Mt. Fuji, Suwa and Takayama

Bullet train adventure. We were on it for just 45 minutes but that's because, at one point, we were traveling 180 miles per hour! The ladies in pink lined up on the side were the cleaning crew. The train - like most things we've experienced (subway stations, streets, restaurants, washrooms) - was immaculate.




Here's our first glimpse of Mt. Fuji, the revered mountain that rises in the midst of the Japanese alps (we didn't know that Japan has three sets of mountain ranges called "alps.") With the Shinto torii gate in the foreground, the setting is suitably sacred. Oka-san, our amazing guide, was so excited that the mountain was visible that she was almost jumping up and down. "Ah, she shows herself to you! She is so kind today!" We felt very lucky. (In her previous ten trips, she had seen the mountain only three times.)












On our way to a boat ride on the Ashi Lake at the foot of Mt. Fuji.








The rice fields are nearing harvest and starting to turn a vivid golden color.




Captured this picture of Mt. Fuji's summit from the bus on our way up to the Fifth Station where the road stops.




Jerry is pointing to the last station before the climbing actually starts. It takes most of a day to climb, and some people sleep in a hut before the ascent, so it can be finished in time to watch the sunrise, the goal of your pilgrimage to the top of Mt. Fuji. Anyone want to sign up?




Jerry takes a few steps on the trail which, at this point, is deceptively flat.




A post office at the Fifth Station:




You'd think we'd be somewhat alone this high up, but no - the rest of the world joined us.




Oka-san explains the characters for "man" and "woman." Any guesses? The one on the left is a rice field and the sign for power. On the right is a woman's figure. You need to use a bit of imagination.




Our room at a traditional ryokan lodging, a 150-year-old inn, where we took off our shoes, had tea, wore kimonos, ate dinner featuring local specialties and slept on a futon. Only four of us ventured into the "communal" bath fed by natural hot mineral springs. Oka-san spent a good amount of time explaining the ritual to us but failed to make clear that men and women bathe separately. Some of the men were disappointed about that. (By the way, in case you're wondering, Jerry decided to skip this cultural experience. No surprise. I, on the other hand, felt rejuvenated after three minutes in the hot water.)


































In the morning we walked by the lake where giant swan boats dominated the shore. Our traditional Japanese breakfast (salmon, dried fish, tofu, seaweed, miso soup...) filled us up.




The staff lines up to wave goodbye to their guests. They don't stop waving until we're out of sight. Sound familiar, children? (This is another Japanese tradition that echoes our family rituals.)




On to Takayama and a rainy day for school children walking past the Morning Market.

Aesthetic arrangements of flowers and vegetables.

       

           

 Japanese eggplants - small, smaller, smallest.

Note the price of the large tomatoes. 1300 yen is about fifteen dollars. Yes, for one tomato! Did we forget to mention how expensive everything is? A perfect cantaloupe is about thirty dollars. A bunch of large grapes (each the size of a small plum) is ten dollars.