東京日志 Ep5: Fifth Station

Dear diary,

On Christmas eve, which is also the fifth day of Tokyo, we joined the Viator tour (JTB Sunrise Tours) to Hakone & Mt. Fuji.

Of course all this were planned before the trip, I booked the tour through this site. There’re lots of good reviews for the Mt. Fuji tour, and so we decided to give it a try, since I really wanted to see the winter Mt. Fuji.

It’s not cheap though, RM 600+ per pax – day trip to Hakone, Mt. Fuji & Lake Ashi; transportation back to Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train) was included.

No regrets though, it was really a good trip! The tour guide speaks good English and is very knowledgeable. Later I found out the tour guide is 77 years old but look nothing like his age. I thought he’s 50 years old. And unlike the typical tour, this one won’t just bring you to places that make you buy stuff…they tell you a lot of stories about Japan.

We woke up 5am to get ready, as we have to be at the pick-up point by 7am. After all the hassle, finally get on the coach that will bring us to Mt. Fuji.

While heading out of the city, caught a view of the suburban, industrial and rural sight of Tokyo. It was an experience itself to see the not so touristy side of Tokyo, but still very nicely organized and not to say very under-developed.

#1 Construction

#2 Caught a glimpse of Tokyo Tower

Fortunately the weather was good that day! And as we’re nearer, the sight of Mt Fuji became clearer.

#3 This was taken while on the coach.

We were fortunate to be able to go up until the Fifth Station. Usually during winter, the area will be covered with snow and if the snow is too thick, the station will be closed.

#4 At the Fifth Station

On the way up, the scenery is just beyond my expectation.

For a while, you’ll see the summit of Mt. Fuji; the next minute, you might be entertained by white beautiful woods like this:

#5 The snow on the ground is just amazing!

Looks very surreal and because you’re so immersed in the beautiful scenery, you wouldn’t sense the sharp turns up/down the winding mountain roads at all.

#6 Fluffy cotton clouds

I imagined that it would be cloudy, damp and dark. But no, nothing like what I’ve imagined…

#7 A view of the other snow mountains too…

The tour guide told us that we were really lucky as it’s one of the 100 days (throughout the year) that the summit of Mt Fuji could be seen so clearly.

The scenery at the Fifth Station was really beautiful! Or even before Fifth station; on the fourth & third stations, the scenery has already taken my breath away.

#8 The Mt. Fuji’s Story

First thing first when we arrived at the 5th station, we were told to go into the shop to collect a lucky bell.

In the shops, there’s a post office counter where you can write a postcard and post it back home. I didn’t do so bcos I didn’t have enough time. *regrets*

#9 And then we took a stroll at the Fifth Station. There’re some shops and a shrine. Most shops are closed because it’s winter.

#10 Winter Wonderland

The tour guide told us to go to the shrine if we want to get the best view of Mt. Fuji. Turns out that it was true, the view of Mt. Fuji from the shrine is astonishing!

#11 The summit.

#12 Against the white backdrop, the bright red shrine is very outstanding.

#13 The combi of blue sky and snowy ground made up a perfect view for the eyes…… and the lens.

So me and my dad started to snap pictures of each other, a lot of them!

He kept saying, since we paid so much money for this, faster take a lot of photos!

#14 The natural lighting that day is very good for portrait shots.

#15 My dad was like, “do more patterns for me to take.”  So I looked away …. =.=’

And oh btw, it’s my first time seeing real snow! Was very excited about it.

If I’m allowed to, I would love to have longer time here than the 45 minutes given.

Oh well, sometimes, less is more.

I didn’t bring my shades as I thought it’s winter so my shades won’t be useful. But I’m wrong as the sun that day was quite glaring!

So if you’re planning to goto Mt. Fuji, bring your shades.

After Mt. Fuji, it’s lunch time. When booking the package, you can select whether you want the Jap lunch or not, but of course that option would cost you more.

We didn’t opt for the lunch. By ourselves, we dined in this Japanese Italian Restaurant called Angelo Mio.

#16 You know I don’t really like Pasta. But this is super yummy! *salivate*

We ordered 2 big plates to share. I forgot the name. But anyway it’s Seafood something and  Salmon Mentai something.

#17

#18 Yum! This’s really really good!

Then we started our journey to the next destination - Lake Ashi, the lake that was formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone after the volcano’s last eruption 3000 years ago.

In the coach, the tour guide taught us how to make paper volcano using origami paper…

#19 With thoughtful agenda like this, the journey didn’t seem long at all…

Outside the bus window, there’s beautiful scenery of Japanese countryside as well…

#20 Paddy fields..

We also saw this….

#21 This is the famous Fuji Q Highland Theme Park!

#22 Look at this… the very scary Fujiyama Coaster. It’s one of the tallest and longest coasters in the world. I can feel my bones breaking when imagining myself on the ride.

Then we arrived at Lake Ashi…

#23 NICE!

#24 Why I look so tired… hehe.

#25 Fed some Japanese carps by the lakeside. The water is so clear! Just wondering, aren’t the fishes cold during winter?

And then we hop onto the cruise ship!

#26 It’s very very windy! *shivers*

#27 But I just want to take a lot of photos – capturing the momment! Cos it was so damm beautiful!

#28 On the top deck.

#29 Looking chubby with so many layers of clothes on me.

#30 The air was very fresh! Actually my nose is kinda blocked already by then, because the wind was so strong.

#31 Random

#32 Passed by somebody’s lakeside mansion

#33 Then I went from the deck to inside the ship, and drank Kirin beer. During cold weather like this, it feels nice when you drink beer. It helps to keep you warm.

#34 Mom just shaking her head and said “Aiyo, you this alcoholic!” I said “Like father like daughther!”

Then 3 of us burst into laughter.

After the lake cruise …. we went on a cable car ride.

#35 Komagatake Ropeway

#36 At the entrance…

#37 On our way up…

The view up there is …………like a wall painting!

#38 There’s a little shrine on top of the hill…

At first it was covered by fog:

#39 But the next minute the shrine could be seen so clearly.

#40 It’s like magic!

#41 Despite the temperamental weather, the view is just amazing!

#42 The sun…so well-defined.

#43 All I see is…fog.

After we get off the cable-car, there’re some shops around, hence, we shopped a bit.

#44 Hello Kitty vending machine

Later that evening, we left Hakone by Shinkansen…

#45

#46 We got up at 小田原 station….what a cute name!

#47 Waiting for the train… cold!

#48 …they look like they’re shivering. hehe.

Inside the train….

#49 Finally a pic of me and daddy! Mom’s DSLR skills put into test. Not bad not bad! The seats are quite cosy.

#50 You may buy food inside the train, just like Air Asia!

#51 Only 30 minutes and we’re in Tokyo city already…

#52 It’s all dark already, but the city-lights are so vibrant, tempting me to take pictures again!

At the train station, there’s this after-work crowd queuing up to buy Christmas cakes since it’s Christmas eve.

#53 The bakery’s signage is very lovely!

#54 In Japan, Christmas is commercialized by the bakeries.
But I could not deny the fact that…the cakes look really beautiful and yummy!

I queued up too, but not to buy Christmas cakes, I bought…

#55 Macaroons! It’s 1000 yen for a box of 5 (approx. RM40). Very exp! But I just wanna try it, at least once.

#56 Sinful Sweetness! It tasted good!

Then we went to the Government Metropolitan Building‘s Observatory in Shinjuku… to see the city’s night view. Free admission anyway.

This… is Tokyo city at night:

#57 After that we went for dinner …. walked around Shinjuku area and found this restaurant…Negishi Restaurant.

…which I think it’s the best dinner throughout my trip.

#58 Grilled beef, grilled pork and grilled chicken, oxtail soup, barley rice. The price is quite reasonable too. It’s about RM40-50 (1000 Yen+) for a set.

#59 Hehe, this means something!

They’ve many branches in Japan. If you’re treavelling on your own and happen to be at Shibuya/Shinjuku area, this could be a nice place to dine-in!

That marks the end of my day 5 in Tokyo! Pls stay tuned for my day 6 post- where I explore Odaiba!

Meanwhile, you may read about:
Day 1 – Akihabara, Asakusa & Ueno
Day 2- Tokyo Disneyland
Day 3 – Tokyo Disney Sea
Day 4 – Harajuku-Shibuya