Big in Japan: MOUNT FUJI

The following day we made our trip to Mt. Fuji. Fun fact about Mt. Fuji: the mountain is ruled by a goddess. In fact our guide told us that most mountains in Japan are generally ruled by goddesses. How awesome is that?

The trip from the Meguro, Tokyo to Mt. Fuji takes around an hour by car, although for those who want to save money you can take the train to Shinfuji and arrange transport from there. Try taking the slow train as the bullet (shinkasen) can cost around 100 USD for a one-way ticket! **

We stayed there for 2 days but again I repeat what I said in my Tokyo entry... you must spend more time there than that. It is especially the case with Mt. Fuji because you could get bad weather. On our first day the weather was so rubbish we couldn’t see anything. My aunt and I sounded like spastic people, constantly asking any locals where we could view Mt. Fuji because seriously you could not see ANYTHING.

Mt. Fuji viewpoint during crappy weather

Mt. Fuji Viewpoint. You literally see nothing in this weather.

Eventually the rain stopped and we were able to take a walk around Kawaguchiko and marvel the sheer beauty of the Japanese countryside.

Luckily for us, it was all clear skies and sunshine the following day on our way to the Shinfuji train station. Our poor driver had to deal with us getting overly excited about Mt. Fuji and asking when and where we could stop for pictures every few minutes. Anyway he stopped for us at the same viewpoint we went to yesterday and lo and behold here is Mt. Fuji in all her glory.

Isn't she beautiful?

Both pictures of Mt. Fuji are taken from the same viewpoint as the two first pictures. What a difference the weather makes!

Apart from the tranquil views of Mt. Fuji and her surrounding lakes, one of my favourite experiences in Japan so far was staying in a traditional ryokan in Kawaguchiko. We stayed in Yamagishi Ryokan which is a ryokan with modern flair, i.e. there is a lift and the rooms are ensuite. The price range is steep but do get half or full board if you decide to book with them! It's worth the money.

Standard room in Yamagishi Ryokan. The room is then converted to a sleeping area while you are having dinner.

I felt completely immersed in traditional Japan. We walked around in kimonos and slippers, slept on tatami mats, none of the staff spoke English, and we were served a huge Japanese dinner and breakfast in a traditional style dining room.

Traditional-style dining

Kaiseki with bits and bobs of all things yum

In addition to all of this, there was of course a Japanese onsen (hot bath) located at the top of the ryokan. In Yamagishi you had the choice of enjoying your hot bath indoors or outdoors and since it was located at the top floor and the walls surrounding the onsen are out of glass you could admire Kawaguchiko’s skyline from the comfort of the baths without having to brave the cold.

I was sad to leave Mt. Fuji after such a short period of time. Forget tropical island getaways, I would much rather stew in an onsen and walk around the foot of Mt. Fuji in a kimono and eat sashimi for breakfast, lunch, and dinner forever.

If you are planning to visit Mt. Fuji, try to spend at least 3-5 days there so you have a higher chance of getting days with clear skies. For the more adventurous travellers, there are a lot of trekking trails around the lakes of Mt. Fuji, and during climbing season (between July and August) you can trek up to Station 5 or even the summit if you are up to it. Mt. Fuji is 3776 metres high though and the temperatures between the summit and base can have a difference of 20ºc!

Interior of Sylvan's beer house

Before I forget, another honourable mention is the Sylvan’s for its incredible beer. Winner of the World Beer awards several years in a row, this brewery uses techniques borrowed from the Germans to make their own brew and all I can say is, that as an Austrian, that they do a pretty good job. The beer is a little lighter than its German brethren but the taste is similar.

Prost!

All in all, Mt. Fuji is a great destination that offers a variety of activities for any type of traveller. For those looking for relaxation and rejuvenation, the peace and quiet of the towns, the onsens and massages will serve your purpose. For those looking for adventure, there are many trekking trails that vary from easy to challenging (even for the most physically fit people). And for those looking for culture and history, you can find this by staying in one of the many traditional ryokans available at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Next stop is Kyoto for more cherry blossoms and seeing how the maiko girls (geishas) live.