Fuji

We bought the Fujigokko Enjoy Ticket which costs 4350 JPY each, which includes round-trip tickets to Fuji and the unlimited retro bus in Kawaguchiko (that originally costs 1200 JPY). We already paid for it in advance, so we just need to show up in time. It was a good thing our original schedule was in advance so when we missed our original subway (that would enable us to leisurely walk), we still have time to run and reach the bus on time. After all, those 6 seats are paid already. But we're in Japan where people are prompt. Whew! We made it! But the feeling was very scary! Hehe

Once in the bus, it was less than 2 hours going to Lake Kawaguchiko, where most visitors would stop (actually, all of them went down). Our first stop, however, was Lake Yamanakako. It's the biggest lake among the 5. It was very windy too!

Our exclusive bus from Lake Kawaguchiko to Lake Yamanakako

Lake Yamanakako

15-minute walk going to Hanano Miyako Park

Hanano Miyako Park (with Fuji)

Hanano-miyako Park

The actual hanano miyako park (there were no more tulips anymore huhu)

From Hananomiyako park, I know that there is a bus stop somewhere going to Oshini Village. It was about a ten-minute ride (250 JPY), and we were there. Oshini is really a village, with some residential houses, and there were different bus stops to access it. Anyway, we stopped by one and just walked around.

Our first spring

most popular spring

drinking water anyone?

the famous mill haha

After eating fishcakes and shopping for a bit, we looked for the bus stop from Oshini going to Kawaguchiko station already (I originally planned to pass by Fuji Sengen Shrine, but decided to just go to Kawaguchiko instead). It took about 45 minutes, 550 JPY/person.

Still in Oshini (but outside the village)

Kawaguchiko station

When we arrive at Kawaguchiko station, we had to wait until 3 pm for the free shuttle to arrive. (We opted for the free shuttle because the retro bus line seems long.) So we roamed around first. We learned that Fuji Shibazakura don't have much pink flowers anymore huhu Spring came a little too early in general.

We checked in at our ryokan, and decided to go to Oishi Park (where we can view the lake and Fuji at the same time). Photo-ops galore! It was so beautiful and pretty (and yet, spring is almost over, and we are still too early for lavanders to fully bloom).

Lavanders

Lavanders and...

What are these pink and purple flowers?

Lake Kawaguchiko (they say in the morning when the water is calm, you can see the reflection of Fuji)

After that, we started looking for a place to eat dinner. After all, we only had fishcakes for lunch. We wanted to go to Kawaguchiko station, assumed that there are more restaurants there. But the driver in the retro bus suggested a certain stop, where we went down instead.

Where are we going for dinner?

Ended up in a ramen house hehe

After dinner, we started walking back to our ryokan, and got ready for bed or for the onsen haha My friends opted to try the onsen at night, but I would rather wake up at 3 in the morning for the onsen (so I could have it all to myself), and get ready for the sunrise, which was 4:30 am according to the manager (and to accuweather.com).

Katipuneros Goes to Edo Wonderland (Day 3)

Edo Wonderland

• The first train leaves at 0715 from Asakusa, and it arrives at Kinugawa Onsen a few minutes before 0900. While the shuttle bus from Kinugawa Onsen to Edo Wonderland apparently leaves at 0900.



Breakfast on the train

•  At Kinugawa Onsen station, we had some free time before the bus came, so we checked the shops, and even tried the free foot spa.

Clock Tower with Foot Spa

Edo Wonderland Bus Stop

• The bus also stops at Tobu World Square (features miniature version of popular tourist attractions around the world), but we only opt for the Edo Wonderland.

We need to exchange our passes for tickets

Walking ahead to the Edo Period

• Edo Wonderland is basically a theme park where one can get a dose of atmosphere from the Edo Period. From all the set and props, to the costumes of the people there.
• They have a list of schedules for each attraction, also indicating that some attractions would only be appreciated if we understand Japanese.



Ninja Pose

• For our first stop, we watched ninja action in the Grand Theater. We didn't understand Japanese, but basically appreciated the action and fight scenes.

Sword Fight in the Street

• Walking while waiting for the next show, we found some Edo people "practicing" sword fighting... On a hindsight, I think it's actually interactive, and we could be taught to sword fight with them.
• At the Water Magic Show, we got some photos it while we waited for it to start. 

Waiting for the Water Magic Show

figuring out the map and where to next

inside the theater of the magic show (photos weren't allowed once the show starts)

• We had several minutes before the next Geisha show, so we went to the Ninja Trick House... They weren't kidding when there's a warning outside regarding the dizziness.

Entrance Hall is actually easy enough

this second room is where most of us got dizzy haha

on the second floor, I can finally get the hang of things

Ninja Trick House

• We also tried the Ninja Maze with the trap doors. But we couldn't solve it even if we went under, used our GoPros to cheat... It seems that there is no solution and they really closed some of the doors.
• So we just posed for pictures, and played with the props and games scattered abound.

• We actually missed the bus (well we didn't really look at the schedule of the bus from Edo to Kinugawa Onsen station), so we will probably miss our scheduled train. So we just took our time and took more pictures.
• We arrived at the station with about 45 minutes to spare, giving us more time for pictures around the station and a longer time for the foot spa.

• Supposedly, we wanted to get back to Asakusa Temple by around 4 pm so we can still see the temple, and shop around for souvenirs. Instead we arrived past 5 pm, where we just splitted up because some wants to go shopping while others were hungry.
• It was getting cold. We saw an authentic ramen hole-on-the-wall house with a vending machine inside, so we ate there. It was very small with only about 7-9 stools. We asked for the English Menu and ordered them appropriately outside, before sitting inside.

• Asakusa at night was still a sight to behold. Advantage was there were fewer tourists too. We can also see the Tokyo Sky tower from Asakusa

Notice the Sky Tower behind us?