Mt Fuji, Peace Park, Lift to Sniff Sulfurous Fumes and Eat Black Eggs.

April 16. The symbol of Japan, Mt Fuji 'came out' only 42 days last year, about its average, and we give a cheer when we see it from the coach window.  The guide book has a page or two about how to join the 300,000 or so people who climb it each year and we pretend we'd surely do that if it weren't too early in the season.  We're just delighted to see the majestic shape and overwhelming size.  They call it elusive, but when it's out, it dominates the area for miles in all directions.

We stop at a lower station and take some pictures, then head up to one of the 5th stations which might be closed due to snow.  The road to this 5th station is backed up with buses so we get out and hike up about 200 meters to the landing filled with other tourists and lots of school children.  One group of uniformed teens strike up a conversation and practice their English with us.  Dr. Holloway spots a fellow with a nose bandage and tells him, "Hey, let me look at that." He's a 'nose doctor' you know.  Lovely little exchange. 

 

 

Lunch was less traditional and at this point we might have voted it our favorite.  Across the parking lot Steve found a treat store and bought a 'popcicle' made with beans and yogurt!  Really. Whole beans in the center and they were delicious!  Very strange.

One more vantage point for the volcano might could be the Gotemba Peach Park full of cherry trees, fine pruned trees and a relatively new Stupa. We get there and can still barely see Fuji but who cares, we saw it up close and the gardens are lovely too.  At the entrance Dick is asked by two young women to use their camera and take their picture.  They pose so enthusiastically that we succumb to the temptation to pose like that.  "V" sign, turn slightly, foot behind, bump backs into each other....  Did we get it all?  We may be on to something.

 

 Then on to the sulfurous funes of Mount Hakone, an active volcano for some 3,000 years.  We ride up to 'ropeway' to smell the fumes, and watch as they send eggs up the lift to boil in the spring.  They turn black!  Guess what?  They say if you eat them they will bring you luck.  Inside they look just like regular boiled eggs.  For $5 you could buy 5 boiled eggs.

NEXT STOP:    TOKYO