Four trains and several hours after leaving Kyoto, we arrived in the Fuji Five Lakes area, to our hotel on the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, near Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is an active volcano and one of Japan’s three sacred mountains. We’ve seen it in photos and artwork (even some we have adorning our home), but had never been to visit.
After dropping off our backpacks, we went for a walk by the lake, with Mount Fuji at our backs. It’s a sight we never tire of, and found ourselves often crying with delight, ‘Oh look, it’s Mount Fuji!”, or “look at Mount Fuji now!”, because she’s always changing. The first day her peak was mostly in cloud, but one that shifted constantly, so that her very tippy top appeared every once in a while, which made us so happy.
We walked by the shores of the lake, the warm breeze blowing our hair all over the place, taking pictures and gazing at the mountains surrounding this whole area, which appear in layers, as if in a painting with rich greens and beautiful blues.
After a wonderful tempura dinner at a local restaurant, and a visit to the hot spring onset for me and L, we fell asleep quickly on our futons on tatami mats.
The next day we walked through residential streets filled with adorable homes and manicured gardens to the Kawaguchiko train station to go one stop to Fuji-Q Highland, an amazing theme park, filled with a bunch of thrill rides that Rowan and T couldn’t wait to get on. Kevin joined them while, L, L and I lounged with iced Americanos at Starbucks and visited the Fujiyama Museum, to view their collection of dozens of modern depictions of Mount Fuji. It was a wonderful surprise to see a second, smaller collection of eight prints from Hiroshige’s “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”, and two from Hokusai’s series of Fuji.
While the boys enjoyed wild coaster after coaster, under Fuji’s watchful gaze, L and I finished the day on the very tame children’s ride, Gaspar and Lisa’s Voyage dans le Ciel, which was super cute. For dinner, we went to Cooliya, a restaurant that had delicious Japanese food and a great atmosphere we all enjoyed. Plus, more shaved ice!
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