Today we started with a train trip down to Lake Kawaguchiko and finished the day with a wander around Shinjuku in the evening.
Shinjuku at night
Arriving at Lake Kawaguchiko train station we walked down towards the lake. We had to look twice at the trees by the first few houses, where one branch on certain trees had been trained to make a cover over the doorway. I guess the rest of the tree must be seriously cut back. Topiary on a whole new level.
Training your tree
Even better
This style much more common
We collected a few picnic supplies and sat by the cool and picturesque lake to take in the view.
Lovely spot for picnic lunch
We had known when we set out that the cloudy sky meant we would not see Mt Fuji, but even so we went to the top of the mountain via the Ropeway (what we call a cable car). We have a bad record for being able to catch amazing views. Tiger Hill view of sunrise in Darjeeling - nothing, just clouds. Sunrise at Sarangkot in in Nepal - cloudy. And here the same.
Ropeway up the hill at Lake Kawaguchiko
Another car passes as we go up
Here there was a lovely view, but lots of cloud above the mountain.
Lovely sky, no Fuji
In front of Fuji
This is what some people see...
This is the advertising at the site
But it is possible to fake it..for 1200 yen a photographer can take your pic and superimpose it on a pic of Fuji (without cloud)! So don't believe everyone who has that picture!
Were they really there
Great views
Waiting for the ride down
View of the lake
Huge peaches for sale by the road
It was already 3pm so we took the first of two trains back to Shinjuku.
Local train took us back to Otsuki
The local trains are painted with different themes
Waiting for Shinkansen back to Tokyo
Our next train arrives
View from the train
Playing on the train
A snack trolley came through the train. These packets of peanuts and little rice crackers coated with soy were lovely. Japanese people love snack foods, and so do many tourists, who fill up their bags with them when they go home.
Peanuts and rice cracker snack on the train- delish
It was around dinner time when we arrived back at Shinjuku Station, so we decided to take in the lights as well as eat there.This is a busy bar/nightclub area with lots of eating places.
Arriving in Shinjuku
Colourful
The lights come on
Here were windows full of plastic food, and a building where every floor is a different restaurant. We chose one but ended up not in the place we expected!
That plastic food again - these are small cheap dishes
These more average prices of ordinary restaurants
A drink while we wait
Octopus carpaccio and a salad
Then for a little wander, but not too far, as it was nearly 11 hours since we had set out. But a good day out...
Shinjuku crossing
Interesting architecture
Walking in Shinjuku
Hotel Gracery beast
This featured blog entry was written by jannettek from the blog Time to travel.
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