Friday, December 14, 2012

Mt. Fuji

I was super lucky to take a trip to Mt. Fuji on a day with sunny and mostly clear skies. 

I took a charter bus from Shinjuku station to Lake Kawaguchiko.  The trip took almost 2 hours.  Very shortly into the journey, I could already see Mt. Fuji in the distance. 

The tourist center at Lake Kawaguchiko was mostly in Japanese.  This took me by surprise!  All of the brochures, pamplets, and posters were all in Japanese and there were none available in English.  I was glad that that morning I watched a youtube video on Mt. Fuji.  I asked the information desk for directions to the cable car, which I saw in the video. 

The walk to the cable car had almost no tourists.  I was a little unnerved but it was broad daylight and there were several local people driving past and shopping.  It was interesting to me that there is a city built right around the volcano.  I mean, it offers amazing views, but homes and shops would be incinerated were the volcano to erupt!  I can't imagine building a house at the base of a volcano, even if it is said to be dormant.

After asking for directions, I found my way to the cable car, and paid 700 yen for a ride up to the top.  I had great views of Lake Kawaguchiko. 



When we got to the top, I climbed up the steps and a huge close of view of the snow topped dome of Mt. Fuji greeted me. 




Wow.  It was magnificent.  Sunlight reflected off of the snow and the volcano top glistened.  I sat and just stared.

As I was walking back to the bus station, a monkey ran across the power lines in front of me.  I couldn't believe it!  Then another monkey ran across!  I quickly grabbed my camera.  Then another monkey.  "Oh my gosh, another monkey!  And another monkey!  And another monkey!  Who let the monkeys outs?"  


Nice butt, tehehehehe :)


Then I heard foliage crumpling to my right.  Another monkey jumped right in front of me, crossed the street.  I thought it was going to get hit by a car!

I quickly put my camera back in my bags because monkeys are known to literally grab things off of people like hats, glasses or even cameras!



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