamago) are normal eggs cooked in boiling sulphorous volcanic springs (which turns the shells black). Anyhow they tasted no different from hard-boiled eggs.
The tour came to a dramatic end with a cruise ride across Lake Ashi. Spent a good half hour enjoying the beauty and serenity. One of the best boat rides.
Returned to Shinjuku at about 8pm and had dinner at a random beef tongue chain restaurant called Negishi (website in japanese). Awesome food once again!
Name: Gyutan Negishi
Loaction: 東京都新宿区西新宿1-6-1,
新宿エルタワーB2
Expenditure: ~JPY6,500 for 4
No comments:
Post a Comment