We took the train out of the city. (It was a series of trains, actually, from the very full standing-room-only commuter in Tokyo, to the short and cute and increasingly sparsely populated chugger through the mountains.) And we ended up in the Fuji Five Lakes area.
It is just what it sounds like. A series of communities (from blinged out and uber touristy to quieter with fewer amenities) around five lakes (from big and boaty to small and foresty) with stellar views of Mt. Fuji (when he decides to come out of the clouds).
We did what we always do: wander and then play wherever we find ourselves. And we found lots of things! Beautiful gardens, tasty restaurants, a cave with bats (and mandatory helmets, thank goodness, with the crouchy ceilings), and shrines built to impress.
And we did the touristy things too. Like go to an amusement park (with seriously impressive rollercoasters, and a ferris wheel for the rest of us). And get soft serve in the super popular Oishi Park on Lake Kawaguchi. And climb 400 steps to a pagoda (which I forgot to take a picture of–woops!) for the view. And rent bikes to go around Lake Yamanaka.
We loved our time here! (Especially our house, which was so cozy on the rainy mountain mornings, with an under-heated table.) And we feel lucky to have seen Fujisan, a lot! Now we head back to big city life: on to Kyoto!
Magrilless 