Day Tour are a Must in Japan!
We really wanted to see Mount Fuji, but a trip on our own we won’t know where to go. We decided to go on a day tour. Here is where we went below.
Table of Content:
- Tips before the Trip Begins – What to Bring
- Arriving at Pick Up Area
- Owakudani
- Snacks x2 (Black Curry Bread + Seasame Ice Cream)
- Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Snack (Local Fruit Stand)
- Nikkawa Watch Shop
- Lawson convenience store (Mount Fuji)
- Lake Kawaguchi
- Snack (Oshi Soft Icecream)
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Tips before the Trip: What to Bring
Small things to bring are:
- Water
- Snacks
- A Towel
- Extra shirt
- Cash
- Backpack
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Ice Pack (Optional)
- Portable Fan (Optional)
Towel and Shirts is something we were glad we brought with us as some of the iternary require some exercising through stairs and streets. Ice Pack is good to bring to keep drinks cold and if you decide to buy anything you need to keep cool that could be useful.
Arriving at Pick Up Area:
The pickup area was easy to find thanks to our tour guide, who created a WhatsApp group chat with clear instructions on where to meet and easy-to-spot symbols. Although the area was crowded with many tour guides, we easily found her because she was holding a special, uniquely decorated stick. The private bus had excellent air conditioning, which made the ride very comfortable.
Owakudani:
Owakudani was super cool as we were standing near an active volcanic valley near Hakone. A unique experience here is trying the local “kuro-tamago” or black eggs, hard-boiled in the natural hot springs, which are said to extend your life by seven years. We decided not to give it a try since we weren’t too appealed. It would of been nice if we could of went to Hakone Shrine as it is by the water.
Snacks x2 (Black Curry Bread + Seasame Ice Cream):
1st Snack – we had was the black curry bread. The combination of curry and carbs is always a winner, and this treat was a perfect example. The bread had a delightful mochi-like texture and was filled with a savory curry filling. It was so delicious that we thoroughly enjoyed it before continuing our journey.
2nd Snack – We got a black sesame ice cream. Inside the shop, they had multiple flavors but we decided to get the black one to fit the theme. It was standard ice cream which we weren’t too surprise about.
Arakurayama Sengen Park
Arakurayama Sengen Park was super beautiful with the five-storied Chureito Pagoda, and the overall greenery. When we went on to Arakurayama Sengen Park, it was a bit of walk away from the main stop. We didn’t mind because we were able to explore the local streets toward the park. This is where an extra shirt and towel would come in handy.
Snack (Local Fruit Stand)
If you just look at the photo, the fruits look absolutely perfect. So far, all the fruit we had in Japan was sweet and delicious. We couldn’t help, but finish it so quickly. We highly recommend trying fruits while in Japan.
Nikkawa Watch Shop
While specific details would depend on the exact shop, a visit to a local establishment like Nikkawa Watch Shop would typically offer a glimpse into Japanese precision and craftsmanship. We weren’t able to to see the watch shop up close.
Lawson Convenience Store (Mount Fuji)
The Lawson convenience store near Mount Fuji (often the one in Kawaguchiko) has become famous not just for its convenience, but for its incredibly picturesque backdrop of Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, the are days like these where you cannot see the mountain. Only certain days, you can see it which is by luck.
Lake Kawaguchi
Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko) is one of the Fuji Five Lakes and perhaps the most popular for tourists. It is another place to have a second chance at possibly seeing Mount Fuji. The place is super calm and offers an admiring breath of nature.
Snack (Oshi Softicecream):
This soft icecream place offers a variety of different soft serve ice cream flavors. It was absolutely delicious and we wished they had it in stores to take home. It was a wonderful flavor of purple & green grapes. Soft ice cream does melt fast, so eat up quick!
Conclusion:
As sad as we were that we didn’t get a clear view of Mount Fuji, we still enjoyed the experience. A tip is to plan ahead and check when clouds are less likely to block Mount Fuji. Out of the entire trip, we enjoyed Lake Kawaguchi the most; the greenery felt like something out of a dream, with everything being so perfect.