Mt. Fuji and Tokyo

L and I met up again in at Ueno station in Tokyo on the morning of August 29th. We checked out the Sony building with its outdoor aquarium and indoor overpriced technology, and then the Toyota Amlux building in Higashi-Ikebukuro. We tried the driving simulators, but every time we crashed, but the simulator would show us the replay with how much better off we would've been with the new Toyota safety features.

From there, we headed out to Fujiyoshida city. Some of the trains had been delayed in the morning by heavy flooding – at a couple of stations, we could see the waterline and leftover mud that had covered the tracks. But we were determined to climb Fuji regardless of the weather. We changed trains at Otsuki, and while waiting ran to a nearby 100 yen shop to buy plastic rain pants, as it was pretty cloudy. We got to Fujiyoshida city around 6:30 in the evening. Bought some food at the grocery store under the station, (L also bought an umbrella) and caught a taxi to Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine. The taxi driver kept telling us it was dangerous, and resignedly shook his head at the determined but crazy foreigners. It was really not raining much when we started, and the first few hours were actually quite pleasant. Quiet and peaceful, with only the occasional flash of lightning and thunder to disturb our hike. Directly above us, we could see the stars, and the temperature was nice and cool, without being cold.

We were the only people on the trail, and enjoyed our hike for about the first 6 or 7 hours. Though we were watching the thunderclouds close in from almost all directions. Then we ran into the tour groups. Then it started to rain. For the last two hours or so, we pretty much stood in line, in the rain and wind. When we could, we dodged and ran around the lines, but some sections of trail were too narrow, and we could only stand and shiver. By this point my jacket was soaked through - it really was waterproof at some point, but not anymore.

We got to the top around 4 am, (in actuality, probably a few steps below the official “top” and still a half hour from the actual peak on the other side of the crater) and since there was no hope of seeing a sunrise, or doing anything besides standing around and freezing, we huddled under the eaves of a building, and in the semi-dryness put on dry layers, got someone to take a picture of us, and then jogged down the trail. Once daylight hit, the rain slowed and then stopped, and we enjoyed a leisurely hike down the trail to the tourist centre at 5th station. We caught a bus back to Kawaguchi-ko, ate some lunch, tried (in vain) to dry our socks, and then caught the train back to Tokyo.

We were planning to crash at a capsule hotel in Asakusa that night, and fortunately we could check in early. They had a lovely rooftop bath/sauna, and we were happy to get warm and clean again. There’s also a deck outside the bath, and we had a nice view of the Sumida river and Tokyo tourists. Also, had they looked up, they would have had quite the view of us. As we were standing outside, the rain began to pour down again, and that was also refreshing. Hot bath, cold rain, hot bath, sauna….nothing like it.

We even managed to find a vegetarian Indian restaurant in Ginza (with Ginza like prices) with great food. We walked around for a bit, but were pretty tired from hiking all night.

We also visited a maid cafe, just for the heck of it, and met a nice girl who spoke fantastic English, had grown up in Mississauga and gone to school at Mohawk college. Small world. 

So maybe you were wondering what a capsule hotel is. Generally they’re located outside train stations, so that businessmen who’ve missed the last train have a place to crash for the night. Generally between 3000 – 4500 yen per night, you get a locker for your stuff, a yukata (robe), access to the bath and a roughly 1m x 1m x 2m box to sleep in. While it sounds claustrophobic, it’s really not. I’m a little claustrophobic – riding in the lower floor of an overnight bus with its low ceiling and curtained windows, made me a little uncomfortable. The capsule hotel didn’t bother me at all. Plenty of room, a small tv and heater/air-conditioning made it quite comfortable.

In the morning we walked over to Senso-ji, and then headed over to Ueno Park. Mostly just wandering, seeing what there was to see.

Early afternoon came, and I headed back to Hitachi, leaving L on his own for the rest of Sunday and Monday until he left.

Well, that finally concludes my summer adventures with L. We saw a lot of things that had been on my list of things to do, and I’m really glad L came out to see them, as I probably wouldn’t have been as motivated on my own.

Next up, a Reggae concert on the beach, and then whatever happened in the fall. I’m only 5 months behind. Almost feels like being caught up…!