Day 3: Bullet Train, Hakone, Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi

The Bullet train (Shinkansen) is amazing!! So smooth to ride on...when you're in one, you just don't realize how fast its going. But,when one went past us at the station, all our mouths were hanging open!. Its truly something to see - incredibly fast!. They are very spacious and comfortable to travel in too. Here's ours stopped at the station...

We had an incredible day! Can i just preface the experience though with my 2 cents worth. I wouldnt really recommend anyone do Tokyo - Hakone - Lake Ashi - Tokyo in one day if you want to really experience what it has to offer. We really pushed it, and had to keep moving forward constantly, and didnt have time to stop and enjoy it. We skipped the museums and the Onsens - which was disappointing. We had no choice unfortunately, otherwise we wouldn't have made our bullet train back. The whole trip involved many changes between subway, bullet train, train, cablecar, ropeway, pirate ship (yes pirate ship my hearties), bus, subway.

The queues were massive (trust me theres a few hundred queueing in that building too)'!

Almost there!!...

 And they like to pack you in... teehee (this is the train not the cablecar thank goodness!)

The train line at Hakone had a couple of 'switchbacks', the cable car and ropeway had huge queues, the bus ride was an hour (but the first was was full and we had to wait for second). We left at 8.30 in morning and got back at 7.30pm. Considering our only stop on the journey (other than queuing) was at Hakone-machi for about 1/2 hour, I REALLY recommend an overnight stay in Hakone to properly take it all in, and soak in an Onsen or two, see the museums etc

Now...having said that. The actual moving forward bit, and some of the modes of transport (and the views they afforded) were SPECTACULAR! in my opinion (just rushed).

A lot of thermal activity. That is steam rising. The Onsens (hot springs) are supposed to be fantastic, and a huge draw for here. Unfortunately no time to go!

The view from the ropeway is gorgeous, and from here you get a chance to gaze upon the wonder of nature that is.....Mt Fuji!!

Isnt it just beautiful? We were SO lucky. The weather cleared and we had a magical view of her from the ropeway. As she came into view everyone just screamed in our car!

Me with it right behind me!...sorry that's just cool :-)

Then, stunning Lake Ashi comes into view...

This bit was a little special and my favourite. We got to sail Lake Ashi on a pirate ship - Ahoy!

I would have to say it's really hard to convey the majesty and beauty of this place with a photo. As you are sailing there are glimpses of Mt fuji behind you, and Lake Ashi itself is just breathtaking. Being autumn, all the orange/red/browns of the autumn foliage is stunning too. For me, it was one of those moments you breathe in the gloriously fresh air, and just think how lucky you are to be alive, and here right now :-) 

We then stopped at Hakone-machi and had some lunch.The old checkpoint - Hakone-Sakishi, is a short walk. Its a reconstruction of the original checkpoint, which was important for traffic control of the Tokaido Highway between Tokyo and Kyoto in the fuedal Edo period. Its even got the gates and the foot soldiers quarters etc...

It really was a wonderful day..I LOVED IT..just wish i could have soaked in an Onsen...but i will be back i can tell you that!

The group i'm travelling with is lovely...we getting on well despite me being a bit older than the rest (although i'm a little more 'museum' and they are a little more 'wow, a bar that has 400 types of tequila!' lol. - The bar is called 'Agave' in Rappongi for anyone thats interested haha!) Its good though, because we are experiencing everything from different perspectives which is great.

 Here is the bar for those interested.. we walked past in.. I did NOT go in!! lol

Well I don't know if anyone is actually reading this...i'm hoping so as I am staying up pretty late to get it done after big days  "hello?..is anybody out there?? " haha! :-)

I just want to leave you with some advice from our new Japanese friends..."Please do not touch doubtful things" lol...