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!
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.
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.
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).
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.
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).
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!
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| Our exclusive bus from Lake Kawaguchiko to Lake Yamanakako |
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| Lake Yamanakako |
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| 15-minute walk going to Hanano Miyako Park |
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| Hanano Miyako Park (with Fuji) |
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| Hanano-miyako Park |
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| The actual hanano miyako park (there were no more tulips anymore huhu) |
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| Our first spring |
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| most popular spring |
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| drinking water anyone? |
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| the famous mill haha |
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| Still in Oshini (but outside the village) |
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| Kawaguchiko station |
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).
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| Lavanders |
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| Lavanders and... |
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| What are these pink and purple flowers? |
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| Lake Kawaguchiko (they say in the morning when the water is calm, you can see the reflection of Fuji) |
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| Where are we going for dinner? |
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| 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).
