Trip to Japan Day 4 - Decided to get near to Mt Fuji

WE decided to go to Kawaguchiko i.e. Lake Kawaguchi to take a closer look at one of the symbols of Japan - Mt Fuji. We set off late and thus, we could not make it onto the soil of Mt Fuji, but it wasn't too bad to take a good look at this majestic volcano. It wasn't the season to mount it anyways.. haha OFF WE GO!

Photos taken halfway through the journey..

We realised upon reaching Otsuki station that we had to change to this private line, where we had to pay extra money.. haha Lucky us, we got this Thomas and Friends train which was super cute and colorful!! YAY it was worth the 1500 yen we parted with for one way ticket to kawaguchiko.

big houses along the way, near to Kawaguchi ko

shelter with wooden seats and cushions, must be really cold out here alone on the train platform

planning for the trip

flower beds along the train tracks.. there's a gardener planting them and looking after them! =D

3rd last stop at this amusement park for kids. we were tempted to enter haha! the roller coaster rides looked high and dangerous!

Finally reached the terminal - Kawaguchiko station. Saw this volcano train!

Last glance and photos with our beloved Thomas!

Thomas and Friends bus!! We realised upon reaching Kawaguchiko that we could take a bus to sight-see around the place, but when we asked the tourist centre, we got this map and we reckoned we could walk the way to the lake ourselves. Off we went! and before long, we really enjoyed the houses along the street, the cool weather (17 degrees) and the music blaring at each traffic light. it was different from the one in tokyo, and the music was like olden japanese music that was off-tune (my sister said that) but personally i loved it. haha

fake train on display.. quite old i suppose

houses along the way

houses with a backdrop of mountains! wow! i wana live there hahah




see the elusive mount fuji behind e mist??



Goodbye Mt Fuji!
When we left, it was evening like 5.50pm, and after taking the long journey back again, we decided to drop by at Shinjuku at about 7.30-8pm thereabouts.. we saw many neon lights and big tall buildings, and it was very crowded. for the first time, we saw rubbish littered on the floor and beggars along the road.. there were many Pachinko parlors too! all full of cigarette smoke and it was so suffocating! we couldn't figure out the game they were playing haha and the guards at the entrance looked at us half surprised and amusement as he knew we wouldn't stay long, but why did we enter?

looking at it from his point of view didn't improve things, so we left after a brief stop. many motorcycles were parked outside, indicating its popularity that we just couldn't understand at that time. and we walked around aimlessly, looking at the crowds gathered there, smoking, chatting, laughing and most of them looking like they just got off work. we also ventured into lawsons to get some dinner (onigiri for me) and then left after we didn't know wad to do anymore..