Day 2 - Hakone and Mt Fuji

This was how I spent most of the second day - knocked out on the coach. After a hearty breakfast on the 25th floor of our hotel, we started our long 3-hour journey to Hakone, a Sausalito-like area with picturesque mountains and lakes. En route, we made a pitstop at a giant rest stop called "Hello Square" which sold all kinds of food. We came across a whole line of vending machines which were fitted with video screens.


When we finally arrived at Hakone, we boarded a kitschy pirate ship and traversed a lake called Ashino-ko.

Behind me you can see the Japanese-looking Singaporean couple. The lady had Ayumi Hamasaki-like wavy bleached tresses.

Our first bento lunch. Most satisfying.


We reached the "Fifth Station" at the base of Mt Fuji (about 6.3km from the summit) in the late afternoon, where we took some amazing shots.


And another...

Mt Fuji framed by the branches of one of the few sakura trees still in bloom.

Thereafter, Xiao-chuan brought us to an onsen or hot spring. It was quite an experience. We each purchased a tiny towel for 100 yen which we held strategically to cover our private parts (often to no avail). Little did I know that towel was also meant for us to dry off after we finished. So there I was after the bath, naked and soaked to the bone with a wet towel. I maintained my composure, sneaked off to the sauna and stayed there just long enough to dry off without breaking a sweat. Brilliance!

We then adjourned to Hotel Narito for a delicious nabe dinner.