Chasing the perfect Fuji shot

[drron]

We then went and had a coffee. I thought it was good but then Starbucks is fine by me. Again items for sale and a bit more about the artist.


And this spot is said to be the perfect spot for a picture of Fuji.

 

[drron]

The last of the gardens.

 

[drron]

We then drove a short way to the Kawaguchigo Museum of Art. We parked in a shopping centre across the road. They had small murals in the footpath.




Also a couple of large cherry trees next door.




The Museum of music next door to the Art Museum.






As you enter you see this.


It's amazing how many times we see this around the world.
There was a special exhibit on but it was on quite a dark subject.

 

[drron]

His art.












Later works had more colour and form.

 

[drron]

Most of the rest was photography especially of Mt. Fuji.


















There were some good views from the building but a lot of reflections in the glass so only a couple of shots were OK.

 

[drron]

It was now nearly 1600 and we felt that with the weather starting to threaten rain we decided to go for an early dinner to a sushi place we had enjoyed before. We went via a supermarket and a 100 yen shop first.
On the way though we saw all these people running. We had also seen them in the morning and thought it was a fun run. Definitely not fun it was thFuji 5 lakes ultra marathon. 3 courses -118Km, 100Km or a leisurely 71Km.
Those in the 118Km run had started at 4am, the 100Km between 4.30 and 5am and the 7i Km folk could sleep in and start at 7am.








Some very tired looking folk.
So Mrsdrron didn't find much at the 100yen shop but wouldn't let me buy a curry bowl because it was too expensive.


The supermarket was in the same centre.
First the snacks.




sweet potato.

 

[drron]

Do love going to the supermarkets in japan. we did consider just buying some sushi and going back to the hotel but decided to go to the restaurant.








What surprised us here was the cheap prices for spirits. just put a decimal point before the last 2 numbers and you have the $A price.




4 litres of whisky for $29.


I did consider buying a Japanese gin but our suicase was already a bit heavy.


A beautiful sake label.

 

[drron]

The sushi restaurant was basically unrecognisable to us. Have had a huge makeover and gone computerised.
You check in at a machine which gives you your seat number and an order number. At the end you take that ticket back to the front,scan the QR code on it and it prints out your bill and then insert cash or card to pay.
It had also been enlarged and at ~5pm it was almost full.
Everything is automatically delivered to your table. So our drinks coming.






It was really quite good. I had my Uni which I really like and tried tempura burdock which I had only had pickled before. I prefer the pickles.




On waking the next morning the weather hadn't changed.




I had to take the car back to town. Filled the tank which took 2.25 litres for ~110 km. Once again the pump attendant went out on the road so I could get out and drive the 5or 6 metres to the Toyota rental return next door. the fellow there saw me drive in so not even asked if the tnk was full just handed over the keys and walked off.


Probably signs of the tourist effect here as I walked back to the station to catch the hotel shuttle.


And a tori gate just on the street with no temple or shrine.

 

[drron]

Whilst waiting for the shuttle i took a couple of shots of the trains. first the local railways Fujisan express.


Then a picture of the 3 types of train at the station. First the Fujisan express. Next a local train and the JR Fuji resort express and another local train.


After I returned to the hotel we decided to go for a walk along the lake it was cool and overcast. showers were predicted for late in the day. we walked dow through the woods and the golf course and headed away from town.

 

[drron]

Came across a large temple.

 

[drron]

There were roadworks further up so didn't get to the temple. I then walked a bit further whilst Mrsdrron walked slowly back towards the hotel.






This was at a boat launching ramp. there was a flood level sign which showed a maximum flood level nearly 2 metres above my head.


Many of those places would have been under water.

 

[drron]

When I caught up with Mrsdrron we came across this.






The sign says it is the Sakuya love Bell. Ring it once and your wish will come true.

 

[drron]

Not all craft left in this area looked capable of use.












Then back to the hotel grounds.

 

[drron]

And another little flash of Fuji.


Mrsdrron went back to the room while I walked up to the convenience store to buy some things for dinner. The wind was causing a lot of blossom to end up on the ground.
'

 

[drron]

I should have realised that this store might not have been that good as it was closed with a sign saying open at 5pm. I thought about walking down to the Lawsons about a Km away but thought I would just stroll around the neighbourhood. Besides more clouds were rolling in.
Many have a veggie garden in front of their house. Some were just preparing to start planting.


But this fellow had a lot of strawberries coming on.


A Catholic school and convent.


Some beautiful flowers.






So back to the convenience store at 5pm. Turns out to be just a room on the front of an older woman's house. Very little stock.
Not much that I thought would be acceptable for Mrsdrron. So first a tub of potato salad.


Next a packet of potato crisps that were actually quite nice.


But I bombed out on the last thinking I was buying some cheese. When I got back to the room and used google translate it turned out to be 6% cheese. Yuck.


Fortunately we had a couple of packets of grape gummies and a bottle of Sav blanc we bought at the supermarket the day before.

 

[drron]

The last day and it starts to rain. fortunately a break when we got off the hotel shuttle until we had boarded our Fujisan express. If yo want the express you have to reserve your seats which I had done when we arrived. When we got to the station at about 11am there was a note up at the ticket office that only 1 of the JR resort expresses had standing room only tickets. You could of course take the ordinary private railway train to Otsuki which is all stops. So buy your tickets before time and best to have reserved seats.

Several trains at the station. A Fujisan express but not our one.


A JR Fuji resort express.


And a collection of local trains with a couple of their decorated ones.






But this one was our train.
.





We were first on.


Quite a few got on including a tour group. But the express stops at the first station as it changes direction. At that stop an inspector got on and quite a few including the tour group got off. Should have got their reserved seats.

 

[drron]

Under the Maglev track again.




And now we are in Otsuki and awaiting the Kaiji express to Shinjuku.


And here it comes.

 

[drron]

Not a long trip to Shinjuku but mainly quite scenic. But first our carriage.






Leg room adequate. We are just in an ordinary car but one with reserved seats.

 

[drron]

The last of the train. First the ystm so that the guard doesn't have to check tickets. red lights are occupied seats the others green. But if somebody with a reserved ticket is getting on at the next stop the green will go to yellow 5 minutes before the stop.








After Shinjuku we changed to the Yamanote line. Unlike the past the young ones push past you and take the empty seats. fortunately the couple we were near got up and got off at the next stop. The Yamanote line takes you to Shinagawa station. A bit of a problem because you walk past an entrance to the Keikyu line before you exit the JR lines but there is no ticket office so you have to go out and find it. Wasn't easy because it is down a floor.
Next was the Keikyu Line Rapid Limited express for Haneda. However it is just an ordinary suburban train with no where for luggage. Again we had taken advantage of the Takubin system and sent our large bag to the Villa Fontaine Grande hotel. A little problem. We arrived about 20 minutes before 1500 and the checkin kiosks aren't turned on until 1500 precisely. There were quite a few in fron of us but there were enough kiosks that we weren't held up. Except that unlike other hotels,even the Royal Park hotel at Haneda which has the kiosks which are switched on at 1500. leave your bag in the room you have been given. but not here you have to be checked in. Then you go to the baggage office and show your checkin ticket and Takubin. it then took the woman at least 20 minutes before she found our bag.

Finally to our room. Supposed to be 1sqm bigger than the Royal Park but felt smaller as the bed is right next to the window. I had to crawl over from the end of the bed.


Nice wardrobe!


And a tiny bathroom.


But OK views.

 

[drron]

The one thing that we like, not being onsen people, is the fact that it is attached to a shopping centre and there are quite a few reastaurants on the ground floor of the centre. It was about 1700 and a lot of the restaurants opened between 1730 and 1800. There was though a food court which was open and had a reasonable selection. Mrsdrron had a seafood bowl thar came with Miso soup.




And I had extra spicy Dan Dan noodles. Yummy.


There was a bar so Mrsdrron had a Sav Blanc and I had a beer.


There was a display area.




We slept pretty well as our flight wasn't until 1125 the next morning. We are booked at the Villa Fontaine next time but after that will probably go back to the Royal Park.

So up just before 8 and caught the Monorail as I was maneuvering out of bed.


It is an easy walk to the terminal just need to take the lift up to departures. No wait to check in and no waiting at security. Sadly we are both OWS now so the Sakura lounge for us. It wasn't a very nice day outside.