Tokyo and Kyoto

Let me just say that starting a trip around Japan with a climb of Mt Fuji is not a good idea. Definitely something to save until the end of whatever you are doing. We didn't feel terrible afterwards but definitly fatigued and a little sore. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that some people walked their dogs up the Mountain and a few others ran the entire way up and back down. Yeah, crazy.

So off we go to Tokyo the next day. There is a military hotel located close to Roppongi where we spent most of our time. It makes staying in Tokyo affordable. On our way to Roppongi from the hotel (walking) we turned a corner and I met my first Lamborghini dealership! Hmmm, I wonder if this is a nice part of town?

Our first real stop was at Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. This thing is 54 stories and the top floors are open to the public (for a small price). The top floors contain a 360 degree observation deck, an aquarium, and an art museum. The entire complex also contain residential facilities, an enormous shopping area, a meeting place, and very much more. What started as a brief stop to check it out turned into a long, many hour stay at the tower. Neither of us had any idea how much there was to see when we went in.

From the Observation Deck we were able to see the expanse of Tokyo at night. Even from the 53rd floor, you can not see the boundaries of the city, it seems to go on and on. We took a lot of pictures, but being at night they didn't really show the cities expanse well. Were were able to get a few pictures of the aquarium, but for the most part pictures were banned and security was sweeping down like hawks on those that tried. It quickly became obvious big brother was watching. The aquarium itself was a work of art. Each tank was set to compliment the tank next to it. I wish I could have snagged a few good pictures, but it wasn't worth it.

Down in the courtyard was this giant spider sort of thing, a piece of modern art I suppose. Pretty cool, it definitly stood out as a central item there.

Amy - Here and Gone - Mt Fuji

So Amy came out for a week, though it seems more like it was just for a day. Time moves fast, especially when you have a lot planned! In 6 days we climed Mt. Fuji (Fuji-San), spent 2 days in Tokyo, rode the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Kyoto, spent a couple days there, then back to Yokosuka via Tokyo on the Shinkansen.

Mt. Fuji was tough. Much tougher than either of us expected and much more difficult than advertised. I know I am not in the status of superhero for physical fitness, but damn. Was it worth it? Hmmmm, undecided. I'd say yes, but only because I did it with Ames. We took a lot of pictures and I don't think a single one of them does an accurate job of showing how steep or hard that climb was. There are are stations along the way where you can sop for a break, a drink, and a bite to eat. The climb starts from the 5th station, about 1/2 way up the mountain. In the old days people started from the first station located at sea-level; now stations 1-4 are nothing more than road markers.

We started the climb around 5:30am. They say about 30% of the people that make the climb each year are foreigners, but on the day we went it seemed more like 60%. The weather was questionable, cloudy and a little rain so we dressed out in rain suits... That lasted about 10 minutes before it became apparent we would get wetter sweating in the rain suit than by the rain that was falling. It starts out deceptively easy, paved and semi-paved trail, not much incline and very wide. It does not take long though before things change. The trail gets a little rougher and a little steeper, turns to something like lava rock covered switchbacks, and then changes into something of a rock climb. The trial changes several times and I don't think one is any easier than the other. The lava-rock path is all loose footing and tiring. The rock climb areas are mostly solid, but well, it is climbing.

The 5th station starts below the tree line. When we left it was overcast and misty, but as the climb went on we passed above the tree line and eventually above the cloud line. The middle 1/3 of the climb was clear and beautiful. There were clouds rolling down the mountain side from above and fog rolling up the mountain from below. Ice and snow were still visible on the mountain side, but had melted away from the trail a few weeks ago.

Each station offers a stamp to place on your walking stick. It is called a stamp, but with the exception of one they are brands. This is a pretty cool souvenir, I may try to convince Amy to place them over the fireplace like swords (I doubt she will go for it).

After about 7 hours, we reached the top. Unknown to me, the top is loaded with small places to rest and eat. We had two bowls of Ramon, at a cost of 1600 yen, or about 16 dollars. It was the best Ramon and best spent 16 bucks, ever. Yeah, the mark-up is a little steep, but what are you going to do? That's what free market / supply and demand is all about. If you don't want $8 Ramon, don't climb Mt. Fuji.

This is a picture of us at the gate just below the summit.