Survival of the fattest
Arriving in Fujinomiya around 1030am we walked to the bus stop and tried to make sense of the timetable.
As with most holidays, I’d lost track of the days.
Sunday.
Terrific.
Very few busses.
A man working there was very helpful and despite some language difficulties we established that the 11:20am bus would take us to both Tanuki Lake and Shiraito Falls.
We were warned that we had to be on the bus returning at 4:35pm - the last of the day.
But after looking at the map and the warning about being left overnight at the lake, Mrs H decided that survival supplies were required.
The water, crisps, fruit and biscuits we already had in the backpack obviously wasn’t enough.
So we set off in search of a Seven Eleven.
We added the following life sustaining goods in case of disaster:
1 litre of coke
1 iced coffee
1 giant packet of corn chips
4 bread rolls
1 bean paste donut
1 pork cutlet sandwich
It was a health food extravaganza that would make Bear Grylls proud.
As we were leaving it occurred to Mrs H that this might be her last chance to use a toilet until the rescuers brought her to safety.
So while the girls queued for the Seven Eleven toilet, I wondered what childhood trauma would cause such fear of being lost in the Japanese wilderness.
Soon after we were back at the bus stop, still with 25 minutes to wait.
Boredom set in and Miss H decided to eat.
She took one bite of the cutlet sandwich, hit the English mustard
and handed it over for me to finish.
She then began flapping her hands near her mouth as though she was trying to fly away and lunged for the iced coffee.
Amid the drama she had apparently forgotten she doesn’t like coffee.
That too was handed over for parental consumption.
Next it was on to the corn chips.
And a the donut.
By the time the bus arrived most of the rations had been eaten and our chances of surviving in the wilds of the urban fringes of Japan were rapidly diminishing.
As the bus arrived at the Tanuki Lake visitor centre about an hour later, we could see just the peak of Mt Fuji.
We raced out to the viewing terrace and snapped our way through 3 terabytes of photos just in case it was our only sighting.
But with that glimpse of Fuji I claimed a silent victory.
Any argument that we’d wasted a day, or that we should have stayed in Nagoya was neutralised.
The clouds were moving slowly north east (R-L in these pics), so I was optimistic the view may improve.
Given our limited survival supplies
I headed into the cafe to buy two coffees for us, and a smoothie for Miss H.
On my return, the view had improved further.
But we couldn’t relax for long, because fear of missing the bus had kicked in.
So we set off to walk along Tanuki Lake.
After about 15 minutes we came to what I reckon could be one of the world’s best located campgrounds.
Tanuki Lake is considered one of the best spots from which to view Mt Fuji.
One reason is that for around 3 days, twice a year, the rising sun comes up directly above Fuji’s peak.
For just a couple of minutes on those rare days it creates an illusion of a diamond atop the mountain.
Plus if you’re lucky enough to have a calm day you can also get the reflection in the lake.
Photo credit:
Tomoaki Kuribayashi
By the campground there’s also a nice boardwalk.
The fishing must be good because several people had rigged up their own platforms from which to wet a line.
We were fortunate to have such good weather and a nice view of Fuji.
But our fate, or perhaps my fate,
hinged on my interpretation of the Sunday bus timetable.
So we walked on to the lower car park and waited for a bus due at 2:45pm.
By 2:55pm I was getting nervous.