日本２０１７年 - Japan 2017 part 2

Time för Japan 2017 part two. You can find the first part here. This post will include, a trip to Mt.Fuji, Nikko, and the last few days in Tokyo.

Besides exploring Tokyo we also took day-trips to Mt.Fuji and Nikko. We got up super early to take the bus to Mt.Fuji. I almost slept through the whole trip, so not much to say there. We were supposed to change buses so we could get up on the mountain but because of the weather, the second bus was canceled...  So we had to change our plans and instead of going up, we took another bus to Lake Kawaguchi. We took a ride on the gondolas, went on a short hike, ate lunch, and went to Fuji-Q Highland. 

Picture from the Gondolas

At the top, my dad, me, Akiko-san, Yasushi-san and Yasumi-chan

The lower part of Mt.Fuji, unfortunately, we did not see much more of it

Fuji-Q from above

Yasumi-chan at Fuji-Q

Last picture before we went home

The next day trip was to Nikko Tosho-Gu. Yasumi had started school and Akiko worked, so this trip only included Yasushi, my dad, and me. This was the coldest day on the whole trip and the rain was pouring down. We took a bus from Omiya-station. It was only Japanese people besides my dad and me, but we had our own guide (Yasushi) with us so we were just fine. The trip also included breakfast and a delicious bento (a box with various food). After we had arrived at Nikko, we had approx 2 hours there. It was a shame that the weather was so bad because Nikko was beautiful. The temple and the graveyard were located in a forest. I remember it was a lot of walking uphill, but it was all worth it. Hopefully, I will be able to visit it again in the future and that the weather that time will be in our favor.  

The way up to the temple

Beautiful craftsmanship 

Yup, got some cardio here ;)

Three wise monkeys

Beanie, mittens, and a double layer of clothes. Big difference when I, only a few days before had been wearing a skirt and a tank top. 

Inside the temple.

The last few days was spend in Tokyo. We visited eg, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Meiji Shrine, Akihabara, etc. Those days will be summed up by pictures below. 

Akihabara

A bar close to my dad's friends house.

Takeshita street, you will find a lot of fun things here that you won´t find anywhere else.

Only in Japan, kawaii overload. 

On our way to Meiji Shrine. In order to get there, you have to go through a big park, or it´s more like a forest.

Sake anyone? ;)

At Meiji Shrine you could buy wooden tablets to write your fortune on.  

We also visited a cat café. In Japan, there is a lot of different animal cafes where you can take something to drink, or just cuddle with the animals.

There was also some time for sushi. We were lucky to make it right before the lunch ended and my dad and I got to be the last lunch guests. We where the only guests left in the restaurant and the chef made the sushi in front of us and served it directly over the desk.

We ordered a set menu and it was so good! 

One good thing to know is that the chef puts on the wasabi directly on the pieces. I can really recommend this because the chef decides how much there should be on every piece, but wasabi is not for everyone so just a heads up. 

There is a lot of shrines in Japan. This one was on a back alley in the middle of Shinjuku. 

Haha, happy me(^-^) You will find a lot of Game centers in Japan where you can play different games and win some fun prizes. 

"Fika"

Shinjuku by night.

This is what the streets looked like at the end of our trip. The sakura had started to fall and created a white/pink layer on the ground. 

The sakura season is really short and it only lasts around (from full bloom) 1 week. 

This year I won´t experience the sakura season but instead, I will be able to explore Japan in my favorite season, fall. I think Japan, in yellow and red, will be at least as beautiful as it´s in the spring. ( ^ω^ )

//マレーネ, Marlene